Delicious and useful product, which 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:
- 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.
- Arrange the clean nuts in a single layer.
- 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 up 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.
The need to dry nuts arises in three cases: before splitting, as an intermediate stage, or after soaking. Drying helps to improve the taste of the walnut, prepare the fruit for storage, and destroy bacteria and fungi. How to dry nuts in natural and artificial conditions? At what temperature?
How to dry walnuts naturally
This method allows you to process a solid volume of the crop, but requires more time and effort. There are two ways to dry walnuts without the use of appliances:
- in the sun. The method has negative sides: duration, the need to monitor the weather. It is recommended to use pallets for fruit ventilation. A tarpaulin, oilcloth is also suitable, but in this case the circulation will be worse, the possibility of moisture ingress is many times higher. In-shell nuts are scattered in one layer on a wooden, plastic pallet, exposed to a sunny place. Fruits laid out in the sun must be mixed. Take it indoors at night. It is important to ensure that morning or evening dew does not get on the nuts. Drying in good daily sunny weather will take three to five days. If the weather is changeable, it may take 10-14 days.
- in room. For large volumes of crops, drying barns are needed. When harvesting in a summer cottage, you can use the attic or apartment. Before drying in the room, the shell of the nut is washed with water, laid out on special racks or on a newspaper when drying in an apartment or in the attic. It is important that the humidity is not more than 60%, there is air access, and there are no extraneous odors.
How to dry walnuts at home
Drying in artificial conditions involves the presence of one of the household appliances:
- oven;
- electric dryer;
- Microwave.
The method will save time, allow you to control the temperature. Suitable if the volume of nuts to be dried is small.
How to dry nuts in the oven without shell
The oven is preheated to a temperature of 50 degrees. Before drying, the fruits of the walnut tree must be split, the spoiled kernels removed. The kernels in a single layer are laid out on a baking sheet and placed in the oven for twenty to forty minutes. During the specified time, it is necessary to stir the nucleoli so that they dry evenly. Do not speed up drying and increase the temperature. This will lead to bitterness. It is recommended to leave the cabinet door ajar. This will help keep moisture from building up inside.
How to dry nuts in the oven in the shell
You can dry nuts in the oven without cracking them. You can not heat it to high temperatures, you can get boiled or burnt fruits. Before drying the nuts in the oven, they are washed, spread on a towel. Then the algorithm is:
- when the water drains, the nuts are laid out on a baking sheet;
- the baking sheet is placed in an oven preheated to 45 degrees;
- left for two or three hours. After a couple of hours, you can pull out one fruit and check for readiness - the kernels should break easily;
- it is recommended half an hour before the end of the specified time to increase the temperature to 70 degrees;
- pull out the dried fruits, leave on the table to “reach”.
Thus, how much to dry nuts in the oven depends on whether they are peeled or not.
How to dry walnuts in an electric dryer
An electric dryer is a household appliance specially designed to remove excess moisture from vegetables or other products. It can be infrared or work on the basis of warm air circulation. The rules of use are indicated in the instructions for the technique. As a rule, nuts need 5-6 hours. The fruits need to be mixed, periodically try.
How to dry walnuts at home in the microwave
The microwave will help out when there are few fruits. This is the fastest way.
- the kernels are also washed and flow around on a towel;
- are placed in the microwave. Drying time depends on the set power: 4 min. at 750 kW, 8 min. - 1000 kW.
The readiness of fruits dried by any of the above methods is determined by the following criteria:
- the pulp is dry, not soft;
- nut membranes are dry, easy to clean;
- thin brown skin;
- no bitterness when consumed.
Foreword
Walnuts just can not be stored like that, they need to be dried thoroughly. Let's talk about different ways so that you can choose the right one.
Do you have a walnut in your garden yet?
The walnut is incredibly useful. In terms of vitamin content, it significantly exceeds many berries and fruits, and even meat in terms of calories, it contains almost 20% protein. It is recommended for nursing mothers to improve lactation. It has been established that if you eat walnuts regularly, the condition of the walls of blood vessels improves, and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease decreases. It turns out that it is also useful for the treatment of the thyroid gland due to the high content of iodine. And this is not all of its useful properties.
Walnut grows most fruitfully in the southern regions. does not require, but you need to take care of the harvest. The fruits ripen in September, towards the end.
It is easy to determine the degree of maturity: as soon as the green shell begins to crack, the time has come.
