How to Toast Pine Nuts

Posted on August 13th, 2009 by Elaine

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Pine nuts, just like other edible seeds, add a delightful crunch to numerous dishes, from pastas, to stews and even desserts. They come from pine trees and are very hard to extract, but fortunately you can buy them in packs from the grocery. When you buy pine nuts, though, you have to toast them, to make them crunchy and bring out their naturally rich flavor.

There are two ways to toast pine nuts: In a skillet or in the oven.

Using A Skillet

What You’ll Need:

Non-stick skillet
Stove
Wooden spatula

Procedure:

Check the pine nuts, making sure they are shelled and they have uniformed sizes. If there are broken pieces, pick them out.
Prepare a non-stick skillet. This helps toast your pine nuts properly, without making them stick to the surface. You don’t need any cooking oil for this procedure.
Put the skillet over medium heat, then add the pine nuts. Make sure they are in a single layer on the skillet.
Let them toast for a few minutes. Their high fat content causes these seeds to toast easily. Don’t leave them unattended, otherwise they’ll burn. Every 30 seconds, toss them around with a wooden spatula.
When they’re lightly-browned, turn off the heat and transfer the nuts to another container.

Using The Oven

What You’ll Need:

Timer
Pine nuts
Oven
Cookie sheets
Timer
Oven mitts

Procedure:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While waiting for this, get the pine nuts ready, removing the broken and uneven pieces.
Put a cup of pine nuts on a baking sheet, preferably one with side walls, so they won’t spill as you stir them. Make sure the nuts are in a single layer.
Put the pine nuts in the oven for 6 to 10 minutes. Use a timer to make sure you don’t go beyond the recommended time. Every now and then, open the oven door and stir the nuts.
When you see that they’re golden-browned, remove the tray from the oven. Use oven mitts, so you won’t get burned.

Some Tips:

While stores sell ready to use toasted pine nuts, the results are better if you toast them yourself.
To get the maximum crunch, add the nuts to the dish before you serve them.
Put unused toasted pine nuts in an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh for a few weeks.
Toasted pine nuts are an ingredient of pesto.

Pine nuts are a delightful addition to various dishes. Just remember to keep a careful eye on them while toasting, so you’ll get to enjoy them at their crunchiest!