helianthus seeds are available with or without shells , roasted or naked as a jaybird , salted or unseasoned , and as human , farm animal or bird food for thought . When nosh on a sunflower seed with the carapace , the racing shell can be cracked by the teeth and then separated from the seed using the lingua or fingers . chick use their punishing beaks to break start the shells . Commercially hulled sunflower seeds have their shells withdraw by mechanically skillful devise . The hulled seeds can be eat alone , used as a garnish , bestow to sunbaked good or made into sunflower butter or oil .
Mechanical Dehuller
Mechanical seed dehullers used for separating the helianthus seed from its casing are available from various manufacturers . The machine may vary in excogitation and are typically a conveyor knock process , where the seeds mechanically move from one stage of the hulling to the next . The first pace normally involves pre - cleaning , where impurities , such as dirt , dust and rocks are trickle from the semen . The shells are then split up , which might be done by force the seeds against blade . After the seeds are broken the motion of the machine ( depending on the machine expressive style ) helps to separate the seed from the carapace . Air is often used to separate the seed from the broken shell . The melody blows on the humbled shells , forcing the loose - weightiness shells away from the heavier kernels .
Process
While the mechanics of helianthus seed dehulling auto change , the seed may go through the follow step during the function : fertilize the seeds into the machine , cleansing , pneumatic elevating , hulling , differentiate source from shells and kernels , elevating , class peg - shaped shells and seeds , sorting seeds and kernels . During the tiptop process the seeded player are typically moved up mechanically to a higher elevation in the machine .
Home Gardener
For the home nurseryman , a helianthus dehulling machine would not be a practical choice . According to an clause by Organic Gardening , some home gardener have been successful hulling sunflower seed by using a grain mill to bring out get to the seeds and separating the break shell from the pith by ball up with air from a emptiness . Willowing machines are also used . helianthus sow with broken shells are added to the machine which apply a controlled breeze current to separate the kernels and shell .