Usually, those that are lower to the ground ripen first, and then fall off. Experienced walnut growers are advised to start collecting from them until they get wet from the ground. After that, they shake off those that remain on the tree. They can also be checked for maturity: there should be a hard shell under the green shell.
As soon as the crop is harvested, they begin to cut off the pericarp on each nut. If this is not done, the fruits will turn black and become unfit for food. It is important to note that a fresh walnut contains almost 40% moisture and is very susceptible to rotting. Therefore, the crop must be well dried and it will last until next year. So, the drying process can be carried out in two ways - natural and artificial.
Is it possible to dry a nut in a natural way?
The quality of the product and the duration of its storage depend on how the walnuts are dried. The method in which it dries under the influence of sunlight is considered natural. Usually some material is spread on the ground and ripe fruits are laid out on it in one layer. Within two or even three weeks they dry. But in this case, the crop is not immune from unexpected rains, as well as dew and other moisture. Now this method of drying walnuts is considered obsolete, because due to a long stay on the ground, there is a possibility of developing harmful microorganisms, and moisture can lead to damage to the fruit. The taste is also declining. This drying method is still used by conservative gardeners.
More advanced ones worry about the harvest and dry the nuts naturally, but in special rooms - drying sheds with good air circulation and well ventilated. For this, wooden trays-lattices are used. The walnut is cleaned, sorted and washed, after which it is laid out on trays in a single layer. Prepared boxes are stacked on special racks so that each one has free air access during the week. Dried nuts can be eaten and used for planting.
Often on sale you can find moldy fruits. And it does not depend on how the walnuts are dried. This means that their suppliers did not take care to minimize the humidity. 5-8% is considered safe. You can protect them from this in this way: place the fruits in mesh bags and put them for 2-3 days near a heated battery, excess moisture will go away.
Artificial drying - we process the nut correctly
Artificial drying of walnuts is also called fire drying. This procedure is carried out in special bin dryers with natural air flow. The bottom line is the use of special fans of high power. They direct hot air directly onto the fruits from all sides and warm them up. This method compares favorably with the natural one in that the drying process is reduced to a maximum of two days and can be carried out at any time of the year. And the physical strength of a person is spent less. On the other hand, this method requires more care and skill.
Man every year improves devices for drying nuts. Here, for example, are channel sieves on which fruits are loaded, and they move in heated air. While there is a movement from the starting point to the finish point, drying ends. It is important to dry the walnut correctly - with the fire method, observe the temperature of 55–57 ° C.
The above methods are applicable to large volumes. But at home, you can also dry the walnut to make its taste more intense.
If dried in the shell, the nut is stored longer even under not very favorable conditions. To dry, select only ripe fruits and place in an oven heated to 90 ° C for 2–2.5 hours. After turning off, leave it there until it cools completely.
Put the shelled nuts on a baking sheet covered with culinary foil so that they do not touch each other. Place in the oven at 180°C for 10 minutes. After 5 minutes have passed, stir in the nuts.
Another option for drying walnuts is in the microwave. To do this, you need to peel them from the shell, rinse and let the water drain. Then we put it in a form in one layer, set the power to 750 watts. 8 minutes will be enough. After that, spread the nuts on a towel for two hours. Well dried kernels should have a light brown color. The disadvantage of the method is that during drying in the microwave, the nuts click and can scatter into pieces due to moisture.
Any container is suitable for - a glass jar, a bag, a cardboard box. Rinse the container in advance and dry well. It is not recommended to keep them in plastic bags, the fruits can go rancid and become tasteless. The optimal temperature for the best preservation of walnuts is 0–10°C, indoors for one year, in the refrigerator for up to four years. If the nut is dry, it's easy to fix: soak it in a mild salt water solution for five days.
Many people know that when they buy walnuts in the market, they essentially get a "pig in a poke". After all, it is not known what may be under the shell: a tasty nucleolus or a black, rotten crumb.
The condition of walnuts depends not only on the degree of maturity, but also on how they were dried and in what form they were stored.
Those who prefer to buy walnuts already shelled should be sure that they are clean and free of germs. After all, walnuts, including peeled ones, most often lie in the open air, and dust and other harmful substances get on them.
It is advisable not to store peeled purchased nuts long time and wash before use cold water lay out on a towel and dry. Then they need to be calcined in a pan or placed for a short time in a medium-heated oven. Only after that you can eat them without worrying about your health.
