This Is The Proper Way To Blanch Almonds

If you love snacking on almonds but aren't a big fan of their papery outer coating, blanching them is a quick and easy way to remove those pesky skins. Sometimes you'll see recipes that call for blanched almonds, too, either because the skin might come off during cooking or just to make the final product look a little nicer (via The Spruce Eats). Whatever the reason, blanching almonds yourself is super simple. It just takes some time to peel away all of the skins.

According to Serious Eats, the best way to blanch almonds is to put them in a bowl and pour boiling water over them. Let them soak for just a minute (too long and the nuts could start to get soggy), then drain and run cool water over the nuts. This will help loosen the skins, and they should peel off easily. Just lightly squeeze each nut between your fingers, and the skin should pop off and peel away. Going one almond at a time will take a little while, depending on how many almonds you're blanching, but it'll be worth the work at the end.

After you blanch almonds, you'll want to be sure to let them dry completely before you use them in a recipe. According to The Spruce Eats, if you're not using the almonds once they're dry, you'll have to make sure you're storing them properly so that the oils in the nuts don't go rancid. They'll last for about a month in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place, but you can also refrigerate them for up to three months, or freeze for up to one year.

Blanched almonds are delicious for snacking, but they're also popular in a variety of recipes. The Spruce Eats recommends trying them on green beans, adding them to yogurt and fruit, or pan-frying them to eat hot or cold. You can also cut the almonds into slivers, making them even easier to add to recipes. Just heat them up in the microwave for about 10 seconds to make them easier to cut, then use a knife to vertically slice them.

One other advantage of blanching almonds is changing the flavor a little. Serious Eats notes that almond skins can have a slightly bitter flavor, so blanching them can give your snack a milder taste. No matter what you have in mind, once you blanch a batch of almonds, there are tons of different ways you can put them to work in your kitchen.