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Marilyns Treats

July 1, 2016 · 35 Comments

Tip Friday Toasting Nuts

Tip Friday

Toasting nuts at home is worth the 10 minutes you will spend. It will improve your salads, snacks, rice pilaf and just about any other kitchen recipes requiring nuts you might make.
Toasting nuts at home is worth the 10 minutes you will spend. It will improve your salads, snacks, rice pilaf and just about any other kitchen recipes requiring nuts you might make.

Toasting Nuts

Toasting nuts at home is worth the 10 minutes you will spend. It will improve your salads, snacks, rice pilaf and just about any other kitchen recipes requiring nuts you might make.

Toasting nuts is a step that some cooks skip, which is unfortunate because this simple effort can really make a good recipe into an amazing recipe.

Don’t take the attitude that it isn’t worth preheating your oven.

But it bears repeating. If your recipe called for roasting the nuts be sure to take this important step. Flavor matters!

Nuts toasted in the oven are particularly the most popular.

This is because the dry, indirect heat the oven offers will toast the nuts more evenly than a skillet will.

Using a skillet might take less time but the heat is uneven. Even if you’re using medium or medium low heat, you’ll still get black or charred spots.

Using a sheet pan in the oven will give you beautiful, even browning.

Toasting nuts at home is worth the 10 minutes you will spend. It will improve your salads, snacks, rice pilaf and just about any other kitchen recipes requiring nuts you might make.

Nuts will take on a deeper color when toasted. Toasting nuts enhances their flavor. Since nuts are high in fat, they can scorch easily. Always toast nuts in a shallow container in a single layer.

A low to moderate oven is best. The nuts are done when you can smell their aroma and they’ve become golden brown. Remove them from the oven when their color is just a shade lighter than what you’re looking for, as they’ll continue to cook a bit as they cool.

If you’re toasting sweetened coconut, remove it from the oven and stir it on the baking pan every five minutes to ensure even browning.

So how do you toast nuts?

Toasting nuts at home is worth the 10 minutes you will spend. It will improve your salads, snacks, rice pilaf and just about any other kitchen recipes requiring nuts you might make.

Toss the nuts with a good pinch of kosher salt. As the nuts heat up, oils will rise to the surface, giving the salt something to adhere to. Spread them out in an even layer on a sheet pan, and pop them in a 350° oven.

Generally speaking, lighter, more tender nuts like pecans, pistachios, and walnuts will take 6-8 minutes to get to a good place.

Denser nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, and macadamias will take more like 8-10 minutes to finish toasting.

Trust your nose over the timer. Good toasted nuts should be fragrant and roasted smelling. They should never smell burnt or acrid.

Regardless of the type of nut, you should give your sheet pan a solid shake halfway through to shift the position of the nuts for even browning.

You should also make sure to transfer the nuts to a plate or bowl right after you take them out of the oven. They’ll continue toasting if you leave them on the pan.

Once the nuts are done, remove them from the oven and transfer them to a cool surface immediately, to minimize this continuing cooking.

From here, you can just store the nuts at room temperature. They’ll be their best on the day you roast them, but they’re also good for the next three days.

After that, they start to lose that toasty aroma and flavor.

Dry Roasting vs Roasting with Oil

Roasting nuts with a touch of oil is a really nice way to add flavor and crispness. While matching the nut with the oil gives them a special touch, it is not necessary. A neutral oil such as grapeseed oil is fine too.

But it’s not always appropriate to roast nuts with oil, especially when they are being used in a in a recipe that already requires oil. Feel free to roast nuts in oil when adding them to a salad, when they will be used as a garnish, or just when you serve them on their own.

Check and Stir

It is important to check the nuts frequently while they roast and to stir them often. Most ovens have hot spots, so you want to move the nuts around for even roasting. Stir them from the edges to the middle. The edges can brown sooner than the nuts in the middle.

Toasting Tips

If the recipe requires chopping, do this after roasting. It is easy to burn already chopped nuts since the pieces are so small. Warm nuts also chop more cleanly and with less flaking.

Smaller nuts such as pine nuts are notorious for burning quickly. Check them more frequently, usually every 2 minutes or so.

Enjoy Toasted nuts that you make at home! you will enjoy them even more.

Research from Bon Appetite and The Kitchn

Most images in my Tip Friday Series use free stock photos. This article is part of the Tips That Help in the Kitchen Series, Tip Friday.

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blankI am Marilyn Lesniak. Writer, Photographer and Chief Bottle Washer behind the scenes at Marilyn's Treats. Don’t burn down the kitchen!! Let me help with my Kitchen Tips, Hacks and Recipes for all levels of Chefs. Read More…

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Comments

  1. blankPili says

    July 13, 2016 at 5:17 PM

    Thanks so much for the tips Marilyn!!

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 13, 2016 at 9:35 PM

      Thanks Pili. I am glad it worked!

      Reply
  2. blankMarilyn says

    July 13, 2016 at 1:43 PM

    Reply to :
    Pili

    COMMENT
    I have never tried toasting nuts, but I’ll pin this post to remember for any time I decide to try. Thanks for linking up with us at Sweet Inspiration

    WEBSITE
    http://sweethings.net

    Thank you Pili! Your comment came through notification twice, but didnt post on the blog. I will check it out.

