Has anyone successfully shelled sunflower seeds?

self ^ | Octember 3, 2011 | knarf

[knarf]

So, I grew all these mammoth sunflowers ..

[knarf]

really believing I'd figure out a way to extract the kernals, but ALAS!, I can't find anything online that would lead me to a way to do it.

I love sunflower kernals, loaded with vitamin E, so ... if anyone can help, I'd appreciate it.

[Pessimist]

Probably the same way they shell pumpkin seeds. :)

I have no idea what that is either. But given that pumpkins are loaded with seeds and pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds) go for around $5/lb around here, I assume it may not be trivial.

I’ll be interested in the answer....

[Minn]

Done it a million times - with my teeth.

[fwdude]

Here in Texas, we have people at produce markets who have hulling machines for pecans. You might check with them to see what they use for sunflower seeds.

[Wilderness Conservative]

There are machines that crush and separate seed from shells.

http://www.weiku.com/products/3295860/5XZC_10C_Sunflower_seed_grading_machine_ISO9001_.html

[Jonty30]

I think you can buy an automatic sunflower seed sheller for about a million bucks.

It probably works great.

And you can make your money back, as some poster said, for 5 bucks a pound.

[Doogle]

http://www.ehow.com/how_6054263_shell-pumpkin-sunflower-seeds-home.html

[ROCKLOBSTER]

I love sunflower kernals, loaded with vitamin E, so ... if anyone can help, I'd appreciate it.

OK, here's what you need to do:

1.You go to the dollar store.

2.You buy a bunch of them, already shelled, for a dollar a package, and eat them.

3.You feed your sunflower crop to the birds.

[count-your-change]

Toast them lightly in a specially designed Flower seed Toaster and Home Vacuum System, then take a seed between your fingers while applying pressure with your thumb nails.

The seed kernal should pop right out. If not, then the tried and true method of using the teeth will often work. You may repeat this as needed.

Or you could hire a bird but they tend to eat all the kernals and just leave the shells. Greedly little brutes!

Glad to help you out.

[Doogle]

and this.......

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7726823_sunflower-seeds-taken-out-shell.html

[driftdiver]

You really CAN find anything on the internet.

[SouthTexas]

Simple, grandkids although you will lose part of the pickins.

[Doogle]

eyeps

[MichaelP]

I don't know about anyone, but the squirrels at my house are very good at it!

Mike

[Jedidah]

Seriously? That was a joke, right?

If so, I’ll bite. You just scrape the pumpkin seeds, which are soft, out of the fruit, sprinkle with oil and salt, and roast them. No shells.

[Tax-chick]

I let the birds eat all my sunflower seeds.

[Jonty30]

With walnuts, for those interested, can be shelled quickly by sticking a kife into the bottom and twisting.

[Travis McGee]

Observe the experts in action. Hamsters hold the seed in both paws, and use their teeth to pull off each edge, then remove the top shell and grab the meat.

[PzLdr]

Squirrels.

[BuffaloJack]

Commercially sunflower seeds are de-hulled by firing them through a tube with compressed air and impacting them on a metal plate. The shell breaks and the shells and kernel inside all fall into a bin where they are separated by sifting and other means.
You could probably make a compressed air de-huller without too much work.