Content
- 1 At what temperature should you dry walnuts?
- 2 How to dry walnuts at home
- 3 How to dry walnuts in the oven without shells
- 4 How to dry walnuts in shell in the oven
- 5 How to dry walnuts in an electric dryer
- 6 How to dry walnuts at home in the microwave
- 7 How to dry walnuts in the sun
- 8 How long to dry walnuts and how to check readiness
- 9 Terms and conditions of storage
- 10 Conclusion
It is necessary to dry walnuts before chopping. The procedure is an intermediate step, however, it is extremely important. In this way, it will be possible to prevent the proliferation of infections and fungi that penetrate the shell and provoke rotting of the kernel. Quality preservation affects the taste and future commercial value of the product.
At what temperature should you dry walnuts?
The determining factors for artificial drying of walnuts are temperature and air circulation speed. The ideal temperature for quick and high-quality drying of fruits is + 56-57 °C. Maximum value + 62 °C. If the temperature is higher than the specified parameters, the kernels will acquire an unpleasant taste.
How to dry walnuts at home
If, after harvesting the fruits, you plan to store them for a long time, then you should definitely dry them. At home, there are several methods for implementing this process.
- The natural way – in the sun or in a dry room, protected from precipitation.
- By artificial means – using an oven, microwave oven, electric dryer.
The latter method has a number of positive aspects: drying is much faster in electrical appliances than in the sun. Does not depend on weather conditions, can be performed at any time of the year. However, the volume of fruit that can be dried at one time will be significantly less.
How to dry walnuts in the oven without shells
After harvesting walnuts, you need to remove the shell and remove the kernels. Place on a baking sheet, then place in the oven, which has been preheated to 50°C. Drying time is 20-40 minutes. For even heating, do not forget to stir.
It is important to keep the oven door slightly open so that condensation does not accumulate and the process goes faster. It is not recommended to increase the temperature in the oven, as this will lead to bitterness.
How to dry walnuts in shell in the oven
To dry the nuts to the required state, there is no need to rush and preheat the oven to maximum. Thus, the fruits will be boiled and fleshy. Or you can just burn them and that’s it. You can get excellent taste if you adhere to the following algorithm:
- rinse the shells with water and place them on a towel, waiting for the water to drain;
- Place clean fruits evenly on a baking sheet;
- preheat the oven to 40-45 °C;
- maintain at this temperature for about three hours;
- The oven door should not be closed;
- half an hour before the end of time, increase the temperature to 60 ° C;
- readiness is checked by cracking the shell: in well-dried fruits, the kernels break easily;
- walnuts are removed from the oven and left on the table so that they are completely cooked;
- if the core turns out to be soft and stringy, it means that the fruits are not completely dry, you should continue the drying process.
How to dry walnuts in an electric dryer
Home appliance stores have electric dryers that are designed for drying fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish. Such devices are suitable for drying walnuts. The principle of operation is as follows: the fan circulates heated air, heating the fruit from all sides. You just need to control the process and turn the nuts in time.
The drying process in an electrical appliance takes on average 5-6 hours. This is with a minimum load, otherwise you will have to do several approaches. In the intervals between drying, you should test the readiness of the fruit.
How to dry walnuts at home in the microwave
- Walnut kernels are washed under running water.
- Then scatter on a towel, allowing the water to drain completely.
- Place in the mold in one layer.
- Place in the microwave for 8 minutes at a power of 750 kW or 1000 kW, then 4 minutes will be enough.
- The hot kernels are allowed to cool on the table.
- As a result, the nuts acquire a light brown color.
How to dry walnuts in the sun
Drying walnuts naturally is the most labor-intensive and time-consuming method. Since its quality and taste will depend on the amount of moisture inside the fruit. Sun drying is considered the oldest but most common method.
Walnuts are scattered on an oilcloth or wooden pallet in one layer. They need to be turned over several times a day. The structure is installed in a sunny area. The main disadvantage of this method is the unpredictability of weather conditions. At any moment it may rain or the air temperature will drop significantly. Therefore, you need to be prepared for this. In bad weather, nuts should be brought into a warm, dry room. For the process, it is advisable to select a period without precipitation, with warm sunny days. Fogs and morning dew will also negatively affect the drying rate.
There is no need to pre-sort. Using trays and stacks will speed up the process significantly. After all, good air circulation will be ensured.
The duration of drying walnuts in the sun is 3-6 days. Under unfavorable conditions, the procedure can take up to 10-12 days. It all depends on the weather.
In particularly humid regions, walnuts are dried in special drying barns. Where the fruits lie on special racks, and the weather does not in any way affect the duration of the process.
How long to dry walnuts and how to check readiness
The time it will take to obtain tasty and dry nuts is difficult to determine in advance. It all depends on the size of the fruit, the chosen drying method, the degree of ripeness and the level of humidity.
Under ideal conditions, they can be dried naturally in 4-5 days. But if problems arise with weather conditions, the process may take longer. Thus, the duration will be two weeks.
When choosing artificial methods, the time frame is significantly reduced. The drying speed of fruits is on average 1-2 days, maybe faster.
To check the readiness of walnuts, you need to crack the shells of at least two fruits. The quality of the kernel is assessed:
- there is no excess moisture;
- dense, not soft consistency;
- the pulp should break easily;
- thin skin;
- the presence of dry membranes;
- brown color of the kernel;
- the taste is crispy, pleasant without bitterness.
If the nuts do not meet these parameters, they should be dried. Otherwise, even if the recommended storage conditions are observed, they may become moldy and rot.
Terms and conditions of storage
Walnuts should be stored in such a way that they do not lose their nutritional properties and beneficial components. It is better to store unpeeled fruits in plastic or wooden boxes or nets. The main thing is that they “breathe” in the container, that is, they are well ventilated. Then the appearance of mold is excluded.
Optimal parameters of temperature and humidity conditions: 0-10 ° C and humidity within 60%. The room should be dry, free of unpleasant odors, and well ventilated. Walnuts in shell can be stored for up to 3 years.
Peeled, dried walnuts can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-12 months; in the pantry or other dark place, the shelf life is 2-4 months. However, frozen kernels have the longest period. You can keep them in the freezer for 1-3 years at a temperature of -18 °C. After defrosting, you need to fry it in a frying pan to give it a characteristic taste or heat it in the microwave.
Another way to store nuts is to store them for the winter.The peeled kernels are placed in a jar and filled with fresh honey in a ratio of 1:2, respectively. These honey tinctures can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 12 months.
Suitable containers include a glass jar, a bag made of natural material, a cardboard box, and vacuum bags. It is important to remember that peeled kernels are afraid of sunlight and absorb unpleasant odors.
Conclusion
Drying walnuts at home is easy. You just need to follow proven recommendations. Raw fruits have a moisture content within 40%. Without pre-drying, storage is impossible. The kernels will become bitter and unfit for consumption.
