How long do pepitas last and how to store

Oh, boy, you ask me how long those little pepitas can last? Well, I gotta tell ya, it ain’t a simple thing to answer. It’s like askin’ how long a piece of string is, ya know? Depends on a whole lot of things.

First, you gotta know what kind of pepitas we’re talkin’ about. You got your raw pepitas, the ones that ain’t been cooked or nothin’. Then you got your roasted pepitas, the ones that been in the oven and got all crispy. They ain’t the same, no sir.

Now, them raw ones, if you keep ’em right, they can last a good long while. I heard tell of folks keepin’ ’em for six months, maybe even a whole year! But you gotta keep ’em in a good spot. Don’t just leave ’em out on the counter, no way.

You gotta put ’em in somethin’ that keeps the air out. Like one of them fancy airtight containers.
And it’s gotta be cool and dark, not hot and sunny. Think of it like a root cellar, but smaller.
Some folks say the fridge, and the freezer is best place.

If you don’t do that, they’ll go bad quicker. They might get all dried out, or worse, they might even start to sprout! Imagine that, a whole bunch of little pumpkin plants growin’ where you don’t want ’em. It’s best to make sure that the pepitas are shelled and dried or they won’t last long.

Those roasted ones, they don’t last as long. Maybe a month in the fridge, if you’re lucky. Or just a couple of weeks on the counter. They’re already cooked, see, so they don’t have as much fight in ’em. But same rules apply, keep ’em sealed up tight and in a cool place.

Now, how do you know when they’ve gone bad? Well, you use your senses, that’s what! Give ’em a good sniff. If they smell funny, kinda sour or just plain off, then they’re probably no good. And take a little nibble. If they taste weird, spit ’em out! Don’t be eatin’ bad pepitas, it ain’t worth it. They don’t taste right.

Some folks, they like to freeze their pepitas. That’s okay too, I reckon. But you gotta make sure they’re good and dry before you put ’em in the freezer. Water and freezers don’t mix, you know. You’ll end up with a big ol’ block of ice with pepitas stuck in it.

If you carve a pumpkin and wanna keep the seeds, you can do that too. Just scoop ’em out, clean off all that orange goop, and put ’em in the fridge. In a container, of course! Then you can roast ’em later when you’re ready. Don’t wanna roast right away, that is fine.

So, there you have it. How long do pepitas last? It depends, but if you’re smart about it, you can keep ’em around for a good while. Just remember:

Airtight container
Cool, dark place
Use your senses!

That’s the way to do it. Don’t be wastin’ good pepitas, now. They’re a treat, especially when you roast ’em up with a little salt. Yum!

One more thing, if the seeds are wet, they won’t last. They need to be dry. And if it’s too hot, they won’t last either. So, keep ’em cool, keep ’em dry, and keep ’em in a tight container. That’s all you need to know.