Pumpkin seeds appear green because that's the natural color of the inner kernel of the seed, which is revealed when the outer white shell is removed.
Here's a breakdown:
- Natural Color: The inner part of the pumpkin seed, also known as the kernel, is naturally a dark green color.
- White Outer Shell: Fresh pumpkin seeds, directly from the pumpkin, are typically encased in a white outer shell. This shell hides the green kernel.
- Processing & Removal: The commercially sold green pumpkin seeds (often called pepitas) have had this outer white shell removed, revealing the green kernel underneath. Extracting the green kernel is difficult and not usually done at home.
- No "Turning" Green: The seeds don't turn green; they are green underneath the white shell.
In summary, the green color of pumpkin seeds is inherent to the inner kernel and is revealed when the outer white shell is removed during processing.
