Today I want to write about how to peel almonds from the shell and thin brown skin. Almonds are used quite often for preparing culinary dishes, but not everyone knows how to peel them, and they spend a lot of time and effort on this process. In fact, if you know how to do it, peeling almonds is simple and quick.
Ingredients:
- almond
Preparation:
- We peel the almonds using a nutcracker or a hammer (in the latter case, the almonds can be pre-wrapped in a towel or newspaper to prevent the shells from flying apart).
- Then the almonds need to be peeled from the thin brown skin (this can add bitterness to dishes with almonds and affect their appearance). Place almonds in boiling water and cook for 2-4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove from the pan and lower into cold water for 20-30 seconds, then place in a colander or sieve, let the water drain and transfer to a plate.
- We squeeze each nut with our index finger and thumb, and the kernel easily pops out of the skin. Place the peeled almonds on a plate lined with napkins or paper towels. Dry the almonds with these napkins or towels.
- We roast the almonds to dry them and to make their taste and aroma more pronounced and pleasant. 1st method. Place the almonds in a dry, heated frying pan and fry over low heat, stirring occasionally with a spatula so that they fry evenly, until an almond aroma and a light golden-pink hue appear. 2nd method. Place the almonds, peeled and dried with napkins, on a baking sheet and leave for 6-11 minutes. into an oven preheated to 170°C. We also soak the almonds there until an almond aroma and a golden-pink color appear. Be sure to watch the almonds in the oven so that they do not burn.
- Once the almonds have acquired the desired color and aroma, remove them from the pan or baking sheet.
- Almonds prepared in this way can be used to prepare various sweet (
In stores, we most often see almonds that have already been removed from the shell. The nuts grow sealed in a dense shell; it is as hard as a walnut, and it takes a lot of effort to crack it. If you bought just such nuts, then you first need to open the shells. The easiest way is to break it with a hammer, masher or use a garlic press. Take your time, split the shell lengthwise so that it does not crumble.
When you take out all the nuts, pay attention to the brown shell with which they are covered. It is precisely this that gives that unpleasant bitterness in taste, which is why almonds need to be peeled. If you try to remove it right away without preparation, you will not succeed. The skin fits tightly to the nut and if it separates, it is only slowly and with almond particles.
Choose beautiful, smooth nuts. Those that emit an unpleasant odor and look untidy, put them aside and then throw them in the trash bin; they are not suitable for consumption. Pour selected almonds into a deep cup and fill with warm, clean water so that all the nuts are in it. Leave the bowl of water on the kitchen counter overnight to allow the almonds to swell a little. Don't worry about the taste, it won't go away.
On a note!
Almonds come in 2 varieties: sweet and bitter. The peel is removed from both types.
In the morning, drain the water from the cup, place the nuts in a colander, and rinse again with clean water. Take one nut and press it on both sides with your fingers. The fruit will slip out of the skin without difficulty, do the same with other fruits. Peeling the nut becomes much easier.
How to peel almonds - methods
At home, the skin can be removed without much effort. Most methods are based on the principle of temperature influence. Due to heating or cooling of the nut, the skin loses its strength and is easily peeled off by hand. Cleaning will take about 5-10 minutes, it all depends on the volume of the nut.
In the microwave
Take a special microwave-safe cup. It must be deep. Place nuts in the bottom of the cup, then fill them with hot water. Place the cup in the oven and heat for 30-40 seconds. Then drain the water and peel the almonds. The microwave power should be at maximum, then the water in the cup will almost boil. Do not overdo it with heating; keep the cup in the oven for no more than one and a half minutes.
In cold/boiling water
Soak the prepared almonds in a pan filled to the top with hot water. You can set the water to heat up so that it does not have time to cool down. Do not forget to stir so that the nut does not burn in this case. Continue heating the water for 5-10 minutes. Drain the almonds in a colander and immediately transfer to a bowl of cold water. Leave the nuts to sit for 5-10 minutes. Then drain the water and clean them with light finger pressure.
How to peel almonds with a towel
Spread the prepared nuts in an even layer on a regular clean towel and cover it with the other side. Move your hands over the towel, applying slight pressure with your palms. Do not press too hard, otherwise some of the nuts will crack. Grind the almonds for 2-3 minutes. Instead of a towel, you can use another fabric, preferably dense.
Other ways to clean nuts
Another cleaning method is to pour the almonds into a plastic bag and shake and knead them with your hands. It cleans well, but the nuts must first be soaked in water overnight.
