This simple technique will take your baked goods from good to great.
You might be thinking, why can’t I just buy pre-toasted nuts?
Well, store-bought toasted nuts pale in comparison and actually go bad faster.
Credit:Hannah Zimmerman
Plus, toasting nuts is a simple cooking technique that doesn’t require fancy equipment or extra ingredients.
It also only takes about five minutes, so there’s really no excuse.
Getting Started
Don’t chop:Begin with whole, raw nuts.
If your recipe calls for toasted chopped nuts, roast them whole, if possible.
Chopped bits will cook unevenly, due to the differing sizes, and some pieces will likely burn.
It may alter the flavor of the nut as well as how it reacts in a recipe.
If toasting nuts for aspiced snack mix, however, your recipe may tell you to use oil.
Turn on the oven:Lastly, low and slow heat is the way to a perfectly toasted nut.
If your oven or stovetop is too hot, the nuts will quickly burn instead of slowly toast.
Set your oven to 325F.
At 325F, most nuts will only need to stay in the oven 5 to 8 minutes.
On the stovetop in a pan, toasting nuts may take a few minutes less, about 5 minutes.
Smell:Most nuts will start emitting a pleasant fragrance after only a few minutes of toasting.
Color:When chopped, a perfectly toasted nut will not be fully browned throughout.
Word Of Caution
Never walk away from the stove while toasting nuts on the stovetop.
The nuts can go from raw to burned in mere seconds.
If left on a hot pan or skillet, they will continue to cook and possibly burn.
you’ve got the option to even freeze them up to four months infreezer bags.
