# Can you eat hempseed with the hull? Hulled vs whole

> Yes — whole hempseed keeps the hull and gives more fibre, while hulled hemp hearts are soft and concentrate protein and omega-3. Here is the difference.

**Källa:** https://helsama.se/en/kunskap/kan-man-ata-hampafron-med-skal/

**Kategori:** naring · **Publicerad:** 2026-06-11 · **Uppdaterad:** 2026-07-12

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**Yes.** Whole hempseed keeps the hull and gives more fibre with a chewy texture, while hulled hempseed (hemp hearts) is soft and mild. Removing the hull also concentrates protein and omega-3, because the fibre-rich hull makes up a large share of the whole seed. Both can be eaten raw, straight from the bag — hempseed does not need to be cooked.

## Can you eat hempseed with the hull?

| | Whole hempseed | Hulled (hemp hearts) |
| --- | --- | --- |

| Hull | Kept | Removed |

| Texture | Chewy, crunchy | Soft |

| Flavour | More pronounced, "green" | Mild, nutty |

| Fibre | More (hull contributes) | Less |

| Protein | Lower share | Higher share |

| Omega-3 (ALA) / fat | Lower share | Higher share |

| Use | Topping, baking | Sprinkle straight, smoothie |

It is the same seed — *Cannabis sativa* — the difference is only whether the outer hull is on. See also [hulled vs whole hempseed](/kunskap/skalade-vs-oskalade-hampafron).

## Do hulled hempseeds have more protein?

The hull is largely fibre and accounts for a significant portion of the whole seed. When removed, the remaining hemp heart becomes more concentrated in protein and oil — and since the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) sits in the oil, the share of omega-3 per 100 g rises.

Approximate values:

- **Whole hempseed:** around 25 g protein and 30 g fat per 100 g, with considerably more fibre.

- **Hulled hemp hearts:** around 31 g protein and 49 g fat per 100 g, with less fibre.

*(Values from Callaway 2004 for whole seeds and USDA FoodData Central FDC 170148 for hulled.)*

Both are nutrient-dense — the choice depends on what you are after: more fibre and chew (whole) or more protein and omega-3 in a softer form (hulled). See also [how much hempseed per day](/kunskap/hur-mycket-hampafro-per-dag), [hempseed essential fatty acids](/kunskap/hampafron-essentiella-fettsyror) and [how to use hempseed](/kunskap/sa-anvander-du-hampafron).

## Can you eat raw hempseed?

Yes. Hempseed is usually eaten raw and untoasted. It can be sprinkled directly on food or eaten as is. If you want a roasted note, whole seeds can be dry-toasted briefly in a pan, but that is a matter of taste, not a requirement.

## How do you hull hempseed?

The hull is removed mechanically in an industrial process where seeds run through a hulling machine that separates the soft inner seed (hemp heart) from the hard outer hull. It is hard to do by hand — which is why hulled hempseed is sold pre-hulled.

## FAQ

### Can you eat hempseed with the hull?

Yes. Whole seeds with the hull are great to eat and give more fibre and chew than hulled.

### Does hulled hempseed have more protein?

Yes, gram for gram. When the fibre-rich hull is removed, both protein and omega-3 are concentrated in the hemp heart — around 31 g protein per 100 g compared with about 25 g for whole seeds.

### Can you eat raw hempseed?

Yes, they are usually eaten raw and untoasted.

### How do you hull hempseed?

The hull is removed mechanically in an industrial hulling process; that is why hulled hempseed is usually bought pre-hulled.

### Do you have to cook hempseed?

No, they need no cooking. They can be eaten directly.

### Further reading

- [Hulled vs unhulled hemp seeds — what's the difference?](/kunskap/skalade-vs-oskalade-hampafron)

- [Hemp seed nutrition — vitamins, minerals and fatty acids](/kunskap/hampans-naringsprofil)

- [How to use hemp seeds](/kunskap/sa-anvander-du-hampafron)

**Continue reading:** For the full picture, see the overview [Hemp seed nutrition — vitamins, minerals and fatty acids in hemp seeds](/en/kunskap/hampans-naringsprofil). Related questions: [Skalade eller oskalade hampafrön — vad är skillnaden?](/en/kunskap/skalade-vs-oskalade-hampafron) and [Så använder du hampafrön](/en/kunskap/sa-anvander-du-hampafron).


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