To save energy, do not rub the nuts with your palms, use a rolling pin. Roll it over the nuts for 2-3 minutes, do not press too hard, otherwise the nuts will crumble.
If you don't have a lot of nuts and don't have time to wait long, take a small knife and scrape the skins.
How to peel roasted almonds
Many people roast the nuts immediately after purchase; they have a pleasant aftertaste and an appetizing aroma. You can also remove the skin from roasted almonds; this is easier to do than from fresh ones. Pour the nuts into a sieve and rub on it; the dry skin will come off on its own. Remove the husks by hand so that they do not interfere with the cleaning process. Roasted nuts can be blanched as described above; be sure to dry the nuts from water before storing.
How to properly store nuts
Shelled nuts must be stored under certain conditions so that they retain their taste and aroma. Surely in every home there is a place that will meet the following parameters:
- without access to light;
- without access to moisture;
- away from heating elements (ovens, heaters).
The temperature for storing almonds should be from 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. You can place the nuts in the refrigerator, but only in a separate container, away from foods with specific odors.
On a note!
Sliced or crushed almonds do not store as well as whole ones.
Place the nuts in a clean, dry container with a tight lid and leave it in a cupboard, counter, or kitchen drawer. You can store nuts in a vacuum bag, in a plastic bag or in any other container that will protect the nuts from moisture. Under the correct storage conditions, almonds can be stored for up to several months.
Almonds with almonds - how to peel and preserve king nuts
Gourmet almonds are a delicacy among nuts. It is tasty and a storehouse of benefits. Almonds are used in medicine, cosmetology, perfumery, wine production, confectionery and much more. Rich in valuable oils, vitamins, minerals and trace elements, the nut was known and valued back in ancient Egypt. But the taste and benefits are found only in high-quality nuts. Therefore, it is important to be able to properly peel and store them.
Conditions and periods of storage of shelled and peeled almonds
We are used to nuts being sold already shelled. This makes our life easier, but such a product requires special storage conditions.
How to store shelled almonds
- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight;
- the storage place should be dry, cool and dark;
- Only completely dry nuts are suitable for storage, without signs of spoilage or mold;
- Fruits should not be stored next to strong-smelling foods, they will absorb the smell;
- the storage container must be hermetically sealed; a glass jar with a lid or a container with a vacuum device will do;
- Dried nuts tolerate storage better; fried nuts will go rancid faster;
- Do not mix almonds with other types of nuts;
- when storing almonds in original packaging, follow the recommendations on the label;
- if the package is opened, pour the fruits into a jar or container and place in the refrigerator;
- almonds cut into petals have a shorter shelf life than whole almonds, and almond flour even less.
- The kernels are stored in the refrigerator for up to six months, in the freezer for up to a year.
- When frozen, almonds do not lose their properties and taste.
In addition to the refrigerator, it can be stored in a cool pantry or on an insulated balcony if the temperature there does not exceed 16-18 degrees. But under such conditions, shelf life is reduced.
You cannot store almonds without packaging outdoors - they will spoil in a few weeks.
A sign of product spoilage will be a rancid smell and a bitter taste. Do not try to revive such nuts; a spoiled product will only cause harm and can cause poisoning.
Fruits in the shell are less finicky to store, but here, too, some conditions must be observed.
Storing almonds in shell
- For storage, only dry nuts are selected, without mold or rust stains, with intact shells.
- storage containers must be air-permeable; these can be bags, boxes or glass jars with a loose lid;
- Storage in plastic bags is not allowed; moisture remaining inside will lead to rapid spoilage of the product.
- When storing almonds in shells, good air circulation is important;
- relative air humidity should not exceed 70%;
- the lower the temperature, the longer the shelf life;
- at temperatures from -150C to 00C they are stored for up to 5 years, from 100C to 200C - up to 2 years.
Important! The shelf life is indicated from the moment the nuts are collected. If the almonds are from last year's harvest, the period is reduced.
For storage, it is better to give preference to nuts in shell. They retain their nutritional properties and taste longer and are less finicky in storage. And those purchased during the season will save your budget. One problem is that you will have to free them from the shell yourself.
How to peel
The nut kernels are enclosed in a hard shell, the strength of which depends on the type of almond. Paper varieties have a thin and fragile shell that can be broken with your fingers; peeling such almonds is not difficult.
The thin shells of paper grade almonds can be broken with your fingers.
Nuts with thick, strong shells will require more effort.
To peel almonds that are firmly in their shells, you will need special tools.
