The Biggest Mistake You're Making When Roasting Nuts In The Oven

Nuts are nearly perfect. They are small, easy to eat with your hands, satisfying, and flavorful. Even better, nuts contain healthy fats, fiber, protein, nutrients, and antioxidants. When consumed in moderation, nuts can offer beneficial effects, such as lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar.

It's hard to improve upon the taste and texture of these natural wonders, but it is not impossible. Roasting nuts creates an irresistible aroma while enhancing the flavor and adding crunch. However, if you do not roast nuts properly, they can burn. If this happens, not only will they taste bad, but you could encourage the formation of harmful free radicals that can damage your cells. Therefore, it's very important to learn how to roast nuts properly.

The secret is keeping the temperature down. Low and slow is the more flavorful and safer option. The highest temperature you should ever roast nuts is a gentle 300 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as you stay at or below this threshold, you can prevent your nuts from cooking on the outside before they warm on the inside. This means no burning and helps keep the nuts a healthier food option.

While keeping the temperature down while roasting nuts is important, it's not the only tip. For instance, roasting is a little more precise than just cooking. Roasting means cooking with dry heat, not microwaving or cooking in a frying pan. If you want the best-tasting nuts, roast them in an oven so they can bathe in the dry heat.

Remember, larger nuts take more time to roast. This may sound like a no-brainer because it's obvious that larger macadamia nuts will take longer to roast than something smaller, like pine nuts. This means you shouldn't roast mixed nuts. For the best results, the nuts should be close to the same size. If not, you risk burning the smaller ones.

A third crucial tip is to know when the nuts are done cooking. In general, let your nose be your guide. Once that gloriously nutty scent fills the kitchen, you know you've roasted to perfection. However, if you are a visual person, cook until golden. If they are darker than a very light brown, you won't be as happy with the flavor. To ensure your nuts are thoroughly cooked, cut one in half to see if it's done. If it still looks pale on the inside, you might need a little more roasting time.