    Reply
  3. blankFrugal Hausfrau says

    July 12, 2016 at 11:26 PM

    Great tips! You wouldn’t believe how many nuts I’ve burned on the stovetop – I’ll try this next time! Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday!

    Mollie

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 13, 2016 at 9:37 AM

      I can’t tell you all the troubles I go through. I started these tips because of that! Thanks Mollie.

      Reply
  4. blankNikki Frank-Hamilton says

    July 12, 2016 at 5:46 PM

    I love toasted nuts, especially pine nuts and almonds. I never thought about the carry over cooking, this is probably why mine end up too dark. Once again you’ve saved the day! I always learn new things when I visit you, I love that!

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 12, 2016 at 8:01 PM

      Glad my failures can be used for good! ????

      Reply
  5. blankDee says

    July 8, 2016 at 8:35 PM

    I love your tips, Marilyn! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday. 🙂

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 10, 2016 at 11:50 AM

      I am glad you like them Dee! Love your party.

      Reply
  6. blankCarla a.k.a Mrs. R says

    July 7, 2016 at 1:17 PM

    Yum! I love toasted nuts for either snacking r as a topping to salads … it does bring the flavors out … thanks for sharing with us at #SimplifyWednesdays

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 7, 2016 at 7:44 PM

      I have lways liked pine nuts. I just got hooked on toasting them recently. Just need to measure them out better!

      Reply
  7. blankCeri says

    July 6, 2016 at 4:06 AM

    What a great tip! I don’t toast that many nuts but toasted pine nuts are a regular staple in my salads. So, So tasty. Really useful post, Thanks so much for linking up with the #sharethejoy linky

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 6, 2016 at 4:22 PM

      You are welcome Ceri. I find the best tips are ones I am lready doing but didn’t know why!

      Reply
  8. blankDebbie Williams says

    July 5, 2016 at 10:19 PM

    Thanks Marilyn. Sometimes I fail to toast nuts even though the recipe says too. I didn’t know it helped the flavor. Now I do.

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 6, 2016 at 4:21 PM

      I skip alot of spices because I don’t store the expensive ones. I found THEY change the flavor. Who would have though?

      Reply
  9. blankJess says

    July 5, 2016 at 1:34 PM

    Definitely a great tip!

    I’d love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 5, 2016 at 2:38 PM

      Thank you Jess.

      Reply
  10. blankLeslie says

    July 4, 2016 at 4:19 PM

    I toast nuts for brownies and for ice cream toppings. Since toasting gives me flavor they are so tasty.

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 4, 2016 at 4:44 PM

      I agree Leslie! I use them for sundaes all the time!

      Reply
  11. blankHelen Fern says

    July 4, 2016 at 2:37 PM

    Perfect instructions!! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner Linky!

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 4, 2016 at 4:44 PM

      Thank you so much Helen!

      Reply
  12. blankCathy Lawdanski says

    July 3, 2016 at 10:15 PM

    I usually do mine in a pan on top of the stove, with mixed results. Will try them in the oven next time!

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 4, 2016 at 4:43 PM

      I don’t know but there is something about the oven that makes them moister. I have heard others even microwave them!

      Reply
  13. blankJessica Foley says

    July 3, 2016 at 6:56 PM

    I’ve never tried toasting my own but you make it sound easy. I think I’d spend a lot of time looking into the oven to see how they’re doing. I like the idea of taking them out a shade before you think they’re done. Good tips for roasting nuts!
    ~Jess
    #familyjoyblog

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 3, 2016 at 7:06 PM

      Thank you Jess for adding your thoughts! I am happy when they cause someone to stop and think!

      Reply
  14. blankLinda says

    July 3, 2016 at 5:53 PM

    I can’t eat many of them but sure wish I could!

    Hugs,
    Linda

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 3, 2016 at 7:05 PM

      I can’t eat alot either. They make a great energy boost just by eating 6-8!

      Reply
  15. blankJanet Vinyard says

    July 3, 2016 at 12:41 PM

    Hi Marilyn, It’s surprising what a difference it makes to toast nuts – it really seems to bring out their flavor! Thanks for the tips! Happy Fourth of July! Blessings, Janet

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 3, 2016 at 3:59 PM

      Thnk you Janet. I am happy you agree. Toasted are so much better. Toasted pecans are great on ice cream!

      Reply
  16. blankLisa @ Fun Money Mom says

    July 3, 2016 at 12:13 AM

    Yumm…I love toasted nuts! Thanks so much for sharing your tips with us at Share The Wealth Sunday!

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 3, 2016 at 3:57 PM

      You are welcome Lisa!

      Reply
  17. blankNancy Baten says

    July 2, 2016 at 3:02 AM

    And they are so healthy! Delicious!

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 2, 2016 at 12:38 PM

      That they are Nancy!a great treat to offset sugar!

      Reply
  18. blankGiGi Eats says

    July 1, 2016 at 11:13 PM

    If I could eat nuts, I would roast all of them! LOVE THEM SO SO SO much!

    Reply
    • blankMarilyn says

      July 2, 2016 at 12:35 PM

      I dont eat many. But they are great protein and a good treat!

      Reply

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