You might be able to appreciate the price tag that comes with pine nuts if you see the hard work that goes into shelling them.True to their name, pine nuts are the seeds of various species of pine that come in the pine cone, surrounded by a hard shell.This can take a bit of work, but it will be worth it.
Step 1: Unshelled pine nuts should be gathered.
You can skip this step if you have purchased shelled pine nuts.It can take months to gather your own pine shells, so you should know that.You should collect the cones in September or October and keep them in a dry place, such as a garage.At this point, the cones should be closed tightly.Wait for the cones to open slowly.When all of the nuts fall out, bang the cones around in a gunnysack.If you don't mind getting pitch stuck to them, you pick them out by hand.The cone is connected to the winged part of the shell.If there are holes in the nuts, bugs have gotten to them.
Step 2: Pick a species of pine nut.
It's important to know the type of pine nut you're dealing with.Hard-shelled nuts shouldn't be cracked with your teeth, or you could hurt yourself, because pine nuts can have soft or hard shells.The New Mexico pinon pine nut is the main type.This is a nut that is wild.The most valuable pine nut in the world has a hard shell that is too hard to crack with your fingers or teeth.The pine is from Italy.The nut is popular in Europe and the Mediterranean.It is a long nut.There is a pine nut.In Afghanistan or Pakistan, these nuts are long and boat-shaped with a sharp end.They are usually roasted over an open fire.There is a gray pine nut.In Northern California, these nuts have a softer shell.The pine nut is from Nevada.These are larger and easier to shell.
Step 3: It's a good idea to chill your nuts.
If you don't plan on shelling them right away, make sure you keep unshelled nuts in the fridge because they have a long shelf life.If you don't plan on eating your nuts right away, you should keep them out of the fridge as soon as possible.Many people like to put pine nuts in the freezer to make them last longer, while others feel that this takes away some of their rich, nutty flavor.
Step 4: You can use a hammer on pine nuts.
If you don't care about maintaining the integrity of the nut, you may just want to place the nuts on a solid surface and hit them with a hammer.If you aim to do it a bit more softly, you'll be able to crack the shells.If you have to break those nuts out of their shells, try placing them on a piece of cardboard or a thick plastic bag outside, so you don't have any property damage.This method requires some power and is not for the faint of heart.You can remove the nuts from the bag once you're done.
Step 5: The pine nuts can be opened with a can opener.
That's correct.You can use the can opener as a nutcracker if you place the pine nut in the notch section.It will take quite a while as you will be shelling the nuts one nut at a time, but it will give you the results you're looking for.If you've cracked all of the nuts with a can opener, you can peel the remaining shells with your hands.
Step 6: The machine is for shelling pine nuts.
This can make your job much easier if you invest in a pine nut shelling machine.It can save you money if you plan on shelling pine nuts regularly.Pine nuts are much cheaper shelled than unshelled, so this may save you money in the end.Place pine nuts of a similar size into the machine so that they are adjusted for their side.Put in nuts of a different size when you've finished with them.Wait for the nuts to come out of the machine.Enjoy if you brush off any extra shells.
Step 7: You can shell pine nuts with a roller.
If you want softer pine nuts, you can place them in a big plastic bag, push the air out of it, and then use a wooden roller to roll them over.Continue until you hear the cracking of the nuts and see the meat.Roll the roller over smaller batches of nuts to get the best results.Once you've cracked all of the shells, simply remove the nuts from the plastic bags and peel off the remaining shells with your fingers.
Step 8: You should use your mouth.
If you're using soft-shelled pine nuts, you can use your mouth to crack them.If you want to crack a sunflower seed's shell, place the nut in the back of your mouth and bite down gently, until you hear the shell cracking.Remove the nut from your mouth and peel away the shell.If you want to keep your teeth healthy, be careful not to bite too hard.If you want to preserve the original shape of the pine nut, this method is the best.
Step 9: You can use your thumb and forefinger.
It is possible to crack a soft nut with the force of your hands alone.Put the nut between your thumb and forefinger and apply pressure until you hear a crack.Use your hands to peel the nut.It can be better to use your hands than your teeth, since this will be a repetitive motion.It will take a while because you'll be shelling each nut.
Step 10: Enjoy.
You can use nuts in a variety of recipes after shelling them.They add a rich flavor to any meal.You can eat them raw as a snack.They can be used to make pesto for pasta or fish dishes.You can toast them in the oven.They can be added to any salads, from goat cheese to salads with orange slices.