Therefore, it is best to buy freshly picked nuts and dry them yourself for further storage. But, of course, those who grow their own walnut in the garden or front garden are the winners.
When to Harvest Walnuts for Drying
Those who have seen how walnuts grow know that they are in the pericarp - the peel, which is green at first and then darkens.
The degree of ripeness of a nut can be determined by the peel that has already burst.
Nuts do not ripen all at once. First, the lower ones ripen, and then those that grow on the upper branches of the tree.
Already ripened nuts themselves come off the branches and fall to the ground. Those are the first things you need to collect. After all, from a long stay on the ground, they become damp, covered with mud, moldy. Such nuts will not be able to be stored for a long time even in favorable conditions. Then shake off the rest of the nuts from the tree.
Before drying, the nuts are cleaned of the green pericarp. This occupation is tedious and “dirty”, since the upper peel, due to the presence of a coloring matter in it, greatly stains both hands and clothes. Therefore, peel the peel by wearing gloves. The nuts are then dried.
If there are a lot of nuts, then they are dried in the old, proven way, spread out on the ground.
How to dry walnuts in the sun
- To do this, a tarpaulin or other waterproof fabric is spread on the ground and nuts are scattered on it in one layer.
- Nuts are left for several days in the sun. But this method, although old, is not entirely successful. After all, you need to be sure that in the coming days there will be no precipitation and a decrease in temperature.
If the weather is rainy, you can dry the nuts in the attic. But there should be warm enough, completely dry, in addition, good ventilation will be needed.
- With this method of drying, the nuts are cleaned of the pericarp, sorted by size, and washed in cold water.
- Then they are freely laid out on racks with a grate so that they have access to fresh air. In this form, the nuts dry for several days. But again, this is not always possible in wet weather.
If there are few nuts, then you can dry them in the apartment by spreading cloth or newspapers on the floor. The place is chosen so that there is constant access to fresh air.
How to dry walnuts in a dryer
If there are special dryers, then the drying of the walnut is reduced by several days. The bottom line is that the warm air in the dryer circulates with the help of fans, drying the nuts from all sides. You just need to follow the process and turn the nuts over in time.
How to dry walnuts in the oven
- Walnuts are peeled, sorted by size, washed and dried from excess moisture on a towel.
- Then nuts of the same size are placed on a baking sheet and placed in an oven heated to 40-45 °. Some believe that you can increase the temperature so that the process goes faster. But in this case, the nuts can, as it were, boil, become oily, they will have an unpleasant aftertaste.
- Nuts are dried in the oven for 2-3 hours. It is advisable to keep the door ajar. At the end of drying, the temperature is raised to 70 ° and the nuts are kept in the oven for about half an hour. Drying time depends on the size of the fruits, their degree of maturity and humidity.
- To check readiness, the nut needs to be cracked and tasted. In well-dried nuts, the nucleolus will break easily.
- Walnuts are taken out of the oven and left in the air so that they ripen a little more. If after this the nucleoli are as if rubbery and soft, then the nuts will need to be put in the oven for a while.
How to dry walnuts without shell
Already dried nuts are split, the nucleoli are taken out. Nuts without shells are laid out on trays, baking sheets and left for two to three days.
Drying and storage of walnuts is an important point in the further preservation of the quality of the kernel, which affects the future commodity price of the product. In this article, we will find out how to dry walnuts in the shell in a variety of ways. different ways and at home, and also consider all the nuances of storing prepared raw materials.
When is the best time to collect
As soon as the harvest on the walnut tree approaches maturity, squirrels and various birds begin to hunt for it. In order to prevent the loss of nuts, and at the same time preserve all the useful and nutritional properties, you should pay attention to the signs by which you can determine the right one in time ripening phase:
- cracked green shell;
- tree foliage began to turn yellow;
- a fully mature fruit has a hard, light brown shell, and the core inside it should be moist and palpable by weight.
The type of nut grown is also important. Trees that bloom in springtime ripen by the end of summer until mid-September, and June flowering nuts begin to ripen only by early October.
Important! First of all, the shell begins to crack on fruits that are located lower to the ground. This is due to the special temperature regime.
How to dry walnuts
In fact, drying walnuts in the shell, at home, is not difficult at all, you just need to follow some simple rules. How to properly carry out this process in various proven ways, including in the oven and in an electric dryer, read on.
