Drying walnuts in an electric dryer

Purchasing ready-made nuts may result in failure, after which you will no longer want to consume the tasty and healthy product. To prevent this from happening, there is nothing left to do but dry the walnuts yourself. This is not as difficult as it seems, and the result of correctly carried out manipulations will be the receipt of an ingredient of the required quality.

The easiest way for owners of summer cottages where unpretentious trees are planted is to dry nuts directly in the shell. If you have to purchase products, then it is better to prepare them in a purified form, this will reduce the risk of a large number of defects.

How and when to collect walnuts so that they are suitable for drying?

Even home-grown fruits can disappoint if you do not follow the harvesting rules:

First of all, you need to collect the fruits that have fallen from the branches on your own. You should not delay this; prolonged exposure to damp soil leads to the appearance of dampness inside the core and mold.
After the first harvest, you can lightly shake the branches. Only already ripe nuts will crumble from such exposure.
Walnuts are considered ripe when the green skin on the shell has broken. A solid shell indicates that the product is still green, even if it is lying on the ground.
The fruits covering the lower branches of the tree ripen first. If the nuts from the top have already begun to fall off, then all the nuts from the lower branches can be collected manually.

Before drying walnuts, they need to be peeled. It's messy, tedious and difficult, but necessary. The manipulation must be performed with gloves. Then we immediately proceed to one of the drying methods.

When walnuts ripen: harvest time

The timing of the walnut harvest depends on two main factors:

1) varieties;
2) climatic conditions in the place of cultivation (warmer - earlier, cooler - later).

Typically, depending on the variety, walnuts ripen at the following times:

early ripening - in August;
mid-season (most of them) - September;
late - in October.

The main signal that it is time to start harvesting is considered to be the moment when the green pericarp bursts, and after a while the nut falls to the ground .

It is worth considering another option: it often happens that ripening occurs unevenly on one tree. Accordingly, in this case, the fruits are collected selectively in several stages.

Video: how walnuts ripen

Important! Thus, there is a direct relationship between the timing of harvesting and the quality of walnut kernels, so the walnut crop must be harvested on time. If you are late, substances from the green pericarp may penetrate into the kernel and it will turn black. Moreover, mold may appear on fruits that fall to the ground and they will disappear. And if you do this ahead of time, then when the kernel dries out, it can significantly decrease in weight and volume, become very wrinkled (lose any presentation) and hard, its taste will deteriorate, and, naturally, it will be stored worse.

Video: When to Harvest Walnuts: Harvest Time

How to properly dry walnuts in the fresh air?

This is the best option for a bountiful harvest, which can take the form of one of the following approaches:

In the fresh air. A tarpaulin or other waterproof fabric is spread on the ground. Pour the pieces on top and distribute them in an even layer. It will take several days to dry the fruits. After sunset, the structure must be removed indoors, otherwise dew will spoil the workpieces.
In room. It should be warm, dry, with good ventilation. With this approach, the products are first cleaned, washed in cold water, dried and sorted by size. Then we lay out the fruits on stands, preferably on racks.

As a last resort, the food can simply be laid out on newspaper in one of the rooms of the apartment. But they will have to be turned over regularly to ensure even processing.

Features of drying nuts using a dryer and oven

If you have a special dryer, the process of preparing walnuts at home is significantly simplified. You just need to strictly follow the instructions on the device and monitor the degree of readiness of the products.

Advice: The procedure will not take more than 5-6 hours, however, with a large volume of nuts, you will have to do several approaches, and ultimately the time savings will be minimal. Therefore, the dryer is best used on small volumes of product.

Larger batches of walnuts are easiest and fastest to dry in the oven. The manipulation consists of the following stages:

We clean the workpieces, remove the peel, rinse and dry with a towel. Then we sort the products and process them strictly according to size.
We lay out products from one batch on a baking sheet and place them in the oven, preheated to 40-45ºС. At this temperature, treatment is carried out for 2-3 hours. We always keep the cabinet door ajar so that moisture does not circulate in the closed space, but comes out.
About half an hour before the end of the period, we raise the temperature to 70ºC. Initially setting the oven to a high temperature is not recommended. Although the processing time will be shortened, the nut kernels will acquire an oily texture and an unpleasant aftertaste.
We check the degree of readiness of the nut by removing it from the shell. The edible part should easily break into pieces, but not crumble.

