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Any nuts from the collection point to the store counter and the end consumer go a long way. Hygiene standards for cleaning, storage and transportation are often not followed. Therefore, experts recommend that you always wash peeled walnuts before eating.
Do I need to wash walnuts
Peeled walnuts are not fundamentally different from almonds, cashews or hazelnuts. And it is imperative to wash them before eating. This also applies to the product sold in the shell. The need to wash peeled kernels is due to the following points:
- When sold, the product is constantly outdoors and remains unprotected from airborne dust and dirt particles.
- Not only bacteria or viruses, but also parasite eggs can get on peeled nuts from people present in the immediate vicinity.
- To ensure a long shelf life, the fruits of the walnut tree can be processed with special chemical compounds that prevent food moths and other pests from eating the product.
How to wash peeled walnuts
Usually nuts in the shell are not treated with chemistry. Therefore, everything is simple with them: you just need to rinse them in running water, thus getting rid of dirt and dust, which will settle on the nuclei during the process of splitting.
Therefore, washing walnut kernels, if the product was sold peeled, should be more carefully:
- pouring into a colander;
- thoroughly rinsing under running cold running water;
- additionally rinsing with bottled or cooled boiled water.
The described method is relevant for shelled walnuts purchased from a trusted seller. If the purchase was made on the market, it is worth scalding the fruits with boiling water - this will kill most of the microbes.
It is important not only to properly wash walnuts before eating, but also to remove them correctly from the water. So, if the water is drained only by holding the kernels with your hands, the dirt particles that have settled on the bottom of the dish are more likely to stick to the clean product again. To prevent this from happening, you should use a slotted spoon.
Which is better: wash or soak
There is a point of view that peeled walnuts are not enough just to be washed - they should be soaked.
There is no particular difficulty in the procedure. Unfried peeled kernels are placed in a container, poured with drinking water and left in this form for several hours (you can overnight). The product can be stored for up to three days in a refrigerator. After the specified period, they begin to deteriorate, and their taste characteristics deteriorate.
It is better to use hot water for soaking. But when using baking soda, cold soda will work. An alkaline environment will effectively kill all viruses, bacteria and eggs that have had time to lay parasites.
The soaking process is often used by raw foodists. It is generally accepted that putting a raw product in water for a while helps to revive it. The taste of peeled walnuts after soaking becomes sweeter and more delicate. If some bitterness was previously present in it, it disappears. The nut stops crunching, but many people even like it.
How to properly dry nuts after washing
Having figured out how you can wash peeled walnuts, you should also learn how to dry them. There are several ways.
Natural drying
Natural drying does not involve heat treatment. The washed product is laid out on a cloth or sheet of paper in a well-ventilated area for 2 - 3 days. The fruits should be mixed periodically to dry evenly.
In an electric dryer
When drying with a specialized household appliance - an electric dryer - it is important to set the correct temperature, which is intended for heat treatment of fruits and nuts. The procedure will take about 5-6 hours.
In the oven
When drying washed peeled nuts in the oven, set the temperature in the range of 70 to 90 degrees. A higher figure is not allowed. Before placing the nuts in the oven, they must be laid out on a baking sheet (preferably in one layer). The drying process will take 2 to 3 hours. After the indicated time has elapsed, the fruits must be removed, spread out on a flat surface and allowed to cool.
In the microwave
Drying washed peeled nuts in the microwave is not the most common method, but it is sometimes used. It takes literally 1 - 2 minutes to dry the fruit. In this case, it is important to correctly set the time mode: if you make a mistake, the walnuts will burn.
An alternative to washing: roasting nuts
Not everyone dares to wash the fruits before eating, fearing about their taste. In such cases, it is worth considering another way to make the product not only safer to eat, but also tastier. We are talking about frying in a pan.
To get tasty and safe nuts using the roasting method, you will need to follow these steps:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat.
- Place the kernels in it in one layer, previously cut in half or into 4 parts. You do not need to use oil and fat: the fruits themselves are quite fatty.
- Keep on fire, stirring constantly, until a blush is formed. On average, the process takes no more than 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Let the nuts cool.
- Serve.
Practice shows that roasted walnuts have a brighter and richer taste.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that walnuts are considered a healthy product, their consumption must be approached with caution: not washing peeled walnuts before eating will be a serious mistake, which can be paid for with an upset stomach. Washing the fruit before eating is just as important as washing your hands.