How to crack almond shells at home
- nutcracker;
- hammer;
- pliers;
- garlic press.
Advice! When chopping the nut, position it so that the applied force is on the edge. Then the doors will open from the impact and the core will remain intact.
If you have to crack nuts often, it makes sense to purchase a nut cracker. This can be a portable model in the form of tongs or a solid device based on the action of a lever. The nut is placed in a special nest or recess, then the handle is pressed.
After this, all that remains is to free the kernel from shell fragments.
Several varieties of nutcracker - gallery
Due to the design features of this nut cracker model, compression occurs from the sides of the nut
The longer the nutcracker lever, the less force required to operate
To crack several nuts, all you need is a portable nut cracker with a small lever
Nut cracker in the form of tongs works due to the force of the pussy hand
It’s easy to make a simple nut cracker from wood yourself. This will not require much effort, and it will work no worse than the factory one.
How to make a nut cracker with your own hands - video
Not every home has a nut cracker. If you need to split several fruits, a hammer will come to the rescue.
A regular hammer can be used to crack almonds.
For this purpose, both a regular steel hammer and a wooden one are used.
When using a wooden hammer to chop almonds, it is easier to calculate the impact force and not damage the kernel
When chopping with a hammer, it is better to wrap the fruit in a towel so that the shell does not fly apart.
According to the principle of operation, a manual nut cracker is similar to pliers. They can also be used for cracking nuts. Place the nut between the lips of the tool and squeeze the handles - the shell will crack.
It is easy to split almonds using the same method.
Another handy tool for chopping almonds is a garlic press. Place the nut into the garlic well and squeeze the handles. The disadvantage of this method is the inability to control the position of the nut, which is why the kernel will not always remain intact.
Some devices have teeth between the handles; you can place a nut between them.
A garlic press is suitable for cracking nuts.
Use steel appliances; aluminum ones are not designed for such a load and will quickly break.
This is interesting! The almond plant belongs to the plum genus, and what we used to call a nut is not one. This is the kernel of an inedible fruit.
Almonds freed from the shell are covered with skin. It is edible, although it is bitter. But it happens that the kernels need to be peeled, for example, for baking or making marzipan. There are several ways to do this.
Peeling almonds
The most obvious way is with a knife.
Method 1 - with a knife
Scrape each kernel with a knife until completely clean. The method is ineffective, requires a lot of time and effort, and part of the kernel is also peeled off along with the skin. Only suitable for cleaning multiple cores.
Method 2 - soaking
The kernels are filled with cold water and left overnight.
Cover almonds with cold water and leave overnight to soak the skins.
During this time, the peel will become soft and it will be easy to separate it from the kernels. To do this, just press on both sides with your thumb and forefinger and the kernel will slip out of the shell. If it does not give in, pry it with your fingernail from the sharp end of the core and pull. After this, repeat the pressure, the core will slip out.
The method is effective, but requires a lot of soaking time. Suitable if this ingredient of the future dish is needed the next day.
Method 3 - blanching
A quick and effective method that allows you to peel a large number of nuts. Before you begin, prepare everything you need.
- heat-resistant bowl;
- kettle with boiling water;
- slotted spoon or colander;
- small plate or dish;
- a bowl for peeled kernels;
- container for husks.
Pour boiling water over the almonds and leave for 10 minutes or boil for 1 minute. Peel the almonds. Drain the water from the nuts or drain in a colander.
If you really don't have time, boil the nuts for 1 minute on the stove or place them in the microwave at maximum power for 2 minutes.
Drain the nuts or place in a colander
If necessary, repeat steps 1 and 2 if the peel does not come off easily.
To remove excess water from nuts, use a paper towel
Clean by pressing down on the thick end of the kernel with your fingers.
It is not necessary to “bathe” almonds in cold water. Simply remove from hot water onto a plate and let cool slightly before peeling.
How to quickly peel almonds - video
To speed up the process, use a towel.
Method 4 - with a towel
Using a towel can quickly clean almonds
The peeled kernels are white or slightly cream colored
In this way, many nuts are peeled at one time. Its disadvantage is that not all kernels will be preserved intact and those remaining unrefined will have to be processed one at a time. And then it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to wash the towel clean.
Testing different methods of peeling almonds - video
Replacing the towel with a plastic bag makes the process easier.
Method 5 - with a package
After cleaning with soaking or blanching, the almonds are washed with cold water to prevent the kernels from darkening. Then dry in the oven at a temperature of 60-80 degrees for about an hour. Soaked ones take longer to dry than blanched ones.
