Amazing Composition and Uses of Pumpkin Peels

When you think of pumpkins, your mind might conjure up images of vibrant orange spheres ready to be carved into spooky jack-o’-lanterns or transformed into delicious pies and soups. But did you know that there’s much more to a pumpkin than just its flesh? Pumpkin peels, often overlooked, are a nutritional powerhouse with a myriad of uses that might surprise you. That is why I believe you will be interested in learning about the composition and uses of pumpkin peels – backed by scientific data.

This article is part of our series on the utilization of parts of your produce to reduce food waste. By getting to know more about the different parts of your produce, you can explore ways to utilize them for your economic benefit, while also contributing to a healthy environment.

Let’s delve into the composition and uses of pumpkin peels, including the proximate composition, vitamins, minerals, bioactive compounds, potential uses, and more of this remarkable part of the pumpkin.

What are Pumpkins?

Pumpkins are a type of winter squash that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. They are typically round or oval in shape and are known for their vibrant orange color, although they can also come in various other colors like green, white, and even striped. Pumpkins are commonly associated with the Fall. However, they are also highly valued for their culinary and nutritional properties.

Pumpkins have a thick, tough outer rind and a hollow inner cavity filled with seeds and stringy flesh. The flesh of pumpkins is rich, slightly sweet, and often used in cooking to make dishes like pies, soups, stews, and baked goods. Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, are edible and can be roasted for a crunchy and nutritious snack.

Pumpkins are also recognized for their versatility. Not only can you enjoy the flesh and seeds, but even the peels have nutritional value and various potential uses.

Proximate Composition

Pumpkin peels boast a remarkable proximate composition that varies slightly across different types and stages of maturity. Table 1 shows the proximate composition of pumpkin peels (1). The moisture content can range from around 75.7% to 93.6%. Carbohydrates, an essential energy source, range from 4.4 g/100g to 20 g/100g, making pumpkin peels a potential dietary staple.

Table 1: Proximate Composition of Pumpkin Peels

Dietary fiber, often associated with digestive health and weight management, spans from 1.2 g/100g to 2.2g/100g, indicating that pumpkin peels can contribute significantly to your fiber intake.

Moreover, total fat, ranging from 0.4 g/100g to 0.9g/100g, adds a touch of healthy fats to the mix. Ash content, between 0.6g/100g and 1.3.96 g/kg, hints at the presence of valuable minerals, which are shown in the next section.

Protein content, ranging from 0.9 g/100g to 1.6 g/100g, showcases their potential as a plant-based protein source. Notably, the proteins in pumpkin peels have a rich amino acid profile (according to Kim et al., 2012) as shown in Table 2, making them useful as food and animal feed.

Table 2: Amino acids concentrations (mg/kg raw weight) in pumpkins (Cucurbitaceae) Peels.

Vitamins and Minerals

Pumpkin peels are a storehouse of vitamins and minerals. They contain a spectrum of B vitamins—B1, B2, B3, B6, and B9—essential for energy metabolism and overall well-being. Learn more about the health benefits of B vitamins from Havard School of Public Health.

Moreover, the presence of choline supports brain health and cellular structure. Notably, green and yellow pumpkin peels pack a punch of Vitamin C, known for its immune-boosting properties, as well as Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin K contributes to blood clotting and bone health, promoting balanced well-being.

When it comes to minerals, pumpkin peels offer a diverse range (Table 3). Potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and phosphorus all play crucial roles in bodily functions, from nerve conduction to bone health.

Table 3: The content of mineral compounds  in Pumpkin Peels (2)

Bioactive Compounds

Pumpkin peels contain a wealth of bioactive compounds that contribute to their potential health benefits. These include phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and Tocopherols. Tables 3 and 4 show the phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and tocopherols respectively in pumpkin peels.

Table 3: The profiles of Phenolic compounds in pumpkin peels obtained by two different methods (3)

Table 4: The profiles of carotenoid compounds in pumpkin peels obtained by two different methods (3)

Phenolic compounds exhibit antioxidant properties, guarding cells against oxidative stress. Thus, they protect the body against degenerative diseases.

The bright orange color of pumpkins is due to their high content of beta-carotene, a type of antioxidant that the body can convert into Vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining good vision, skin health, and a strong immune system. Tocopherols, a type of Vitamin E, bolster the antioxidant capacity of pumpkin peels.

Uses of Pumpkin Peels

Aside from their culinary uses, pumpkins offer a range of health benefits. As we have seen, they are low in calories and an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

1. Nutraceutical Source: Pumpkin peels can serve as a natural source of nutraceuticals, offering a holistic approach to health.
2. Food and Culinary Uses: From raw consumption to cooking, pumpkin peels can add a new dimension to your culinary creations. This is especially true for the Hokkaido pumpkin variety, whose skin is easy to cook. They can be used to make pumpkin chips and transformed into pickles, jams, or jellies. They can also be used to make soups, mashed (a little like sweet potatoes), pan-fried, and added to salads, or even used for desserts, cakes, and muffins.
3. Feed Applications: Pumpkin peels can be incorporated into animal feed, enhancing their nutritional value.
4. Natural Antioxidant Extract: Extracts from pumpkin peel, rich in phenolic and carotene compounds, can replace synthetic antioxidants in edible oil refineries, promoting healthier food production.
5. Food Supplements: Pumpkin peel powder can elevate your diet by adding extra fiber or antioxidants like beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. They can even be used to create commercial supplements, such as those containing lutein and zeaxanthin.
6. Skincare Solutions: The mild exfoliating properties of pumpkin peel make them a valuable ingredient in skincare products. They can help cleanse pores, remove dirt, and potentially reduce acne breakouts.
7. Fertilizer: Don’t discard those peels after carving pumpkins. The peels can be composted or used as organic fertilizer to nourish your garden.
8. Baking Flour: Pumpkin peel can be transformed into flour, adding a nutritional boost to your baking creations.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The often-overlooked pumpkin peels are a treasure trove of nutrition and versatility. By learning about the amazing composition and uses of pumpkin peels, you can see that they offer a wide range of benefits in food, animal feed, skincare, and medicine. So, the next time you’re carving a pumpkin or preparing a meal, consider harnessing the power of pumpkin peels to elevate your culinary and wellness journey.

Moreover, if you produce or process large quantities of pumpkin, some of which might go to waste, you can consider which of the alternative use options above might work well for you. By upcycling your waste produce, you derive enormous economic benefits, while also contributing to environmental sustainability.

You may also be interested in learning about the composition and uses of mango parts.

REFERENCES

1. Mi Young Kim, Eun Jin Kim, Young-Nam Kim, Changsun Choi, and Bog-Hieu Lee. 2012. Comparison of the chemical compositions and nutritive values of various pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae) species and parts. Nutrition Research and Practice (Nutr Res Pract) 2012;6(1):21-27
   http://dx.doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2012.6.1.21
2. M.Ziaul Amina, Tahera Islam, M.Rasel Uddina, M.Jashim Uddin, M.Mashiar Rahmana, M.AbdusSatter. 2019. Comparative study on nutrient contents in the different parts of indigenous and hybrid varieties of pumpkin (CucurbitamaximaLinn.). Heliyon5(2019)e02462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02462
3. Azadeh Salami, Narmela Asefi, Reza Esmaeilzadeh Kenari & Mehdi Gharekhani. 2020. Extraction of pumpkin peel extract using supercritical CO₂ and subcritical water technology: Enhancing oxidative stability of canola oil. Journal of Food Science and Technology Volume 58, pages 1101–1109 (2021).

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