Raw hazelnuts are bitter and have little storage. Nuts rot faster, they can no longer be eaten. Therefore, there are many ways and secrets of drying hazelnuts. Today I will talk about the easiest and fastest ways to extend the shelf life of hazelnuts.
In shell or without?
Hazelnuts can be dried both in the shell and without it. Peeled hazelnuts are stored less. But it can be used immediately for food. You only have to spend time cleaning the shell once. An unpeeled nut needs to be dried longer, but it also lasts longer. It is less susceptible to putrefactive processes, it is not eaten by pests and parasites. But each time before use it is necessary to get rid of the shell.
The easiest and fastest way to peel hazelnuts is to pour boiling water over the nuts and leave for a while. Then it is much easier to split them. The walnut kernel is covered with a thin film, it must also be removed, as it will burn faster when dried. I remove it like this: pour boiling water over the shelled nuts for another 5 minutes. After this manipulation, the film can be easily removed with your hands or a napkin.
Drying methods
- In the oven. This is the most common method for drying nuts. You can dry hazelnuts both in the shell and without it. You can use both gas and electric appliances. Ways to dry nuts vary slightly. Peeled hazelnuts should be placed on a baking sheet covered with parchment and dried in the oven for at least an hour at a temperature of 60-100 degrees. The advantage is the presence of a convection mode. I sometimes just open the oven door and stir the nuts so they don't burn. Inshell nuts are dried in much the same way, only it will take from 4 to 6 hours. You can check the readiness like this: split one nut, the core should be golden, even in color. The cooled nut should be crispy. The smell is pronounced.
- Microwave drying is one of the easiest and fastest ways to dry hazelnuts. The peeled nut should be placed on a dish in one layer, set the power to no more than 750 W and put in the microwave for three minutes. At the end, let the nuts cool, turn over and repeat the procedure. Hazelnuts in the shell are dried for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Frying in a dry heavy-bottomed pan is the quickest, but quite dangerous way. There is a high risk of burning hazelnuts or roasting them unevenly. The whole process takes no more than 10 minutes. The first 3-4 minutes you need to fry the nuts on low heat, then increase the power and stir the hazelnuts constantly. Nuts in the shell should crack, peeled - become golden.
- The dryer is suitable for harvesting nuts, fruits and even vegetables. You can dry onions and even greens in it. The temperature in the dryer should be no more than 90 degrees. Drying time - 4-5 hours.
- Drying in natural conditions. You can dry nuts in the open air and at home near the battery. With good weather, the nut will be ready for storage in about a week. At night and during precipitation, you need to bring the dish into the room. At home, the nuts will also dry out within a week. But it may take more time. Naturally dried hazelnuts do not change color.
How to store a nut?
I store dried hazelnuts in glass jars in my kitchen cabinet or pantry. You can put nuts in a canvas bag. The main thing is not to pack them in polyethylene or a plastic container. In this case, condensation may form and the nuts will begin to rot.
Hazelnuts in shell can be stored for six months. Peeled and roasted nuts - 3 months. The more intense the temperature used for drying, the shorter the shelf life and the less nutrients left in the nuts. The natural way is preferred.
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