Do Raspberries Have Seeds? – Foods Guy

Raspberries may look like seedless fruit but there are hundreds of seeds in a single raspberry! Most people may not even notice them, but they add to the overall texture and mouthfeel of the fruit.

Do raspberries have seeds? Yes, raspberries are not a single fruit but rather a collection of smaller fruits called drupelets that combine to make a raspberry. Each drupelet contains a seed at its center. The seeds are surrounded by juicy and tender flesh and you will usually see the seeds when you bite into the raspberry. 

Read below to learn more about raspberries, how they form, their important characteristics, and how the seeds can alter the mouthfeel of the fruit.

All About Raspberries 

There is a lot more than what meets the eye when it comes to raspberries. These fruits have been a big part of the human diet for centuries and play a huge role in dessert recipes too. Raspberries share similar characteristics to other types of berries, like strawberries, but they are also unique in their own right.

For example, the lumpy texture of raspberries is because the fruit grows in clusters called drupes. In essence, berries are a combination of multiple clusters of raspberries.

This means that each drupe is a separate fruit that is held together by a very delicate plant fiber – and every drupe also contains its own seed!

Raspberries can have as many as 100-150 seeds in a single fruit. To understand how seeds affect the texture of the fruit, we must first discuss its characteristics.

Characteristics of Raspberries

Here are all the important characteristics of raspberries:

Flavor 

Raspberries are known for their sweet and lightly tart flavor. They have a complex flavor profile that also provides hints of floral, fruity, and subtle earthy flavor notes.

Unlike other berries that have a tarter flavor, raspberries provide a highly balanced flavor which makes them a very versatile ingredient for a variety of uses.

In the context of the seeds, they don’t have any discerning flavor and in most cases, you might not even know that they are there. However, the seeds might provide a very subtle earthy flavor – but these subtle flavor notes can be difficult to pick up depending on how tart or sweet the raspberry is.

Texture

Raspberries have a smooth and lumpy texture because of the multiple clusters or drupelets that grow around the fruit. Raspberries are generally very tender and can even break apart if you apply too much force when picking them up.

The best thing about the texture of raspberries is that they provide a fantastic mouthfeel. Unlike strawberries which are typically firmer, the softness of raspberries adds to their overall appeal.

They are very easy to chew and most fully ripe raspberries may even “melt in your mouth” with just a light chew.

Unlike strawberries which have seeds on the outside, raspberry seeds are found at the center of each drupe. The texture and mouthfeel of the seeds will depend on who you ask. 

Some people claim that raspberry seeds do not provide any mouthfeel while others say that it adds a very subtle crunchiness or grittiness to the berries. In general, you will not be able to pick up on the seeds because of how small they are.

Please note that just like every other natural product, there is bound to be some variation in the fruit. Some raspberries may have slightly larger seeds which might make them more noticeable while others may only have very small seeds that are the size of a single grain of sand. 

Uses

Raspberries are famously used in baking and are also a great ingredient for jams and jellies! Raspberry seeds also elevate the overall texture of any dish made using whole raspberries. For example, not only do the seeds add visual value to jams, but they also lend a very subtle texture as well.

Raspberry sauces are another great example. Try adding a thick raspberry sauce over a slice of red velvet. The seeds will add a lot of presentation points when the sauce is drenched over the top white layer of the cake. 

So, the seeds play more of a visual role than anything else – but as we explained above, some people may still be able to notice some textural qualities in products that are made using whole raspberries. 

Removing Raspberry Seeds 

For people who dislike fruit seeds in general, there is a way to remove the seeds from raspberries. Although this isn’t a common practice, learning how to remove the seeds can come in handy if you want to make dishes that don’t include the seeds or if you want to use the seeds for growing purposes. 

Please note that while this method is very effective at removing the seeds, it will not preserve the texture or shape of the fruit since it is impossible to remove the seeds without puncturing the drupelets. 

Here is how you can remove the seeds from a large batch of raspberries:

Step 1: In a food processor, add 5-6 cups of clean tap water and add the raspberries. 

Step 2: Turn on the food processor at the lowest setting and then process the raspberries until you no longer see whole pieces. You don’t have to turn them into a mushy paste, the idea here is to break the drupelets so that the seeds can break away from the pulp.

Step 3: Put a sieve over a large empty bowl and then filter the mixture. The larger fruit particles will collect over the sieve while the seeds will filter through in the bowl.

Step 4: Allow the seeds about 5-10 minutes to settle at the bottom of the bowl. 

Step 5: Then simply drain the water! Using your finger, lightly press down on the seeds so that they get stuck to your finger. Then deposit the seeds over a clean and dry paper towel. Voila, you have successfully extracted raspberry seeds. 

If you don’t have a food processor then there is another way to get the seeds out! But the downside to using this method is that it is only suitable for extracting seeds from 2-3 raspberries at a time. 

Here’s how:

Step 1: Take a thick paper towel and place 2-3 raspberries at the center.

Step 2: Flip the paper towel over the raspberries so that they are fully covered. 

Step 3: Rub the paper towel to break down the drupelets. You should ideally rub for around 5-10 seconds. 

Step 4: Open the paper towel! You will notice the seeds over the paper. Simply move the seeds onto a clean paper towel to dry them off. 

Alternatively, you can also use a small spice grinder to quickly extract the seeds. Add a few raspberries to the grinder with water. Then blitz for a few seconds. Invert the container and let the seeds fall at the bottom. 

Then slowly drain the water into a bowl until you are left with the seeds in the container. Remove the seeds and dry them up using a paper towel.

Store the seeds in a cool and dry place to increase their shelf life!

What Can You Do With Raspberry Seeds 

Raspberry seeds are only used for growing more raspberries! Instead of discarding the seeds, we highly recommend that you try to grow your very own raspberries at home. One raspberry plant can grow up to 100s of raspberries! 

Here is how to grow raspberries from seeds:

Step 1: Fill a pot with high-quality soil until it reaches three-fourths of the way up. 

Step 2: Place the seeds over a piece of clean and dry paper towel and then put the towel over the pot. 

Step 3: Add soil over the paper towel! Make sure that you cover the entire surface. Keep the pot on your window sill and water it every day. 

Step 4: The seeds usually sprout within a few weeks! Allow the plant to grow until it reaches a height of around 1-2 feet. 

Step 5: Transfer the plant to a larger pot or move it into your garden and let it grow. The plant will take some time to grow fruit but it is worth the wait! 

Related Questions 

Raspberry seeds usually go unnoticed but some people believe that they add to the fruit’s texture! Now that you know all about raspberries and their seeds, here are some related questions:

Can Eating Raspberry Seeds Make You Sick?

No, raspberry seeds do not contain irritation-causing compounds and are completely safe to eat. However, we wouldn’t recommend that you eat a lot of them since eating large quantities of seeds can potentially make you sick. 

Are There Seedless Raspberries? 

Since raspberry seeds are very small, we don’t really need a seedless variety of this fruit. Some species of raspberries that produce even smaller seeds are on the rise but if you have never had a problem with the seeds then you should just go with the regular variety!