Increasingly, walnuts can be found in summer cottages.
The tree bears fruit well even in the conditions of the Middle Zone, so it has become very popular. But, by and large, the nut is still a curiosity. Therefore, some gardeners dry and store collected nuts incorrectly. As a result, most of them rot in the first 2-3 months. Dear readers!
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How to choose the time and when is the best time to collect walnuts
The crops are mainly harvested:
- In late August . In this case, the fruits will need to ripen in a cool, dry place for another couple of weeks.
- In late September - early October . These fruits will ripen on the tree and just need to be shaken off and collected on the ground.
The choice of the date for collecting nuts, firstly, depends on the variety. Early ripening varieties are harvested in late August - early September. Late ripening - closer to October. Secondly, it is important to consider the growing conditions. If your garden is regularly visited by birds or squirrels, then the fruits will have to ripen indoors. Otherwise, you simply won’t see the harvest.
REFERENCE. Tree-ripened nuts are healthier. Plus, they last longer.
Ripe nuts on a tree
When harvesting, you need to focus on the main signs of ripening:
- The shell is cracked.
- The shell became yellowish and slightly loose to the touch.
- The leaves on the tree itself have turned yellow.
Don't worry if you pick the nuts a little unripe. They will sit for 1-2 weeks and ripen. Over time, you will learn to tell by eye that it is time to harvest.
ADVICE. Wear gloves when picking and shelling nuts, otherwise your hands will turn brown.
Preparing for drying
The most important time is the first days after harvest, when the shells dry out. The main condition is dry weather. There is no need for excessive heat. Instead, keeping it cool is advisable because cooler temperatures stop mold growth. For example, a nut that has fallen from a tree to a suitable place dries faster and is not affected by fungus as quickly as in the attic. A draft is important for home drying, since still air creates a humid microclimate.
Nuts cannot withstand fluctuations in high temperature and humidity. Another important factor is a clean surface on which the nuts are dried. Do not place soft substrates under them. They retain moisture, becoming a breeding ground for putrefactive bacteria. It is recommended to place the nuts in one layer, not too close to each other. They must be dried with periodic stirring to ensure uniform drying.
When collecting nuts in wet weather, when they are wet and covered in dirt, do not wash them with water. This will increase humidity - the main cause of mold and rot. Immediately after harvesting, dry the nuts in the sun or in a ventilated area.
Important! Similar principles apply to drying pecans and other types.
Even if you are drying crops just for parrots, you should remove any moldy or damaged nuts. This will prevent possible health complications in this ornamental bird. When drying for your own use, discard any suspicious nuts; even a millimeter of mold can ruin the entire harvest.
How to dry walnuts
Drying nuts in the open air
The collected fruits are laid to dry so that the kernels become crispy. The most accessible and obvious way is to dry the nuts in the open air. But usually everything is complicated by the fact that in autumn there are rarely several days in a row without rain. This is especially typical for the Middle Zone and Moscow region. Then you will have to dry the crop in a different way.
Air drying
In order for the nuts to dry well, the weather should be sunny for about 3-5 days. The nuts, peeled from the outer green skin, are laid out on a cloth. This can be a tarpaulin or several bags folded side by side. It is advised to do only one layer so that everything dries better.
To protect the crop from possible precipitation, you can place them under a canopy.
How to dry fruits in the oven
If you decide to dry the nuts in the oven, you must first prepare them properly. To do this, the nuts are thoroughly washed, wiped with a cloth to remove moisture and sorted by size. Sorting is necessary because nuts of different sizes take different times to dry.
The oven should be slightly preheated. The optimal temperature is 40-45 degrees. Drying time 2.5 – 3 hours. It is not recommended to exceed the specified time, as the taste of the kernels is lost.
During the entire 3 hours, the oven door should be kept slightly open.
After the specified time has passed, you need to preheat the oven to 70 degrees and keep the nuts in it for about half an hour. After this, the baking sheet is removed from the oven and left to cool.
IMPORTANT! Be sure to use gloves or an oven mitt. The nut shells will be very hot and may cause burns.
Using an electric dryer
Drying nuts in an electric dryer
The fruits are laid out in sections of the electric dryer. It is not recommended to put a lot of nuts at once. So the drying will be delayed, or you will have to repeat the procedure.
The optimal temperature is 40 degrees. The whole process will last approximately 4.5 – 5 hours.
IMPORTANT! When using an electric dryer, follow the instructions that came with the device. This way you won’t spoil the nuts or break the device itself.
Drying nuts in the attic
What to do if you don’t have an electric dryer or oven at your dacha, but you don’t want to take several bags full of nuts with you? Then you can leave the fruits to dry in the attic.
To do this, they are thoroughly washed and laid out on racks, pallets, boxes, etc. After about 10-15 days, the nuts will dry out and can be collected. To prevent the fruits from rotting and molding during these 2 weeks, leave the door to the attic ajar. This will ensure fresh air flows in and the harvest will not spoil.