Having finished processing, we leave the nuts in the fresh air for another couple of hours so that the products “arrive”. Then we pack it into fabric bags and send it for storage. The shelf life of such a product is up to a year. The fruits can be stored much longer, but their taste will gradually deteriorate.

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.

How are shelled walnut kernels dried?

We split the purchased nuts to extract the kernels, clean them of all films and dirt, but do not rinse them. If possible, we try not to break the products; they will last longer in their entire form. Next, we dry the product either on trays for 2-3 days, or in the oven at low temperature until the desired degree of readiness.

If during processing the ingredients begin to emit an unpleasant odor or acquire a rancid taste, it is better to throw them away. Such signs indicate a violation of the storage conditions of the product; consuming it is simply dangerous.

Cleaned products can be stored in canvas bags or sealed jars for no more than 3-4 months. The place should be dry and cool. If you need to extend the shelf life, then transfer the kernels into plastic bags and put them in the refrigerator.

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.

Drying methods

You can dry walnuts either in shell or shelled. Drying can be done in different ways: in the sun, in the oven, or in an electric dryer. It is important to carry out the process correctly, maintaining temperature and dryness.

To check the readiness of walnuts, crush the shells and check the kernels. If they are rubbery or damp, continue drying. If they are not dried sufficiently, despite proper storage conditions, they can rot and become moldy. The fragility and thin skin of the kernels are evidence of readiness for storage.

In the oven

Drying walnuts in the oven is easy. The drying process consists of the following points:

Sort the fruits, pre-peeled from green peel, to get rid of damaged nuts.
Place them on a baking sheet. It is recommended to roast walnuts in the oven at a temperature of 40-45°C (they should be dried, not fried).
Dry for no longer than 3 hours, leaving the oven door ajar.
Within 3 hours the temperature should rise to approximately 70°C. Turn off the oven and leave the nuts on the baking sheet for another 30 minutes.
Remove the nuts from the oven and leave to “rest” until completely cooled.

Important! If the drying temperature exceeds 45°C, the finished product may lose its taste.

In the sun

To ensure you have an adequate supply of nuts for winter use in baking Christmas cookies, don't underestimate drying them. First you need to clean them and remove the green peel. The ideal drying method is to place freshly picked fruits on a breathable sieve in a single layer. When folded in several layers, moisture collects between the nuts, creating conditions for the development of mold.

It is recommended to dry nuts in a room with medium temperature and adequate ventilation. If such a room is not available, drying can be done outside. Only sunny days are suitable. Move the nuts indoors at night. Autumn weather is variable, and the quality of the harvest may deteriorate due to the negative effects of temperature fluctuations.

Place the sieve in direct sunlight and protect it from possible weather changes. Optimal drying conditions are a medium-warm dry climate, ideally with light wind. For quality drying, autumn sun is important, especially in the first days of drying.

All nuts are susceptible to fungal infections. Therefore, regularly check their quality and throw away spoiled fruits. The entire sun drying process takes 4-6 weeks.

Important! Never place nuts directly on the ground! This will prevent the evaporation of moisture and the development of mold.

In the dryer

If you find the previous procedure too difficult, use an electric fruit dryer. But drying nuts in a dryer will not speed up the process. Therefore, it is recommended to use the first 2 options (if possible).

The optimal temperature for drying nuts in a dryer is 25°C. The process is carried out in stages and takes 3-4 weeks. Dry the nuts for about 6 hours a day and leave them to “rest” until the next day. Continue this way until drying is complete.

The negative aspect of the drying process in an electric dryer is not only the time requirement. Also take into account the higher electricity consumption.

Without shell

In addition to drying nuts in shell, you can dry peeled kernels. Drying can be done either in the oven or in a fruit dryer. But when harvesting peeled walnuts, the process is not as long and complicated as when drying whole fruits. Another benefit of harvesting peeled kernels is the possibility of direct consumption or use for cooking.