Outdoors
Drying nuts in the fresh air involves the gradual implementation of the following steps:
In sunny weather:
It was this method that agronomists used for many years, until more modern methods appeared in the world. Its main disadvantage is the possibility of unforeseen precipitation and a sharp drop in air temperature.
Learn how to properly dry cherries, strawberries, plums, blueberries, apples, pears, currants, cranberries, rose hips, dogwood, herbs (dill, parsley, green onion, sorrel, cilantro, spinach), tomatoes, peppers, onions, oyster mushrooms, broccoli.
In room:
Walnut fruits can be dried indoors without fear of adverse weather conditions. For this, as a rule, an attic is usually chosen:
If the harvest of nuts is small, the entire collection can be dried in the apartment, after spreading newspapers on the floor. Fresh air in this case should also not be forgotten.
Find out the recipe for making unusual nut jam.
In the oven
Detailed information on how dryand roast the walnuts well in the oven, looks like that:
Important!It is possible to heat the oven much more than 45°C, but at higher temperatures the product can become overcooked, oily and tasteless.
In an electric dryer
If there is a special device in the house - an electric dryer, the process of drying nuts is greatly simplified. But even here it is necessary to follow the instructions attached to the device and constantly pay attention to the degree of readiness of the products.
The procedure itself takes, as a rule, only 5 hours, but the number of fruits should be minimal, otherwise they will have to be dried in several approaches.
How to check readiness
To check the readiness of dried walnuts, you should split the shells of at least two fruits and check their kernels.
If they are “rubber” and wet, the rest of the nuts will need to be dried additionally. Otherwise, even under the right storage conditions, they can rot and become moldy.
If the nucleoli have become fragile and have a thin skin, they are completely dried and ready for use or sale.
Storing walnuts at home
To do this, dry fruits are placed in baskets or mesh bags and stored darkened in a fairly cool place (for example, in a cellar). You can also freeze them.
Under the right conditions, the products will keep their freshness for at least two years.
How to dry and store walnut kernels
You can dry walnut kernels in a simple and proven way. To begin with, they need to be removed from the shell, thoroughly cleaned of films and dirt. Can't be washed! Then the resulting whole products should dry on trays for two or three days. You can also use the oven and dry the kernels at a reduced temperature to the desired degree of readiness.
Important!If, during the cooking process, the fruit kernels change their color, begin to smell unpleasant or acquire a bitter taste, they should be discarded. Such foods are spoiled, and eating them can be hazardous to health.
It is necessary to store dried nucleoli in tight sealed jars or canvas bags, in a dry, cool place. The shelf life should not exceed 12 weeks. Once a month, it is advisable to sort out the products and dry them again - this will prevent the appearance of mold on them for a long time.
As you can see, there are many ways to cook walnuts. You just need to choose the most suitable one for yourself, and as a result, get a high-quality and truly competitive product.
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Several ways to dry nuts at home
How to dry nuts at home
There are several types of proper drying of nuts, you should choose the most suitable for your conditions. Depending on the method, choose the appropriate inventory:
- a device for cracking nuts (if there is no special nut cracker, stock up on a bottle of champagne and a hammer);
- baking tray;
- pan;
- polished paper;
- kitchen spatula;
- dryer (if available);
- microwave;
- if the nuts are to be dried naturally, a clean cloth and gauze will be needed.
All devices are simple and can be found in the kitchen of every housewife.
After the nuts are collected, it is necessary to clean them from the husk. Then they are laid out in a thin layer and allowed to lie down for a bit.
It is possible to dry in the shell, but this method requires a lot of storage space. It is more convenient to dry the kernels. To do this, we chop the nuts with a special device. If it is missing, place the nut, seam side up, on the neck of a champagne bottle and tap lightly. This method allows you to crack nuts quickly, leaving the kernels whole. The raw material is ready, we proceed to drying.
In the presence of a drying combine, we put the kernels in the compartments for raw materials, set the temperature to no more than 90ºС, and dry for about 5 hours.
note
Under natural conditions, those who live in a private house can afford drying. To do this, you will need a clean cloth and a well-ventilated sunny place. Nuts are laid out in one layer on a cloth and placed in the sun. Turn your crop several times throughout the day. Thus, it will take about a week to lay out and turn the nuts.
