Dos and don’ts for how to get toasty, flavorful almonds, walnuts, pecans and other nuts …without burning.
It’s Healthy Kitchen Hacks Wednesday – the day we share our favorite time-saving kitchen tricks and cooking shortcuts to help you make healthy and delicious meals.
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Now…onto today’s featured Healthy Kitchen Hack:
How Not to Burn Nuts
Whoooops!
That was often my experience when I tried to toast almonds, walnuts and pecans. I always seemed to burn them. Now I follow a few ‘Dos and Don’ts’ and my nuts turn out toasty, fragrant…and not burned.
Do:
- Toast nuts in the oven. Bake in the oven at 375-degrees F. While the oven can have hot spots, the heat is not so intense to burn nuts quickly.
- Shake the pan frequently. Use a high-sided pan – like a cake pan – so you can easily shake the nuts to toast evenly. Bake for 5 minutes, then shake. Roast at 3-minute intervals, shaking after each 3 minutes.
- Check doneness by aroma and color. Once you begin to smell the toasty nut aroma, you can stop roasting. For more intense color, roast about 3 minutes longer.
Don’t
- Don’t toast nuts on the stovetop in a pan. It’s just too easy to burn one side while the other side of the nut is still blond. Also, pans can heat unevenly, so some nuts burn, while others are barely toasty.
- Don’t toast chopped nuts. Again, pieces will be uneven. Plus, nuts are much easier to chop if you toast first, then chop. A knife will slide right through warm nuts, because the oils have been warmed and softened.
- Don’t toast broken nuts. With a smaller surface area, they will burn before whole pieces are done. Pick out the broken pieces of almonds, for example. If toasting walnuts, or pecans, make sure they are whole or all the pieces are the same size.
Dos and Don'ts on: How to NOT Burn Nuts #HealthyKitchenHacks via @TspCurry Click To Tweet
My favorite toasted nut recipes:
Deanna’s Breakfast Rice Bowl with Dried Plums, Pears, and Almonds
Have you ever burned nuts? How do you like to eat toasted nuts?
Liz
Monday 26th of June 2017
I always forget to shake the pan!!! I need to set a timer so I can get beauties like these babes!
Serena Ball
Tuesday 27th of June 2017
Yup. Kitchen times work miracles...when i remember to use too. Thanks so much Liz!
Farrah
Friday 16th of June 2017
Is it sad that I've never tried toasting nuts? (Okay, wait. I did it once. But I definitely should do it more often!) *-*
Serena Ball
Sunday 18th of June 2017
I think you'll find you love toasted nuts on everything...or just to snack on!
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen
Thursday 15th of June 2017
Great tips!!! When I am toasting nuts in the oven, if I can smell them I know they are done no matter how long it's been! If I let them cook past the first sniff...they always end up burned!
Serena Ball
Sunday 18th of June 2017
Such a good point Tara: The nose is often the best tool in the kitchen!