Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Pecans
• Part 2 of 3: Cracking and Peeling the Pecans
• Part 3 of 3: Cleaning and Storing Pecans
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need
• Additional articles

It doesn't matter if you want to eat pecans raw, roasted, or if you want to make a great nut pie with them, the pecans must be peeled and shelled first.Read this article from the beginning to learn how to free the hard shells of pecan kernels.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Pecans

1. 1 Collect or Buy Pecans. Choose large pecans that are uniform in shape and heavy to the touch. The most popular varieties are Stuart or Moneymaker, as well as varieties that grow in the Crimea, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
2. 2 Sort out the pecans. Go through the pecans and discard any cracked or punctured nuts, or any nuts that feel lighter to the touch. Shake the nut. If it rattles like a rattle, then the core inside is damaged.
3. 3 You can boil the pecans. Some pecan lovers claim that boiling the pecans makes it easier to release the shell.
   • Boil water in a large saucepan. Place the pecans carefully in the water and let them simmer for 10-15 minutes. Drain the pecans and let cool before you start chopping them.
   • You can put one glass of pecans, put two glasses of water in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat it on high for 5-6 minutes.
4. 4 Prepare your work area. Breaking a pecan shell can create a lot of debris, and pieces of the shell can fly in different directions. If possible, arrange for a nut cracking site outside so you don't have to deal with post-harvesting, or you can keep it to a minimum.

Part 2 of 3: Cracking and Peeling the Pecans

1. 1 Take a nutcracker. You can use a multi-purpose nutcracker to free the shells of the pecans.
   • Place the nut between two crushing elements and gently squeeze until the pecan shell cracks, you should hear a characteristic sound. Do not squeeze too hard or you will damage the kernel inside the shell.
   • Rotate the nut clamped with the pliers and squeeze the pressing elements again. Turn and press until the entire shell is cracked and you can reach the kernel.
2. 2 Use side cutters and pliers. This is another quick and easy way to split pecans and requires side cutters and pliers (pliers or pliers) to do this.
   • Take a side cutter and bite off the two pointed ends of the pecan shell.
   • Take any pliers, place the nut on a work surface, gently crack the pecan shell, turning the nut until the whole shell is cracked.
3. 3 Use a pecan splitter. If you need to split a large number of pecans, you can invest in a special pecan splitter. It looks like a table vise.
   • These tools will help you split the pecan shells quickly and efficiently without damaging the kernels.
   • Basically, all nutcracker tools are mechanical, but you can also find an electric nutcracker with which you can chop a lot of nuts in a short amount of time.
4. 4 Press the nuts together. If you don't have any tool at hand, you can crack the nuts by pressing them together.
   • To do this, take two nuts in one hand. Clench your hand into a fist, pressing the nuts together until one of the shells cracks and can be easily removed.
5. 5 Use a hammer. The easiest way to crack a pecan is to place it on a hard surface and hit it with a hammer.
   • Place the nut on a hard surface and hit it with a hammer. You may need to rotate the nut and hit again, aiming at a different location. Take care of your fingers!
   • Although this method is fast enough, you can crush the kernel into small pieces. If you want whole pecans, consider another method.
6. 6 Remove the kernel from the shell. After you have cracked the shell using one of the methods listed above, carefully remove the kernel from the shell, being careful not to damage the halves of the nut as much as possible.
   • Use your fingers or small pliers to remove any remnants of the shell of one half of the walnut. Then take a special stick to get the kernels of the nut (you can use a thin screwdriver) to get the nut from the other half of the shell.
   • It is most convenient to get nuts from the shell, split in half. But if you split it into smaller pieces, don't worry, the kernel will be edible anyway.

Part 3 of 3: Cleaning and Storing Pecans

1. 1 Remove any remnants of shell or husk. Take a stick, toothpick, or even a pecan shell shard and scrape off any remaining shell or husk from the grooves of the nut. Even a small amount of shell or husk can leave an unpleasant bitter taste in the mouth of a person who has eaten such a nut.
2. 2 Leave the pecans in a ventilated container or colander for 24 hours. This will allow the nuts to dry out and ripen, the taste of the nuts will improve.
3. 3 Store pecans in an airtight container. Place the ripened pecans in a container, seal it tightly, and place the nuts in a cool, dry place. Nuts can be stored at room temperature for a week, in the refrigerator for several weeks, and pecans can be stored in the freezer for up to a year.

Tips

• Store unpeeled nuts in a sheltered place, otherwise squirrels or other rodents will significantly reduce your supply if you give them the chance.
• Choose the right variety of pecans. Depending on the variety, nuts may differ in oil content, yield, ease of shelling, and aroma.

Warnings

• If you chop pecans with mechanical devices, shell fragments can fly in all directions, wear safety goggles for safety.

What do you need

• Pecans
• Nutcracker, pliers, or hammer
• Container for separating nuts from the shell

Additional articles

How to harvest pecans How to roast pecans How to harvest black walnuts How to make peaches ripe How to measure dry pasta How to cut tomatoes How to make clear ice How to cut a melon into pieces How to save too watery rice How to boil water in the microwave How to wash rice How to cook a steak in a pan How to dice potatoes How to make a thick sauce