Before drying nuts in the oven, it is necessary to heat it up to 150ºС. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the nuts in a single layer. Dry for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
A specific crackle will also tell you about readiness.
IN microwave oven 1000 W power for drying, it will take about 4 minutes. This is a good option if there are few nuts. They are laid out in 1-2 layers on a dish and placed in the oven.
A small amount of nuts can be fried in a pan without adding vegetable oil. You will need about 5 minutes for this. Nuts must be stirred during frying.
Choose the method that suits you best and dry the kernels or whole nuts. They make a great addition to any dessert.
Next Post: How to dry vegetables
Drying nuts in the oven
Nuts are an incredibly appetizing and, most importantly, healthy product. Both adults and children like to feast on them. Nuts contain a lot of protein and dietary fiber, are rich in useful microelements and such important vitamins as E and B2. Regularly eating these foods reduces the risk of diseases of the cardiovascular system, decreases cholesterol and body weight.
There is a wide variety of ready-to-eat nuts available in stores. However, there is a risk of buying quality product. It will be a shame to find garbage or, worse, mold in a beautiful package. The amount of preservatives and questionable chemical additives is out of the question. To be sure of the quality of the product, it is easier to dry the nuts yourself.
Drying preparation
All nuts can be dried. The thicker their shell, the longer it will take. Only mature fruits are dried. A large amount of moisture contained inside the green nut will contribute to the rotting process. Nuts are harvested at the very beginning of autumn.
To determine the degree of maturity, it is important to pay attention to the shell. If it cracked or turned dark in color, then the nut is ready for further processing. Before drying, the product is cleaned of excess debris and other contaminants. This will exclude marriage and further damage.
You can dry pre-peeled nuts, but the shell protects the fruit from harmful external influences and the shelf life is significantly increased.
Drying methods for nuts
Drying in natural conditions:
Outdoors under the sun. This is a laborious and risky process. You can lose your entire crop. Autumn is a time of sudden, prolonged rains, and nuts do not like moisture. Drying time is about three weeks.
In a special room. The barn or pantry should be equipped with special racks and well ventilated. Drying time is about a week.
Drying in electrical appliances:
Pan. The easiest way, but it is suitable only for a small amount of the original product.
Electric dryer. A very convenient device if you dry nuts annually. For a one-time manipulation, the purchase will not justify itself.
Oven. The best option, suitable for avid summer residents, and just for fans to enjoy home-cooked nuts. It is worth dwelling on this popular method of drying in the oven in more detail.
Drying nuts in the oven
Nuts in shell. The oven is heated to 90-100 C °. Peeled nuts are placed on a baking sheet and put in the oven for 2.5 hours.
Every 30 minutes, it is advisable to gently mix the contents. This is done to remove excess moisture. In addition, when the oven door is opened, unwanted water vapor is removed.
After the end of the time, the fruits are left in the oven until completely cooled.
Nuts without shell. The oven is heated to 180 C °. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Peeled nuts are laid out in such a way that they do not touch. Total cooking time 10 minutes. After 5 minutes, the product is stirred and placed back in the oven.
Storage of dried nuts
After all the procedures carried out, it is necessary to prepare the product for storage. For this, a glass jar with a tight lid, a mesh bag made of natural fabric is suitable. Unshelled nuts keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 years. Peeled fruits should be consumed within six months. During the storage period, it is necessary to periodically inspect the stock to avoid damage.
Nuts have a beneficial effect on the general condition and must be present in the diet of a person who cares about his health.
How to dry walnuts
Many people know that when they buy walnuts in the market, they essentially get a "pig in a poke". After all, it is not known what may be under the shell: a tasty nucleolus or a black, rotten crumb.
The condition of walnuts depends not only on the degree of maturity, but also on how they were dried and in what form they were stored.
Those who prefer to buy walnuts already shelled should be sure that they are clean and free of germs. After all, walnuts, including peeled ones, most often lie in the open air, and dust and other harmful substances get on them.
It is advisable not to store the peeled purchased nuts for a long time, but before use, wash in cold water, put on a towel and dry. Then they need to be calcined in a pan or placed for a short time in a medium-heated oven. Only after that you can eat them without worrying about your health.
Therefore, it is best to buy freshly picked nuts and dry them yourself for further storage. But, of course, those who grow their own walnut in the garden or front garden are the winners.
