How to dry walnuts in the oven. When and how should almonds be dried? How to understand that the nut is dry? Proper storage of shelled walnuts

Buying nuts in a store, the buyer cannot be sure of the high quality of the products. The best option is to harvest fresh nuts from the tree in the fall. You can store the product in different ways, subjecting it to pre-treatment. One of the simple types of processing is drying pine nuts and walnuts in the oven. But in order not to overdry the kernels, you need to know the basic rules for drying this tasty and nutritious product.

Basic moments

For drying it is necessary to select healthy, ripe fruits. If you choose unripe nuts, during the drying process, the kernels will lose most of the moisture and become tasteless. Therefore, it is important to choose ripe fruits. Nuts should be split, fruits should be selected according to size and degree of maturity. Wash the kernels thoroughly, dry on a napkin.

We spread walnuts of the same size on a clean, dry baking sheet, and send them to the oven at a temperature of 45 degrees. You should not significantly raise the temperature, as the kernels will dry out and lose their taste.

How long to dry nuts in the oven? It is optimal to dry the kernels for 2-3 hours. In order for moisture to evaporate faster from the product, it is recommended to slightly open the cabinet door. 10-15 minutes before the end of the recommended drying time, you can increase the temperature to 70 degrees. To make sure the product is ready, you need to try one of the nucleoli. It should break easily and crumble slightly.

Before sending the product for storage, remove the nuts from the oven and leave in a baking sheet at room temperature. It is not recommended to send hot walnuts for storage. High temperature will give walnut oil an unpleasant bitter aftertaste. It is necessary to dry walnuts in the oven in small portions in order to maintain the high quality of the kernels.

Drying pine nuts

To dry pine nuts, they must first be removed from the shell. For drying, you can choose one of the following methods:

• Electrodryer.
• In the oven.
• On a frying pan.
• Spread out on a clean cloth and placed in the sun.
• In the attic.

A convenient and quick way is to use an electric dryer. Having decomposed the kernels extracted from the shell on specialized trays, you just need to select the appropriate mode and start the device. However, not every housewife has an electric dryer at her disposal. Therefore, you can choose another suitable method.

Pine nuts can be dried in the same way as walnuts in a pan or in the oven. At what temperature to dry nuts in the oven? The optimum temperature is 120 degrees. Given that pine nuts are small in size, they should be dried for no longer than half an hour. Also, as in the case of walnuts, after drying in the oven, pine kernels must be removed from the oven and cooled at room temperature.

If it is not possible to dry the kernels in the oven, you can lay them out in the sun, after laying a clean cloth. For citizens, it is recommended to use a balcony or loggia, which receives a sufficient amount of sunlight. When using this method, do not forget about the variability of weather conditions. In case of rain, the nuts should be removed into the room, avoiding getting them wet.

Summing up

One of the convenient ways to store walnut kernels is to dry them. The most suitable option is drying in the oven. In order to qualitatively dry the kernels of a walnut or pine nut, it is necessary to peel them from the shell. Then rinse them under running water, dry them on a napkin and put them on a baking sheet in small portions.

The optimum temperature for drying is 200 degrees for walnuts and 120 for cedar kernels.

Most people already know about the beneficial properties of the nut and the variety of uses for the fruit, tree leaves, partitions or the shell itself. Before preparing a medicinal decoction or tincture, it is necessary to perform a series of procedures for selecting, cleaning and drying the product. Before you figure out how to dry walnuts in the oven, you should find out which fruits will be suitable for this, because you can prepare them well only after proper collection.

Selection of nuts

Harvesting even at home is necessary, adhering to the basic rules:

1. Fruits that have fallen off the branches must be collected as soon as possible so that dampness and mold do not occur due to their long stay on a wet surface.
2. If you shake the branches a little, only ripe nuts will fall to the ground.
3. Fruits are considered ripe only with a cracked green peel on the shell. Its integrity speaks of an unripe state.
4. Do not forget that on the lower branches of the tree, the fruits ripen first.
5. When the nuts from the upper branches crumble, they can already be picked from the bottom with your hands.
6. Before drying, the fruits are cleaned. It is advisable to do this with gloves, as the process is laborious and gets your hands dirty.