Dried fruits are fried or used raw, depending on the recipe.
Reference. There are bitter and sweet almonds. Only sweet ones are eaten; bitter ones contain toxic substances; they are considered technical and are used for the production of medicines and other purposes after special processing. Eating bitter almonds is dangerous to your health!
Using the above methods, both raw and roasted almonds are cleaned. The fried one should be used immediately after cleaning.
Despite their high cost, almonds are popular due to their nutritional and healing properties and excellent taste. It improves brain function, digestion, metabolism, hair, nails and skin condition. Especially useful for pregnant women. By learning how to properly store and peel almonds, you will add sophistication to your culinary masterpieces and enjoy the pure taste of the royal nut without any bitterness.
2017-09-21Almonds with skin - woe to all baked goods. It gives it an unpleasant bitterness. Dry petals flake off and create unsightly crumbs in the dough. And the dough with unpeeled almonds immediately turns into an unaesthetic brown tint, but not in an even layer, but in places. Therefore, almonds must be peeled. There are fast and slow ways to do this. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Hot method of peeling almonds
To do this, use hot boiled water. The trick is to soak the skin so it can easily separate from the almond kernels. Boil water in a saucepan. There should be plenty of it, so that you can lower the colander with the kernels into the boiling liquid. Wash the almonds first.
It should remain in boiling water for no longer than a minute. Then fill the kernels with the same water and let them sit for 10-15 minutes. The kernels will swell and the skin will peel off on its own. The almonds are filtered through a sieve or the same colander, the skin is easily separated with your fingers and the kernels are left to dry. After half an hour they can be used for baking.
Plus:
- Almonds are peeled quickly and easily.
Minuses:
- You need to use safety precautions (you are working with steam and boiling water).
- The kernels will have to be dried additionally.
A towel to help the hostess
Almonds can also be peeled dry. An ordinary kitchen towel or fabric of the same size will help. It is better to take a waffle towel - it is more rigid, and small squares on the fabric help to clean the almonds faster.
- Place the nuts in a towel.
- Fold it in half.
- Rub the towel containing the kernels between your palms or by rolling it over the table.
- The husks will fly off from the kernels, after which the centers need to be put aside in one direction and the peels removed in the other.
Pros:
- The speed and simplicity of the method.
- Almonds remain dry and are immediately ready for further processing: frying, adding to dough, salads.
Minuses:
- Not all kernels are cleaned at once; sometimes you have to use this method twice.
- During the peeling process, the almonds break down. It's no big deal if you plan on chopping it.
How to peel almonds by hand
You can swap the cleaning and frying process. If you dry the almonds, and then cool and remove the skin, it will be more effective. The manual cleaning method is good because the kernels remain beautiful and do not break. It is suitable if you plan to make a dish using whole almonds. For example, ice cream, homemade Snickers, cake or brownie sprinkled with these luxurious delicious grains.
So, take the almond by the spout, bend the crust from the end of the spout with your fingers and remove it. Or squeeze the tonsil with your fingers, it will fly out into the prepared container without clothes, and the peel will remain in your hands.
Pros:
- Accuracy.
- Marketable condition.
Minuses:
- Take some time.
- Requires skill and finger dexterity.
Almonds are useful for their invaluable content. It contains a lot of vitamin E, phosphorus, magnesium, without which the nervous system and brain do not function well. Iron and zinc are beneficial for active blood flow, hair growth and strengthening nails. Almonds are filling and contain nutritious plant-based protein. Lastly, it's amazingly delicious.
For baking, almonds are dried in the oven at temperatures up to 100 degrees (no more) for half an hour. If the temperature is lower, for example, 80-90 degrees, keep the kernels on the baking sheet a little longer - up to 40 minutes. This is a very tasty additive for aromatic baked goods.
In their raw (not dried) form, almonds are very useful in salads. Mix raisins, honey, almonds, whole or cut into pieces, add a couple of orange slices. So the most useful vitamin cocktail for a gourmet is ready. It will give you energy and vigor for the whole day.
Almonds are very beneficial for human health. They contain a high content of various vitamins and microelements that stimulate the human body. We'll tell you how to peel almonds later. Regular consumption of almonds reduces the risk of diseases such as:
- heart attack;
- visual impairment;
- anemia;
- insomnia;
- convulsions;
- stomach ulcer;
- increased acidity of gastric juice.
For preventive purposes, it is enough to eat at least 10-15 nuts several times a day, for both adults and children. Children are recommended to chop nuts.
