Toasted Walnuts 2 Ways for Snacking & Recipes - Attainable Sustainable® (2024)

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Walnuts are a favorite for stirring into banana bread and baking into cookies; walnuts that have been baked take on a richer, nuttier flavor. You know what I’m talking about. That extra nutty goodness of a walnut that’s been baked into a chocolate chip cookie is so much better than a raw walnut. You can enjoy the flavor of toasted walnuts without the baked goods, though.

Toasted Walnuts 2 Ways for Snacking & Recipes - Attainable Sustainable® (1)

There are two ways to toast walnuts, both of which work very well. Toast them in a skillet on the stove top or pop them in the oven on a baking sheet. Either way, it doesn’t take long to make toasted walnuts at all and the flavor will be much improved. What’s better than a nuttier nut?

My son came in the other day and grabbed a handful. “Hm!” he said. “These are…extra.” When I told him they were toasted, not raw, I got a nod of approval.

No matter which of the following methods you opt to try, you don’t need to add any oil to the pan.

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How to Toast Walnuts

For a small amount of nuts, you can toast them in a skillet or small pan right on the stove. Measure walnuts into a dry skillet — no oil — and cook on medium. When you begin to smell the aroma of roasted nuts, stir the walnuts. Continue cooking until the nuts are toasted on all sides, about 5 minutes.

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Toasted Walnuts in the Oven

This method works well to toast a larger amount of walnuts. Spread nuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Place tray in a 350º oven for 5-to-10 minutes or until the walnuts begin to brown. Stir them around occasionally, so they brown evenly. You will smell the aroma of roasting nuts. Be sure to set a timer; they can scorch quickly.

You’ll know they’re done when you see them visibly become slightly darker.

If you’d like, line the baking sheet with parchment paper. This is optional, but it will make cleanup easy.

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Chopping Nuts

You can toast walnuts in large pieces and chop them after they’re toasted, or chop them prior to toasting. Your call! In either case, there are several ways to chop nuts.

In a food processor:Place walnuts in the bowl of the food processor and pulse until nuts are desired size.

In a manual chopper:Place walnuts in the chopper. Don’t fill it more than in inch or so deep, to allow easy chopping.

With a knife:Choose a knife with a slightly curved blade. Place a handful of walnuts on a cutting board, and rock the knife back and forth over the nuts until they are the desired size.

Using Toasted Walnuts

Toasted nuts give an extra flavor pop and crunch to recipes.Try sprinkling toasted walnuts on top of a hot fudge sundae or in your favorite kale salad. They’re a delicious snack eaten right out of hand, too!

Toasted walnuts are keto and paleo diet approved.

Allow the nuts to cool before adding them to recipes. Store extra nuts in an airtight container and use as needed.

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How to Toast Walnuts

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Toasting walnuts is easy — it takes just 10 minutes or so — and results in super flavor perfect for topping waffles, pancakes, salad, or yogurt.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup walnut pieces

Instructions

Toasting walnuts on the stove top

  1. Measure walnuts into a dry skillet. Cook over medium heat.
  2. When you begin to smell the aroma of roasted nuts, stir the walnuts. Continue cooking until the nuts are toasted on all sides, about 5 minutes.
  3. Turn the hot nuts out onto a plate to cool.

Toasting walnuts in the oven

  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Spread walnut pieces on a baking sheet in a single layer.
  3. Place tray in oven for 5-to-10 minutes or until they begin to brown and become aromatic.
  4. Turn the hot walnuts out onto a plate to cool.

Using toasted walnuts

  1. Use the walnuts as is, or chop them into smaller pieces. Use a knife and a rocking motion on a cutting board to chop the nuts into the size you need for your recipe.

Notes

Adjust the amount of walnuts to suit your needs, using the skillet method for small amounts and the oven method for larger quantities.

Cool completely, then store toasted pecans in an airtight container for up to a month.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 191Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g

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Toasted Walnuts 2 Ways for Snacking & Recipes - Attainable Sustainable® (2024)

FAQs

Why do you toast walnuts? ›

Toasting nuts brings out their earthiness and minimizes any bitterness found in raw nuts. In just a few minutes, nuts will go from pale, somewhat waxy, and mild in flavor and smell, to golden brown, rich-tasting, and with an intensity and delicious aroma that adds a whole new level of flavor to any dish.