Normal drying

Knowing how to dry walnuts, you can ensure the fruit has a long shelf life and high quality. Drying under the influence of sunlight in the fresh air is considered a common method. To do this, spread any material on the ground and lay out the nuts in a single layer. They should dry for about 2-3 weeks. But this method is outdated. Moreover, there is a high probability of moisture from the ground, which leads to the development of harmful microorganisms.

Many modern people know how to dry walnuts naturally in a special room. The ideal place would be a drying room with good ventilation and air circulation. As a basis, a tray-lattice made of wood is used. Nuts are cleaned, sorted and washed. After that, lay out in one layer on a tray. This is how the racks are formed.

Important! Provide free access for air to nuts throughout the week.

In the oven

Due to the moisture capacity of about 40% in a walnut, it can be dried both in the shell and without it. To dry the fruits, you must:

1. Preheat the oven to 70-90 degrees.
2. Arrange the nuts on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Keep them like this for about 2 hours.
3. Take them out and lay them out on a flat surface. It is advisable to turn them over a little with a small frequency. This promotes better drying.

It is allowed to use an electric dryer. To do this, it is necessary to set the temperature corresponding to the device, according to the instructions. Withstand about 5 hours.

In the microwave

For drying you need:

1. Use a serrated knife to cut a small "x" on one side of each nut. After warming up, the shell is harder to remove. And this marking will help clean the product after drying.
2. Arrange the nuts in 1 layer on a microwaveable dish. The "x" marking on the shell must be on top of each nut. It is necessary to make sure that it is not from below and is not covered by other fruits.
3. Roast the nuts in several stages with an interval of one minute, using full power. At the same time, the shell will not darken, but at the place of the incision it will begin to clear a little. There will be a strong nutty flavor.
4. Stir the nuts occasionally to toast evenly, making sure the cut is on top more often. Although in any case, the nuts will roast well.

The method of drying nuts in the microwave is suitable if you need to dry a small amount of fruit.

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How to dry walnuts correctly, is there a certain technology? We have studied several proven methods and put together detailed instructions for you! Now you can properly collect and dry the kernels, keeping not only the unique taste, but also all the useful qualities intact.

When and how is it collected

In this review, you will learn how to properly dry walnuts - but first, let's talk about why this step is needed at all. You need to dry the nuts before splitting - this is a very important procedure that allows you to remove excess moisture and prevent the processes of decay and spoilage. You can extend the shelf life of the product, preserve the taste and useful properties.

Before you figure out how and how much to dry a walnut, you need to collect ripe fruits. The collection procedure begins when the ripe nuts are already falling to the ground, but it will be difficult to determine the exact time! Let's try to discuss the main parameters:

• Harvested at the end of August and left to ripen for 2-3 weeks in a cool, dry and dark place;
• Late September - early October. Such fruits do not need ripening.

Of course, in many respects the collection time depends on the variety. Early-ripening nuts are harvested in summer, late-ripening varieties are harvested from trees only in autumn.

You can focus on such factors - they will tell you that it's time to harvest:

• The foliage of the tree began to turn yellow;
• The shells were covered with cracks;
• The shell turned from green to yellowish, acquired softness.

The harvested crop ripens or immediately goes to processing - remove the green skin! Don't forget to wear gloves so you don't stain your hands with the brown pigment, which is very difficult to wash off.

Now it's time to learn how to properly dry walnut kernels! We know several ways, which we will describe in detail. Are we getting started?

How to dry in an electric dryer

Drying walnuts in the shell is available using a special device - an electric dryer can be purchased at hardware stores or large markets. Usually intended for drying fruits and vegetables, but can be used for nuts.

The principle of operation is as follows: the heated air flow under the action of the fan moves in different directions, heating the fruits from all sides. The temperature depends on the model of the device - it usually fluctuates around + 50 ... + 70C.

