Can You Eat Bell Pepper Seeds?

Yes, but should you?

If you've ever cut into a bell pepper, you are more than familiar with the waterfall of seeds that can spill out. Most of us have been taught that properly cutting a bell pepper involves removing the stem and seeds, but even the most careful cuts often mean a few seeds wind up in a dish.

Jess Bryan is a registered and licensed dietitian at No Diet Dietitian, a telehealth nutrition practice

Yes, you can eat bell pepper seeds. While some may choose not to eat seeds inside bell peppers due to personal preference or texture issues, bell pepper seeds are perfectly safe to eat and do not pose risk of sickness.

“It is safe to consume bell pepper seeds (and there are) no health risks noted,” registered dietitian Jess Bryan tells Southern Living.

“I suggest saving them along with other pepper scraps. I actually recommend this with all vegetable scraps – think carrot peels, garlic leaves,” she says. “Simply store them in the freezer in a freezer-safe gallon bag. Once the bag is full, you can utilize these saved scraps to craft your own flavorful homemade vegetable or bone broth.”

“Bell pepper seeds are found in the hollow cavity of bell peppers,” Bryan says. “They’re small seeds that can vary in color depending on the pepper’s ripeness.”

Bell pepper seeds contain small amounts of fiber, protein, and anti-inflammatory fats.

“There is more nutrition in the actual pepper than the seeds,” Bryan says.

The good news is that if you’ve ingested bell pepper seeds - whether intentional or not - it is unlikely to cause problems.

“In general the body can digest bell pepper seeds without causing problems,” Bryan says. “As with all foods, it's essential to listen to your body and note if you experience any discomfort.”

They add little to most recipes and can sometimes be bitter.

They can be saved - along with other vegetable scraps - to create homemade broth.

You can. It comes down to personal preference. In mini bell peppers, the seeds are typically smaller than in regular bell peppers.