Soaking, washing and other preparatory work
Soaking is necessary to remove the skins from the nuts. Usually almonds are poured, less often forest and other species. Also, water procedures are required for better absorption of valuable substances and ease the work of the stomach. But this is done immediately before use.
Which nuts need to be peeled:
- hazelnut;
- almond;
- pine nuts.
Not necessary, optional:
- walnut;
- pecan;
- macadamia.
It is more convenient to peel the peanuts after roasting. It doesn't need to be soaked. The box is removed immediately. Removing the skin improves the flavor. Some shells are bitter. But they are the ones who extend the shelf life. Before long-term storage, only the shell is removed. Below we will tell you how to properly dry nuts after soaking and cleaning them in the oven. First, let's learn how to prepare them.
Catch detailed instructions:
- Remove the shell, if any. The most difficult thing to work with is walnut. A special device or hammer is required.
- Types without shells must be washed. Especially if the product was purchased on the market.
- Next, peel the skin. Optional.
- After washing, pour it onto a cotton cloth. We place it in a ventilated place. Needs drying.
It is convenient to dry nuts on the windowsill with the window open. Fresh air will quickly remove all droplets. A wet product cannot be put into the oven. High humidity will slow down the process and will take longer to dry.
How to dry only kernels without shells
Dried nut kernels
You can also dry only the kernels. The advantages of this method are clear. You can dry more nuts.
To dry the kernels, an oven preheated to 40 degrees is most often used. First, the kernels are taken out of the shell, cleaned and placed on a baking sheet. There is no need to wash the kernels!
Please note that if the kernels are of a different color and smell unpleasant, they should be thrown away. They're gone.
A longer method is drying in boxes and trays. You will spend 3-4 days on the whole process.
Checking readiness
You can make sure that the nuts are dry enough by cracking a few pieces and tasting the kernels. The raw ones are dried. They always have thin skin, break easily and crunch.
If they are not dried enough they will spoil. If everything is done correctly, then the question is how
drying walnuts will no longer bother you.
Storing walnuts with shells at home
Dried nuts need to be prepared for storage. Some people store them without removing them from the shell, while others leave only the kernels. There is no right way. You can do this and that. Experienced gardeners advise using different methods to distribute the harvest. Put some for long-term storage, leave some for food, etc.
INTERESTING. Walnuts last a very long time. At a temperature of about 10 degrees in a dry place, the fruits in the shell can last a year to a year and a half.
In bags
Storing nuts in a bag
The easiest way to store your harvest is to put everything in a bag. Just remember to sort through the nuts and remove any rotten or broken shells. At a temperature of 20 - 22 degrees, the shelf life in a bag is approximately six months. At temperatures up to 15 degrees – a year.
In salt
Sometimes the fruits are stored in salt. The advantage of this method is that the salt absorbs all the moisture, and the nuts themselves always remain dry.
To store this way, you will need a glass jar or clay jug. A mixture of salt and dry wood shavings is poured into the bottom (only salt can be used). Then lay the nuts and add the above mixture. Sprinkle a layer of salt on top and close with a lid.
Keep the jar or jug in the dark and cool.
In special boxes
You can use boxes and cardboard boxes. This method is convenient if you plan to use nuts in the near future for cooking or are preparing them for sale.
How to store shelled nuts
Peeled nuts are preserved less well. They do not need to be ground or cut. Store whole kernels.
Using the freezing method
Nut kernels can be frozen. They will retain their beneficial properties and taste throughout the year.
Dry seaming
This is one of the most durable methods. Cleaned kernels can be stored for several years.
The nuts must first be sterilized. This is usually done in the microwave or in a “water bath”.
First, the kernels are poured into jars a couple of centimeters below the neck. Then place it in the microwave at minimum power for 3 minutes. Then the jar is taken out, rolled up with a lid and turned over.
When the jar has cooled down, it is moved to the pantry or cellar. The main thing is that it is dry and cool there.
If you sterilize a jar in a “water bath”, then you need:
- Place a rag on the bottom of the pan and fill with water.
- Place jars of nuts.
- To boil water.
- Boil the jars in water for an hour and a half.
This method takes longer, but not everyone has a microwave that will fit a 3-liter jar.
Storage in a dry jar
Storing nut kernels in a jar
This is the most short-lived method. The kernels should be used within several weeks. Usually nuts are left in jars “for food.”
How to store in the refrigerator
The cleaned kernels are placed in bags. Best used with Zippo fastener. It is also very important to suck out all the air. Then the fruits will last longer (up to 9 months). By the way, you can also put nuts in their shells in the refrigerator. They can last as long as 2 years.
Store in honey
Nuts do not spoil in honey for 2 years. But they can be used mostly for confectionery purposes. The kernels are poured into a jar and filled with honey in a 1 to 1 ratio.