Found a dryer at home or successfully purchased a device? Let's figure out what needs to be done to dry walnuts with high quality!

• Take out the plastic trays and arrange the kernels in their shells;
• Lay out neatly in one layer - it is advisable to leave some free space;
• Load the pallets into the electric dryer;
• Activate the mode according to the instructions of the device;
• Wait for the end of the process - it will take about 5-6 hours.

Of course, this is not the only way to dry walnuts at home! We can use more trivial methods - let's turn to familiar kitchen appliances.

How to dry in the oven

The oven has been used for this purpose for many years - this is an easy and affordable way to get the desired result! You can place both whole kernels and the core, freed from the shell - consider both options.

Let's start by telling you how to dry walnuts, previously peeled:

• Preheat the oven to 50C (no more - otherwise bitterness will appear in the taste);
• Arrange the kernels on a dry, clean baking sheet in one layer, leaving free space;
• Place the tray in the oven and leave for 20-30 minutes;
• Periodically, the nuts need to be stirred so that they dry evenly.

To properly dry walnuts in an oven with a shell, you need to maintain the optimum temperature. Do not set too high values ​​- you risk burning or boiling the kernels. We do not need this, so we act according to simple instructions!

• Wash the fruits and dry thoroughly;
• Carefully spread the nuts on a baking sheet in an even layer, sorting by size;
• Preheat the oven to 40 degrees and put the tray;
• Leave the fruits to lie for three hours with the door ajar;
• Half an hour before the end of the process, increase the temperature to 60 degrees;
• Take out and cool the kernels!

Carefully crack open the shell - if it breaks easily, you've reached the right level of doneness!

Congratulations, you were able to dry the shelled walnuts in the oven. Consider the third available method?

How to dry outdoors

The oldest way to dry a walnut after picking is naturally, in the sun and fresh air. This method has a drawback, this is the strongest influence of weather conditions - therefore, it is worth choosing dry sunny days. Carefully study the forecast, rains and fogs, you don’t need abundant dew - you risk spoiling the product with excessive moisture!

Drying walnuts in the shell in the sun is as follows:

• Cover the ground with a tarp, greenhouse film or other dense material;
• If possible, use wooden boxes with a slatted bottom - they provide excellent air circulation;
• Scatter the fruits over the surface in an even layer;
• Turn three to four times a day.

The process takes 3-6 days, subject to sunny weather and an average temperature of 30C. It is better to cover the nuts at night to protect them from moisture.

If necessary, you can dry the walnuts in the attic or in the basement (suddenly, bad weather conditions were taken by surprise). Place the kernels on a slatted surface to provide airflow and leave to lie for 10-12 days.

There was a need to dry the walnuts in the shell in the apartment? A dry room with a temperature of 27-30C is suitable! Spread the kernels in a single layer on thick paper or newspaper - the process will take about 10 days. It is recommended to periodically ventilate the room.

How to pan dry

You already know how to dry walnuts at home! Above, we talked about how to use the oven for peeled kernels, but there is another option. You can dry the fruits in a pan:

• Heat a thick-walled skillet without oil;
• Throw in the chopped nuts;
• Leave them to dry for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Ready! Nothing complicated, are you sure? You can also use the natural method:

• Place the peeled kernels in a container and place to dry under direct sunlight;
• Periodically stir and move the nuts;
• In 2-3 days you will achieve the desired result!

We told you how you can dry walnuts in the shell and without it - finally, let's talk about the quality of the finished product!

How to understand readiness

Have you followed all the proper procedures? Now you need to make sure that the nuts have reached the right level - if you do not finish drying the fruit, it will begin to mold and rot. To check the quality, it is necessary to split the shell of at least two kernels:

• Check for moisture;
• Evaluate the density of the consistency - there should not be any softness;
• Make sure the membranes are dry and the flesh breaks easily and is crunchy;
• The color should be even, brown;
• The taste is pleasantly sweet, without bitter notes.

If the nuts do not meet the specified parameters, you need to dry them for some more time!