Many people wonder how to peel almonds. So, everything is actually very simple.
As a rule, the store sells dried nuts in shells. When eating almonds in their pure form, the almonds must be peeled. Also, peeled and roasted nuts (both whole kernels and crushed) are widely used in many culinary recipes, in the preparation of various cakes, cookies, marzipan, pastries and other dishes, both to improve the taste and as a decoration. In all recipes, it is recommended to pre-clean the nuts, since the peel can affect the quality of the finished product, noticeably deteriorating it.
How to peel almonds? Peeling nuts from the shell at home is not the easiest or most enjoyable process. How to peel almonds without problems? This can be done in several ways.
Peeling almonds: method 1
Take a deep bowl and pour almonds into it. Then pour boiling water and leave to cool for 10 minutes, or just boil for no more than 1 minute. Then drain the hot water and pour cold water over the almonds for about 5 minutes. After this, press on the nut. If it easily pops out of the shell, then the trick was a success and you can start cleaning. Otherwise, repeat the procedure.
What is positive about this method (peeled almonds) is that:
- nut kernels practically do not break during peeling;
- high-quality cleaning.
What is negative about this method is that:
- the cleaning process takes a lot of time;
- nuts are processed one at a time.
After peeling, the nuts must be placed on a sheet or paper on a wire rack and placed in a warm oven (temperature up to approximately 80 degrees). Keep them there as long as they soak until completely dry (about 40 minutes). And only then fry in a frying pan or in the oven at temperatures up to 200 degrees.
Peeling almonds with a towel
Just as in the first case, pour almonds into a deep bowl and pour boiling water for 10 minutes, or boil for 1 minute. Then the water is drained, and the nuts are poured onto the table on half of a towel laid out in advance. Cover the almonds with the other half of the towel and rub them vigorously with your hands. Then they select already peeled nuts, and the rest are also tindered. The procedure is repeated until all the nuts are shelled.
The good thing about this method is that it is faster than all others. The bad thing is that:
- not all nuts will be shelled;
- the towel not only gets dirty, but may even tear;
- not all nuts will be intact after peeling.
Then dry in the oven at a temperature of no more than 80 degrees. Don't forget that peeling the almonds is the first step. Remember that the last process is very important, and in order not to mess with it, you should take the matter seriously.
Peeling almonds: method 3
To remove the shell from the nuts, they must be placed in a colander. Then place in boiling water, keep in boiling water for several seconds (up to 1 minute). Then take them out and check if they are easy to clean as follows. Take 1 or 2 nuts and squeeze them with two fingers. If the peel is easy to peel, the nuts are removed from the water and peeled with your hands, squeezing between your fingers.
After cleaning, be sure to dry it in the oven at a temperature of 50-80 degrees. Then fry in a frying pan or in the oven (temperature 180-200 degrees).
Peeling almonds using a bag and a rolling pin
Pour almonds (almonds in shell) into a deep bowl, pour boiling water over them, and leave for no more than a minute. Then drain the water and pour the nuts into a small bag. Place the package on the table. And use a rolling pin or your hands to grind the bag of almonds. Then pour the contents of the bag into a sieve, the shells will be at the top and the nuts at the bottom.
Select peeled almonds and dry them in the oven (at temperatures up to 80 degrees). You can fry it either in a frying pan or in the oven (temperature range 180-200 degrees). You can set it a little more or a little less degrees - pay attention to the fact that everyone has their own oven and it heats up and works differently.
Peeling almonds: method 5
If you only need a few nuts to prepare a dish, then one of the effective ways is to peel the almonds according to the principle of peeling a tangerine. Just pry the peel with your fingernail, remove it from the nut, or hook it with a knife and scrape it off. When cleaning with a knife, you should take into account that you can damage and clean off part of the nucleolus itself.
This method is good because the nuts do not get soggy and do not require additional drying in the oven; they can be immediately fried or used according to the recipe. Remember, the most important thing is to dry them a little after water. You can use a colander to drain the water. Well, or another method that will be convenient for you.
Peeling almonds: method 6
Place almonds in a deep bowl. Fill with water (not boiling water) and leave overnight. In the morning, drain the water and peel the almonds by squeezing the kernels with your fingers, or wrapping them in a towel and pressing on them (cleaning nuts with a towel).
With this method, the nuts take longer to dry in the oven (temperature from 50 to 80 degrees) than when scalding them with boiling water.
Store peeled almonds in an airtight container in a cool place. Now you know how to peel almonds and how to process them correctly.
How to peel almonds: Video
