[northfifeduckling]

We have rather a lot of dried up pods and I shook some seeds into a tub. Can I use them for baking as they are or should they be cleaned? There were rather a lot of beasties with them but I think they all fled the tub by now. I found that some pods created seeds in a slightly rusty colour rather than black, maybe they're not quite ready?

[Fleecewife]

I think it might depend on which particular type of poppy    the seeds come from  .  The ones sold commercially for food use are blue.
 
You could clean them by a small scale version of winnowing - toss them a bit in the air, just enough to lift them, and blow out any chaff.  Washing them could lead to a whole lot of seedlings.

[northfifeduckling]

yes, I think it's those  but most of the seeds are smaller than bought ones. 

[HesterF]

I personally wouldn't bother cleaning them if you'll be cooking them in something and you've fished out the bigger bits. The poppy seeds I've collected this year have varied in colour by variety - and none look like the ones you buy. Maybe research which varieties are edible or you might have some 'interesting' effects  ,

H

[northfifeduckling]

as far as I was told (won't say who told me  ) is that other parts not the seeds would cause the effects  .  I found out on the net that it's illegal in the US to grow them in your garden! OTT..., they are so pretty and come up in the weirdest places