We discussed in detail how and at what temperature to dry walnuts, we found suitable natural and artificial methods! You just have to choose the appropriate option to achieve an impressive result on your own and enjoy a unique taste.

A tasty and healthy product that can be grown on your site or purchased at many retail outlets. To preserve its properties, after harvesting, the fruits must be dried. Features of the process and further storage are described below.

When and how to collect nuts

A biological sign of the ripeness of a culture can be considered the shedding of nuts to the ground when the pericarp cracks. Cracking usually starts with nuts located on the lower branches of the tree. An additional sign is the yellowing of the foliage.

Video: How to dry a walnut

On air

The most simple and not requiring special resources method prescribes the following sequence of actions:

1. In a sunny area, cover the ground with a suitable dense material, such as a tarp. If possible, it is better to use boxes with a slatted bottom, which will ensure air circulation.
2. Arrange the clean nuts in a single layer.
3. Dry in the sun. When laying on the material 2-3 times a day, it is desirable to mix.

Drying in air, on sunny days at a temperature of about + 30 ° C, takes 3-5 days. The main disadvantage of this method is the likelihood of precipitation and a decrease in the average daily temperature; you cannot dry the nuts in fog or heavy dew. It is recommended to cover the fruits at night to avoid exposure to sudden changes in temperature and humidity. Often drying is transferred under the roof, using non-residential premises, such as an attic. For this work, the nuts must be placed on a wire rack to allow air to enter.

A crop of modest size can also be dried in an apartment, while the fruits can be laid out on paper or newspaper, periodically airing them. The temperature in the room where the fruits will lie should be about + 27 ° C.

In the oven

With such drying of nuts, it should be taken into account that the optimal exposure temperature is +55…+57°C, and the maximum allowable temperature is +62°C. The higher the initial moisture content of the product, the lower the drying temperature should be. For the oven, the fruits are pre-sorted by size, then placing the same on a baking sheet.

Important! To make sure the work is complete, a few nuts need to be cracked and the condition of the kernel checked. If it is still not dry enough, drying should continue.

• warm the nuts at a temperature of +40 ... + 45 ° C for about 2.5 hours, leaving the door ajar;
• for the last half an hour, increase the temperature to +60°C.

In an electric dryer

In the assortment of household appliances stores you can find electric dryers for vegetables and fruits, which are not forbidden to be used for walnuts. The temperature maintained by the electric dryer depends on the model of the device. Infrared models work at a temperature of about +50°C, and convection models - up to +70°C. The regulator should select the temperature closest to the desired temperature for nuts. Nuts are cracked on the plastic pallets included in the kit and then follow according to the instructions for the device. In such a device, drying will take about 5-6 hours.

Are the nuts ready, how to check

To check readiness, you need to get the kernels of several nuts and examine the inside of the shell. The following signs will indicate the readiness of the product:

• the core is dry, of a dense consistency, easily broken;
• pleasant taste and thin skin;
• membranes are dry.

How best to dry the kernels

Kernels free from shells and partitions can be dried in the sun by placing them on a suitable tray and stirring occasionally. The average duration of such drying is 2-3 days. You can also use the oven, setting the temperature in it to about + 50 ° C and spreading the nuts in a thin layer on a baking sheet.

It will take about 40 minutes, depending on the amount and the desired degree of roasting. Before direct use, a small amount of kernels can be dried in a heated frying pan with constant stirring.

How to store at home

Dried walnuts can be stored in wooden or plastic boxes, bags or nets. The container must be clean and dry. Containers should be placed in dry places with good ventilation, where the temperature is maintained within +5…+10°C, and the air humidity is about 60%. In this form, fruits can be stored for up to 3 years.

Dried peeled kernels can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 year, in a pantry or basement for up to 4 months. Up to 3 years, nuts frozen at -18°C can retain their beneficial properties. After defrosting, the kernels are calcined in the oven or in a frying pan.