When to Harvest Walnuts for Drying
Those who have seen how walnuts grow know that they are in the pericarp - the peel, which is green at first and then darkens.
The degree of ripeness of a nut can be determined by the peel that has already burst.
Nuts do not ripen all at once. First, the lower ones ripen, and then those that grow on the upper branches of the tree.
Already ripened nuts themselves come off the branches and fall to the ground. Those are the first things you need to collect. After all, from a long stay on the ground, they become damp, covered with mud, moldy. Such nuts will not be able to be stored for a long time even in favorable conditions. Then shake off the rest of the nuts from the tree.
Before drying, the nuts are cleaned of the green pericarp. This occupation is tedious and “dirty”, since the upper peel, due to the presence of a coloring matter in it, greatly stains both hands and clothes. Therefore, peel the peel by wearing gloves. The nuts are then dried.
If there are a lot of nuts, then they are dried in the old, proven way, spread out on the ground.
How to dry walnuts in the sun
- To do this, a tarpaulin or other waterproof fabric is spread on the ground and nuts are scattered on it in one layer.
- Nuts are left for several days in the sun. But this method, although old, is not entirely successful. After all, you need to be sure that in the coming days there will be no precipitation and a decrease in temperature.
If the weather is rainy, you can dry the nuts in the attic.
But there should be warm enough, completely dry, in addition, good ventilation will be needed.
- With this method of drying, the nuts are cleaned of the pericarp, sorted by size, and washed in cold water.
- Then they are freely laid out on racks with a grate so that they have access to fresh air. In this form, the nuts dry for several days. But again, this is not always possible in wet weather.
If there are few nuts, then you can dry them in the apartment by spreading cloth or newspapers on the floor. The place is chosen so that there is constant access to fresh air.
How to dry walnuts in a dryer
If there are special dryers, then the drying of the walnut is reduced by several days. The bottom line is that the warm air in the dryer circulates with the help of fans, drying the nuts from all sides. You just need to follow the process and turn the nuts over in time.
How to dry walnuts in the oven
- Walnuts are peeled, sorted by size, washed and dried from excess moisture on a towel.
- Then nuts of the same size are placed on a baking sheet and placed in an oven heated to 40-45 °. Some believe that you can increase the temperature so that the process goes faster. But in this case, the nuts can, as it were, boil, become oily, they will have an unpleasant aftertaste.
- Nuts are dried in the oven for 2-3 hours. It is advisable to keep the door ajar. At the end of drying, the temperature is raised to 70 ° and the nuts are kept in the oven for about half an hour. Drying time depends on the size of the fruits, their degree of maturity and humidity.
- To check readiness, the nut needs to be cracked and tasted. In well-dried nuts, the nucleolus will break easily.
- Walnuts are taken out of the oven and left in the air so that they ripen a little more. If after this the nucleoli are as if rubbery and soft, then the nuts will need to be put in the oven for a while.
How to dry walnuts without shell
Already dried nuts are split, the nucleoli are taken out. Nuts without shells are laid out on trays, baking sheets and left for two to three days.
The kernels can be put in the oven and dried with the door ajar at a low temperature. You should not do a high temperature, as the nuts will get a burnt taste.
Store peeled nuts in cloth bags or well-sealed jars in a cool, dry place for 3-4 months. In the refrigerator, nuts can last a little longer if placed in an airtight bag.
Nuts in shell are stored in boxes, boxes, nets. To reduce humidity, nuts are placed near radiators for several days, and then they are again cleaned in a cool place. Shelf life is about a year, that is, until the next harvest.
Drying walnuts
The fruits of walnuts, immediately after their harvest, usually contain an increased amount of water.
With high humidity, favorable conditions are created for the development of undesirable microbiological and enzymatic processes, leading to rapid deterioration of the walnut.
Sometimes the local population of Transcaucasia (for example, the Zagatala region), in order to protect the fruits from rapid spoilage and damage by microorganisms, after preliminary drying, puts them in chicken huts and treats them with smoky smoke.
The simplest way to process walnut fruits, freed from shells, is as follows. Nuts are placed in barrels - vats, filled with water and subjected to repeated (three and four) washing with clean water, after which they are dried.
One of the most backward, imperfect methods of processing walnut fruits and, unfortunately, still used in Central Asia is drying nuts directly on the ground.
Walnut fruits, previously released - peeled from the shell (pericarp), are scattered in a thin layer directly on the ground.