Are walnuts roasted before eating? ›

Walnuts can be eaten raw, as they are, or toast to bring out more of their flavour: place the nuts on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake on a medium heat for 10-12 mins. They are ready when the kernels turn golden.

How do you store toasted walnuts? ›

Once your walnuts are toasted and cooled, store them in a jar or tightly covered container. Walnuts keep best in the fridge or freezer. It's worth noting that toasted nuts are a bit more perishable than raw. Shelf life varies considerably, so it's best to judge freshness by taste and smell.

Are toasted walnuts still healthy? ›

Both raw and roasted nuts can be a healthy addition to most diets. Both types are a good source of beneficial nutrients such as Vitamin E, manganese, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.

Does toasting walnuts destroy nutrients? ›

Roasted nuts can still be a nutritious snack, but the roasting process can alter their nutrient composition. While roasting may enhance flavor, it can also lead to some nutrient loss, especially for heat-sensitive vitamins. Raw nuts are generally considered to retain their original nutrient content better.

Can you toast walnuts without oil? ›

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange walnuts in a single layer on a cook sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove once golden brown and fragrant.

Are walnuts better raw or toasted? ›

– Raw nuts contain natural enzymes that can aid digestion. “nu*ts such as walnuts and pecans can be enjoyed raw to derive their full nutritional benefits. The heat from roasting can compromise the omega-3 fatty acids in these nuts, which are integral for heart health and brain function,” added Sisodia.

What is the best way to eat walnuts? ›

Adding them to your smoothies, salads, shakes, chutneys, breakfast cereal, desserts, dalia is also a good idea. "The best time to eat walnuts in summers is in the morning. You can soak 6 to 8 halves of walnuts at night and consume them on an empty stomach. You can also add them to your smoothies or make walnut chutney.

What does eating walnuts before bed do? ›

They are a good source of magnesium, which can help you relax and fall asleep more easily. They contain tryptophan, an amino acid that can help increase the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating sleep.

Why are walnuts good before bed? ›

While you could eat walnuts any time of the day, bedtime is a great time to eat walnuts because they have numerous compounds that are tied to healthy sleep patterns. They're a good source of tryptophan, an amino acid that your body uses to produce serotonin and melatonin – both involved in regulating sleep.

What is the difference between toasted and roasted nuts? ›

Once browned, nuts get a deeper, earthier, sweeter, and, well, nuttier, flavor. And toasting improves their texture, too. While some raw nuts can be a bit pasty, toasted nuts are crisp and snappy. While I say these nuts are “toasted,” it would be more accurate to call them oven-roasted.

How many walnuts should you eat in a day? ›

A serving of walnuts is roughly 1 ounce, or about ¼ cup. However, some studies suggest eating 1.5 to 2 ounces may be beneficial to reap the health benefits walnuts offer. With this in mind, and considering walnuts are calorically dense, Kalloo recommends aiming for a handful daily to reap their many health benefits.

Should I refrigerate roasted walnuts? ›

Contrary to popular belief, nuts should be stored in the fridge or freezer as opposed to a room temperature pantry. Why? Because nuts contain a high amount of unsaturated fat, a delicate type of oil, which makes them highly prone to going rancid.

Can walnuts go rancid? ›

Walnuts go rancid when exposed to warm temperatures for long periods of time. Heat causes the fat in walnuts to change structure, which creates off odors and flavors. Fresh walnuts smell mildly nutty and taste sweet. If your walnuts smell like paint thinner, you know they're rancid.

Why should you toast nuts? ›

Many baking recipes call for nuts. But the really smart ones call for toasted nuts. To say browning brings out the flavor in nuts is a decided understatement: A bit of heat applied for a small amount of time “blooms” raw nuts, releasing their aromatic volatile oils and “caramelizing” their surface.

Can you eat raw walnuts? ›

What's more, walnuts are usually eaten raw. So they have greater antioxidant abilities than nuts that are usually eaten roasted. (Antioxidants help prevent or reduce the artery-damaging oxidation that contributes to heart disease).

Why do you have to eat walnuts before bed? ›

While you could eat walnuts any time of the day, bedtime is a great time to eat walnuts because they have numerous compounds that are tied to healthy sleep patterns. They're a good source of tryptophan, an amino acid that your body uses to produce serotonin and melatonin – both involved in regulating sleep.

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