Compliance with the drying technology and temperature is necessary to ensure the taste properties of the nut. This process also significantly affects the subsequent storage of the product. Depending on the number of fruits and environmental conditions, you can choose the appropriate drying method for each particular farm.

In our time, when questions of the naturalness of products are especially acute, and the word “chemistry” causes shivers, walnuts have gained incredible popularity. A rare gardener does not grow them on his site, but having received an enviable harvest, 100% wants to completely, without loss, collect and save it. How to do it quickly and efficiently, read below.

The timing of harvesting walnuts depends on two main factors:

• 1) varieties;
• 2) climatic conditions in the place of cultivation (warmer - earlier, cooler - later).

As a rule, depending on the variety, walnuts ripen at the following times:

• early ripening - in August;
• mid-season (most of them) - September;
• late - in October.

The main signal that it is time to start harvesting is the moment when the green pericarp bursts, and after a while the nut falls to the ground.

It is worth considering another option: it often happens that ripening occurs unevenly on one tree. Accordingly, in this case, the fruits are harvested selectively in several stages.

Important! Thus, there is a direct relationship between the timing of harvesting and the quality of walnut kernels, so the harvest of walnuts must be harvested on time. If you are late, substances from the green pericarp can penetrate into the nucleus and it will turn black. Moreover, mold may appear on the fruits that have fallen to the ground and they will disappear. And if you do this ahead of time, then the core, when dried, can significantly decrease in weight and volume, become very wrinkled (lose any presentation) and hard, its taste will deteriorate, and, naturally, it will be stored worse.

Video: When to Harvest Walnuts: Harvest Time

Now you know how to correctly determine that the nuts are ready to be harvested, it remains to collect them correctly, clean, wash, dry and store them.

How to collect and clean nuts

With fruits that themselves fall to the ground, there can be no collection problems - just take them and collect them with your hands in a suitable container.

But if you have several trees, and the harvest is quite serious, then there is a special tool - a roll for collecting walnuts.

You can see how this tool works (and it can collect nuts on both flat and uneven surfaces) in the following videos.

Video: how to quickly collect fallen walnuts on any surface

The main difficulties usually arise with fruits that are already clearly ripe, but still hanging on the tree. If you have a small tree, then you can remove the nuts by hand, the same goes for harvesting from the lower branches of large trees.

But removing nuts from the upper branches of tall trees is no longer such an easy task, which can be solved in 2 ways:

• shake the tree itself or its individual branches with your hands, for example, this can be done by climbing a ladder.
• again, you can use special tools for picking up on a long stick (pole), for example, with a hook at the end, or some other design.

By the way! Many people advise collecting nuts in dry weather, but, as a rule, they crumble after rain, and besides, you will have to wash them first before storing them, and then dry them properly.

How to peel fruits from green peel (pericarp)

It is good when the nut fruit falls out of the pericarp while still on the tree. It is also not bad when it is released when it falls to the ground, or the skin is detached already on the ground. This happens in most cases.

But it often happens that the fruits have to be removed from the pericarp on their own, which can be quite difficult (you will have to work tediously and monotonously with a knife). This must be done, and as soon as possible, if you want to get high-quality light nut kernels. This need is due to the fact that the green peel retains heat inside the nut, which means that the pericarp itself gradually begins to rot, and the shell and core darken, that is, the nut begins to lose its taste.

In general, those who grow walnuts for sale, that is, in large enough volumes, as a rule, use all sorts of special machines for quick cleaning, for example, as in the next video.

Video: an industrial way to peel a nut from a green peel

After you peel the fruits from the amniotic peel, they should be washed in water, and then bleached, if desired, for example, in a saline solution (5 kg of salt per 10 liters of water). After the bleaching procedure, the duration of which is 1-2 minutes, the fruits should be thoroughly washed in clean water.

Video: how to properly collect and prepare (dry) nuts for storage

Note! The author of this video at the end says that drying nuts near the battery is fraught with the fact that they can bloom and become moldy, but according to numerous reviews and opinions (even in the comments to this video), this is not at all the case.