Naturally, the process of drying the fruits is very delayed, since the nuts are continuously affected by both the moisture of the earth and moisture in the form of dew. Conditions are created for the active development of microorganisms. When it rains, this method of drying often leads to complete spoilage of the fruit.
The quality of nuts during their processing by this method is low - the shell shell acquires an unpleasant dark gray color. The taste qualities of fruits are sharply reduced; due to the decay - decomposition of fatty substances, the kernel becomes rancid, the nuts acquire an unpleasant taste and smell.
Drying of walnut fruits on the ground takes at least 12 and even 20 days.
Drying of walnut fruits can be natural (solar, air) and artificial (fire).
During natural drying, walnuts are scattered in a layer on some material (mats, mats, etc.) and shoveled several times during the day.
It is best to dry nuts on special wooden trays (“lattice boxes”), the lower part of which consists of separate wooden planks, between which there are gaps of 1-1.2 cm for air circulation. Tray length 180-182 cm, width 90-92 cm, height 10-14 cm.
note
The side walls of the tray are 25-30 cm longer, which makes it possible to conveniently carry them during work (type of stretcher with handles). Trays have legs. When the trays are stacked during the drying period, air circulates between them, which speeds up the drying process.
Walnuts are scattered in a thin layer on trays and dried on a drying platform - in the sun or in the shade. After warming up, the nuts should be thoroughly mixed, and the trays put on top of each other (in a stack).
The most important requirement when stacking trays is free air circulation between the fruits. Naturally, stack drying of nuts proceeds more slowly, but the fruits are largely protected from cracking.
With natural drying of walnuts, they should not be allowed to dry on trays, not only in fogs, but also in heavy dew, and even more so in rains.
The fruits are hygroscopic, as a result of which they are able to be moistened at night or in the early morning. Such a sharp change in temperature and relative humidity during the day can lead to a significant decrease in the quality of dried fruits. To avoid this, at night the trays are stacked and carefully covered with a tarpaulin.
Under favorable conditions (good warm dry days) drying can be completed in 3-5 days.
In areas where precipitation often falls during the drying period, nuts can be dried in special unheated rooms (drying sheds), in which air must be continuously supplied (free air circulation).
Active air circulation is achieved by the design features of the drying shed, the walls of which have sufficiently large gaps (lattice).
During the construction of such drying rooms, it would be necessary to consider the issue of raising the base of the barn to a certain height (25-30 cm), laying out the floor with more durable gratings, which also have gaps, so that the air flow is carried out not only from the sides (walls ), but also below.
Drying sheds should be built at some distance from other buildings, as well as woody vegetation. The rate of drying of nuts will depend mainly not only on temperature, but on the circulating air and its relative humidity.
Walnut fruits after cleaning, pre-sorting, washing are laid out in a thin layer on racks or platforms with sides.
Racks or platforms, of which there are from 4 to 10-12 in a row, are installed one under the other, but in such a way that air is actively and freely supplied to each of them.
During the day, the nuts are poured from the upper tray of the platform to the underlying one; in the lowest platforms and drying ends.
The duration of drying nuts in drying sheds under especially favorable conditions (high outside temperature, low relative humidity) can be completed in 5-6 days.
Drying walnuts in drying sheds has some advantages over solar drying, since the drying process is to a certain extent less dependent on external conditions.
After drying, the nuts are poured into chests, where the moisture in the fruits is equalized.
Artificial drying of walnut fruits has certain advantages over natural drying. These benefits basically boil down to the following:
a) artificial drying of nuts takes place in a much shorter period of time than natural drying (air, solar);
b) artificial drying is completely independent of climatic conditions and can be carried out at any time of the year;
c) the need for labor during fire drying is less.
Artificial (fire) drying is carried out in dryers with natural air supply (the least perfect ones) and in dryers, when using which fans of various capacities are used to supply air.
Drying of walnut fruits is often carried out in the so-called barn dryers. In these dryers, heated air with the help of a fan enters the bins (lari), where the nuts are placed; the drying process ends within 20-46 hours.
In the most advanced dryers - channel - sieves, on which nuts are loaded, come to heated air. When the sieves pass from the starting point to the final point, the drying process ends.
The main factors determining the drying process are the temperature regime and the activity of ventilation - air circulation.
