How to fry pine nuts in a frying pan

Content

1 Are pine nuts roasted?
2 How to properly roast pine nuts
3 Terms and conditions of storage
4 Selection rules
5 Conclusion

You can fry pine nuts in the shell or without it, in a frying pan or in the microwave. These fruits are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. The kernels are used in cooking, cosmetology and pharmacology.

Are pine nuts roasted?

Pine nuts are roasted to release their aroma and enhance their taste. To extend the shelf life to 1 year, unpeeled kernels are fried, washed from oil under running water. Fried cores are used to decorate desserts and salads or serve as snacks for drinks.

How to properly roast pine nuts

Before cooking, the fruits must be sorted and inspected for mold and rot. Suitable seeds must be healthy looking and have a pleasant aroma. It is better to buy nuts unshelled: this way they will retain more beneficial properties, will not lose their presentation and will be clean.

Next, the seeds are washed and shelled. To quickly clear kernels, you can use the following methods:

Using the freezer. To make the shells brittle, put the nuts in a bag and put them in the freezer for 2 - 3 hours. After the time has passed, the bag is removed and a rolling pin is passed over it.In this case, the pressing force should be small to avoid damage to the fragile core.
Heating on a baking sheet or frying pan. When exposed to high temperatures, the fruits become more pliable and can be cracked with a little effort. The seeds need to be poured into a frying pan and, stirring, heated for 10 - 20 minutes over low heat. During the heating process, the shell should break apart on its own. Once cooled, uncracked seeds can be peeled off by pressing with your fingers. The same effect can be achieved by placing the nuts on a baking sheet in preheated to 200 ^OC oven for 20 minutes.
Soaking in hot water. You can achieve softness and pliability of the shell by soaking the fruit in hot water. The grains are poured with boiling water and left to swell for 30 minutes. After time, the water is drained and the fruits are cleaned.
Using a handy tool, the shell can be cracked using a hammer, rolling pin, pliers, garlic press or a special tool for chopping nuts.

The prepared product is fried in a frying pan, in the oven or in the microwave. You need to properly fry pine nuts until the characteristic cracking and darkening of the crust appears.

How to fry pine nuts in a frying pan in their shells

To roast cedar seeds in shell you need:

Prepare the product for cooking.
Take a clean, dry frying pan.
Pour the nuts into a thin layer into the frying pan, stirring with a wooden spatula, and fry over low heat until a characteristic crunch appears and the kernels darken. If you need to fry a lot of nuts, then you should divide the entire mass into several servings.

How to fry pine nuts in a frying pan without shells

Peeled pine grains can be fried in a frying pan without adding oil, since the fruits themselves are very oily.

Remove the shell from the seeds in a convenient way.
Take a clean, dry frying pan and place it over low heat to heat up.
Sprinkle the nuts evenly into the heated frying pan.
If desired, cedar kernels can be salted, sprinkled with sugar or spices.
Stirring the product periodically, monitor its color: as soon as it turns an appetizing brown color, the pan can be removed from the heat.

Pine nuts roasted in the oven

Pine nuts can be roasted in the oven, either in the shell or without it.

Method 1 — Frying in shell:

take the nuts, wash them, but do not dry them;
preheat the oven to 160 ⁰C;
cover the baking sheet with baking parchment and spread the grains evenly;
place the baking sheet in the oven for 10 - 15 minutes;
after the time has passed, remove the baking sheet and allow the nuts to cool;
Place the cooled seeds on a waffle towel, cover them with a second towel and roll over them with a rolling pin. With light pressure, the shell will crack and separate from the nucleoli.

Method 2 – Roasting peeled grains:

take the number of kernels required for frying, clean them of debris and shells, and wash them thoroughly;
preheat the oven to 150 ^OC;
cover the baking sheet with baking parchment and sprinkle nuts on it in a thin layer;
if desired, you can sprinkle the kernels with sugar, salt or spices;
place the baking sheet in the oven for 10 - 15 minutes;
After the time has passed, take out the baking sheet and allow the fruits to cool.

During roasting, it is necessary to monitor the degree of readiness, otherwise the grains may simply burn.

Microwave cooking

Unshelled hazelnuts can be roasted in the microwave.

Take 60 - 70 g of grains, cleared of debris and washed, but not dried.
Place the seeds in a small paper bag and fold the edge.
Place the bag in the microwave and set the timer to fry for 1 minute.
At the end of the time, do not remove the bag and allow the fruits to fry from their own heat for another 2 minutes.
Next, take out the bag and pour the nuts into an even layer on a plate.
After waiting 10 - 15 minutes, the seeds are cleaned.

Terms and conditions of storage

The shelf life of pine nuts is affected by:

temperature regime;
storage;
humidity.

Cleaned kernels should be consumed several weeks, or better yet, days. The longer a nut is stored, the less beneficial properties it retains. Roasted seeds can be stored for 3 to 6 months, depending on storage conditions. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark place with a humidity of no more than 50%. To increase shelf life, you need to use a freezer and a tightly closed bag or container. The longest shelf life is for nuts packaged during the ripening period of the cones - September - October.

Selection rules

To avoid harm to health when consuming pine nuts, you need to choose them correctly. When purchasing you should pay attention:

on the color of the kernel or shell: it must be the same - without spots, darkening or other colors;
Fruit moisture: The first sign of freshness is the moisture of the seeds. The drier the grains, the greater the likelihood of long-term storage;
the size of the nuts should be the same for each fruit;
the tip of the peeled kernel: if it is darkened, this is the second sign of long storage;
tip of the shell: a dark dot at the tip is a sign of the presence of a kernel;
aroma: must be natural, without foreign impurities;
presence of foreign deposits: gray-greenish deposits – a sign of mold;
production date.

It is better to purchase unrefined grains packed in cardboard bags.

You should refuse to purchase if:

oil appears on the surface of the nuts - this is a sign of spoilage;
nuts emit an unpleasant aroma;
there are signs of bacteria on the fruits;
debris is visible in the grains;
there are stuck together seeds.

Conclusion

When planning to roast pine nuts, you should be careful when choosing them. Stale, long-storing fruits with signs of disease can cause serious harm to health. After heat treatment, it is necessary to store the grains in a dark place - light has a detrimental effect on the product. When stored for a long time, peeled kernels may acquire an unpleasant bitterness.

How to roast pine nuts