How to dry walnuts after harvest

In order for walnuts to be stored as long as possible and not lose their useful properties, they must first be dried properly, and this can be done both at home (in an apartment), and on the street or under a canopy.

Drying freshly harvested nuts optimally outdoors in warm sunny weather (but not higher than 30 degrees), or in the shade under a canopy, where there is good airflow, however, it is also suitable ventilated attic(especially if the weather is changeable and unfavorable).

Nuts must be laid out in 1 layer (maximum - 2) on wire mesh or slatted boxes, on either newspapers and stir occasionally to dry the shells evenly.

At home, drying walnuts is very convenient near the battery.

The time of the procedure depends on the moisture content of the nut and on the intensity of the drying itself. Most often, a few days are enough (from 2 to 5).

Important! Do not place walnuts to dry on impermeable materials such as plastic wrap. The water flowing from the nuts will stagnate, which will cause stains on the nutshell, and the kernel itself may deteriorate.

Video: how to dry walnuts

By the way! Inshell walnuts can also be dried at home, for example, in the oven, laying out on a baking sheet. The optimum temperature (preheat) - up to 50 degrees, time - 20-30 minutes (not forgetting to stir).

Even better for such purposes is a special electric dryer.

Very convenient to dry nuts in the microwave(1.5 minutes at the maximum), but it's better to do it anyway with already cleaned.

Advice! Once you've dried the walnuts sufficiently, be sure to crack open a couple to check for doneness. If the kernels are still wet, it is worth continuing drying, because it is precisely because of the excess moisture inside that the fruit deteriorates and becomes moldy during storage.

How to store walnuts at home: peeled and in shell

By the way! Knowing how to properly store walnuts is not only important when you grow them yourself, but also when you buy them from the market.

Important! Nuts absorb odors very well, so they should not be stored next to other "fragrant" products, and even more so when peeled.

Storage of purified kernels

Depending on the volume (and in this form they are usually stored in a fairly small amount) and your capabilities, there are various ways to store shelled nuts.

It is convenient to store shelled walnuts, pre-packed in plastic zip bags or jars with lids, in the refrigerator. Shelf life - from 2 to 12 months.

But before storing the peeled kernels, they must also be dried, more precisely calcined in a frying pan (periodic stirring) or on a baking sheet in the oven for 10 minutes at a temperature of no more than 50 degrees.

You can store walnuts without shells in canvas bags, glass jars, putting them in a dark and cool place (pantry). Shelf life - from 2 to 4 months.

You can store purified kernels and frozen in the freezer, and it is most convenient to use special vacuum bags for freezing. Shelf life - from 1 to 3 years.

Advice! When storing peeled walnuts, do not forget to periodically inspect and mix them in order to quickly remove spoiled kernels.

Video: how to properly store peeled walnuts

By the way! It is not necessary to store walnuts fresh, you can make various twists for the winter (jam) with them.

Shell storage

Inshell walnuts are very convenient to store in wooden or plastic boxes, canvas bags or nets, which must be dry, clean and free of foreign odors. In such a container, the nut will feel great and “breathe”, which means it will not rot or mold. The boxes or nets themselves can be put on racks.

As for the optimal conditions, inshell walnuts should be stored in a dry, ventilated room with a stable temperature of +5-10 degrees (although some old sources recommend a temperature of 0-+5 degrees and an air humidity of 60%). Under such conditions, they can be stored without losing their taste for several years (up to 3 years).

Note! In no case should walnuts be stored in damp areas, such as a basement or cellar. High humidity contributes to the formation of mold on the shell, which means that it rots.

Video: how to store peeled walnuts and in shell

In order to harvest an incredibly useful walnut without problems and at 100%, you need to carefully consider determining its maturity and the correct harvesting time. Also, special attention should be paid to the cleaning technique and compliance with storage rules.

Important! If you did not follow the storage conditions or for some other reason, the kernel inside the walnut stopped being white, it began to darken (it became dark) - it is no longer suitable for consumption. You can get severe poisoning of the body.

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