When drying nuts, it is necessary to apply certain temperatures that could not adversely affect the quality of the fruit. The temperature during drying should be equal to 55-57 °. The maximum permissible or maximum temperatures for drying walnut fruits are 58-62 °.
When setting the temperature regime, the following provision should be taken into account; the higher the moisture content of the nuts, the lower the temperature should be used for drying.
With high humidity of nuts, the temperature during drying should not exceed 52-55 °.
note
When drying walnuts with low humidity, it is possible to use the maximum allowable maximum temperatures (but not higher), so that the drying process is completed faster.
Comparing the natural (solar) drying of fruits with artificial (fire) drying in dryers, it should be noted that artificial drying reduces the duration of drying and reduces the percentage of cracked nuts. Moreover, during natural solar drying of fruits and in earlier periods (September), the percentage of cracked fruits is smaller than during drying carried out in a later period (October).
However, with appropriate organization of the process, losses due to cracking during natural drying (especially in the shade), as well as in drying sheds, can be reduced to small values (to 1-1.5%). In addition, it is possible to extract the kernel from the cracked walnut for processing.
The sun's rays have a disinfecting, disinfecting effect and partially kill the microflora on the surface of the fruit.
Drying conditions have a great influence not only on the quality of walnuts immediately after drying, but also on the change in their quality indicators after a certain period of storage.
Walnut fruits, as you know, are capable of undergoing biochemical changes during storage. Often they acquire a rancid taste and a peculiar unpleasant odor.
The relationship between the temperature regime during artificial drying of fruits and the quality of nuts after drying during subsequent storage can be seen from the following indicators.
Elevated temperature affects the quality of walnut fruits during subsequent storage; immediately after drying, the nuts acquire an unpleasant rancid-oily taste. Drying at high temperatures often leads to the decomposition of organic substances contained in fruits.
How to dry walnuts at home
Most people already know about useful properties ah nut and a 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:
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:
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:
The method of drying nuts in the microwave is suitable if you need to dry a small amount of fruit.
How to dry and store walnuts at home: peeled and in shell
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.
When Walnuts Ripe: Harvest Timing
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.
Video: how a walnut ripens
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 in any case, 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 kernel darken, that is, the nut begins to lose its taste.
In general, those who grow walnuts for sale, that is, in fairly large 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 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 properly dried, and this can be done both at home (in the 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. note
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 foreign odors very well, so they should not be stored next to other "fragrant" products, and even more so peeled.
Storage of purified kernels
Depending on the volumes (and in this form they are usually stored in a fairly small amount) and your capabilities, there are various ways storage of 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 laying the peeled kernels for storage, 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
It is very convenient to store inshell walnuts 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.
Concerning optimal conditions, then 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 healthy 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.
How to dry nuts in the oven
Buying nuts in a store, the buyer cannot be sure of the high quality of the products. The best way- 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.
Walnuts
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.
scattered nuts
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.
Bag of nuts
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.
Nuts on a baking sheet
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.
Convenient and fast way, is the use of electric drying. 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
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.
How to dry nuts at home
Everyone knows about the benefits of pine and walnuts, as well as their special palatability. Not now
Unpeeled walnuts
the problem is to buy this delicacy regardless of the season, in any quantity. But the shelf life of peeled nuts should be no more than six months.
Then they begin to accumulate in themselves such harmful substances that contribute to the development of a cancerous tumor. Therefore, in order to always have a tasty, and most importantly, healthy product on hand, it is better to prepare it yourself.
To do this, you need to know how to properly dry pine nuts and walnuts at home.
Walnuts
Walnut: processing technique
You can consider yourself lucky if a tree bearing walnuts grows in your summer cottage. After all, you know for sure that in the future you will eat a safe and high-quality product. In order for walnuts to be well stored, they need to be dried well (photo).
There are the following processing methods:
Air drying nuts
You can store the unshelled product for up to a year in a linen bag, box, box, net. To reduce humidity, it is sometimes necessary to put nuts next to the batteries for a couple of days, then put them back in a cool place. Peeled nuts are best stored in the refrigerator, in an airtight bag, for no more than four months.
How to dry pine nuts
We need a garlic crusher or a hammer. With these tools, we can easily extract nuts (video).
Scattered nuts of different types
To dry this product, you can use one of the following methods:
Storage of nuts in bags
Before you start drying pine nuts, you need to remove their kernels from their shells. To make this process faster, without damaging the kernels, you should first fry them a little.
