How to Roast Nuts

Posted on October 20th, 2009 by Elaine

(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5)

Loading ...

View 1 Comments Comment on this Article

Republish

A plate of roasted and salted nuts is heavenly. You can either munch on the roasted nuts on their own, or add them to various recipes. You can easily buy a pack at any grocery, but isn’t it better if you roast them yourself? Here’s how to do it properly.

Types Of Nuts

Nuts come in different varieties, but here are some of the most popular types you can roast.

Macadamia nuts - Often used for chocolate and other sweets.
Pine nuts - These are actually the seeds of the pine tree. Ideal for salads, pasta and even for soups.
Almonds - These are also very versatile. Use them for salads, pastry, and even for stuffing.
Peanuts - Popularly used in desserts, sauces and even as a crunchy topping for various dishes. (If you want other uses of peanuts, read 12 Unusual uses for peanuts)
Brazilian nuts - Good for cookies and other types of pastry.

Using The Oven

Oven-roasting nuts is a great idea, but it can be tricky, because leaving it even for a little while beyond the recommended time can lead to disaster. Be careful when doing this, and use oven mitts to avoid getting burned.

What You’ll Need:

Nuts
Cookie sheet
Oven
Nutcracker
Non-stick spray
Salt
Vegetable oil

Procedure:

Preheat your oven to 425° Fahrenheit. While waiting, use a nutcracker to crack and open the shells. You can also remove the skins, although that is entirely up to you.
Spray the cookie sheet with the non-stick spray.
Adding vegetable oil to the nuts is optional. For every one cup of shelled nuts, use two tablespoons of oil. Make sure they’re lightly coated.
Spread the nuts on the cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt.
Put the nuts in the oven for five to ten minutes. Be careful not to over roast, or they will blacken and become unpleasant to the taste. When they become fragrant and turn a light brown color, remove them from the oven.
Let cool for a while, then serve or use according to the recipe.

Stove Method

Many people prefer roasting nuts over a stove than an oven, because they have hands-on control while roasting. This method is also faster. Just remember to remove the nuts from the heat as soon as they are cooked.

What You’ll Need:

Stove
Nuts
Heavy-bottom skillet
One tablespoon of oil or butter
Spatula

Procedure:

Put all the nuts in the skillet and make sure they’re spread evenly. You can add butter to add flavor to the nuts. If not, you can just add salt.
Turn the stove on medium heat, then put the skillet on it.
Roast the nuts on the stove for five minutes. Every now and then, use the spatula to stir them around.
When the nuts turn a golden-brown color, you can remove the skillet from heat. Make sure you don’t overcook them.

A handful of warm, freshly-roasted nuts makes for a delicious snack. With these easy steps, you can make some in the comfort of your kitchen. If you enjoy reading this article, you’ll surely be interested in learning how to grow peanuts.