Storage

There are two main options for storing walnuts. They can be stored either in shell or peeled. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. The positive aspect of storing in a shell is the best protection against most pests (moths, flies, bugs). Also, nuts stored in shell can be stored longer. They are less susceptible to rancidity and retain their taste and aroma qualities for a long time. But they must be used within 1.5 years.

Proper storage of walnuts in shell

Walnuts for storage are selected like apples. They must be carefully sorted and any damaged or fungus-affected fruits must be discarded. You can identify a spoiled nut by its distinctive dark shell, the presence of cobwebs, and green mold.

Storage in a box

Discard well-cleaned, dried nuts that are unsuitable for storage. Pay attention to the remains of green shells and dirt. They can lead to mold formation.

Place the processed nuts in a wooden box lined with paper. Store in a dark, dry place. The ideal storage room temperature is about 20°C.

Storage in bags

Place the sorted nuts into mesh or fabric bags. Place them in a dry place. It is important that the nuts do not absorb moisture and do not spoil. Both high and low temperatures are inappropriate. Temperature fluctuations are even more undesirable.

Storage in salt

A proven, but more demanding home option for storing walnuts is adding salt. Place layers of nuts and salt mixed with dried shavings or sawdust in glass jars. In a cool, dry room, nuts in salt can be stored all winter.

Proper storage of shelled walnuts

After drying the walnuts, clean the kernels and dry them on a sieve or newspaper on a radiator. This will ensure thorough drying and minimize the risk of mold.

If you have dried already cleaned fresh kernels, no additional drying is required.

Store the kernels whole, do not crush them. This minimizes the risk of rancidity and keeps them fresh longer. They must be used within one year, regardless of storage method. If this period is exceeded, there is a risk of product damage.

Important! The shelf life of shelled walnuts varies. Its duration depends on the environment in which they are formed. The ideal option is a dark, cool room. In heat, peeled kernels will quickly go rancid.

Dry rolling of walnuts – for several years

This method is used by many housewives. Dry rolling into jars allows you to preserve the freshness of peeled kernels for years. You can sterilize nuts in jars in a saucepan, oven, or microwave.

Microwave sterilization:

Place the dried, peeled kernels in clean, dry jars about 1 cm below the top edge.
Place the filled jar in the microwave.
Turn on minimum power.
After 3 minutes, remove, close the jar with a lid, and turn it upside down.
Once cooled, move to a cool, dry place.

Sterilization in a pan:

Fill the jar with walnut kernels.
Place a rag on the bottom of the pan and pour water.
Place the jars in the water. They must be completely submerged. To prevent floating, place a suitable press on top (eg a heavy, smaller lid).
Bring to a boil, boil for about 1.5 hours at a temperature of about 80ºC.
Take it out and turn it upside down.
Once cooled, move to a cool, dry place.

Freezing – up to 1 year

The advantage of freezing is that at a constant temperature below 0ºC, walnut kernels do not change their appearance, taste, or aroma. Also, frozen kernels can be processed, crushed, and used for cooking without waiting for thawing. You can store both whole and chopped nuts in the freezer. To store the nuts, use a well-closing plastic container or a strong bag. Don't forget to mark the frozen date - they should be used within 12 months. After a while they begin to lose their typical nutty taste.

Refrigerated storage – up to 4 months

The simplest solution is to place the kernels in the refrigerator. Peeled nuts can be stored in the cold for 3-4 months. To avoid absorbing foreign odors, place them in an airtight container or use a heavy-duty plastic zip-lock bag.

Storage in a jar - for several weeks

This method is suitable if there are only a few shelled nuts left and you are sure that you will use them in the near future. Place them in a paper bag, which you place in a clean, dry jar and cover with a lid. Place the jar in a cool, dry place. This way the nuts will retain their freshness and taste for several weeks.

Storage in honey – up to 2 years

The last option is to pour honey over the kernels. This method is suitable for long-term storage. These canned nuts have different uses than regular dried nuts. They can be consumed directly with honey or used for baking sweets.

Mix walnut kernels with honey (1:1), heat the mixture over low heat, pour into jars.

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.

Results

There are several ways to dry walnuts and even more options for storing them. Even among experienced manufacturers there is no consensus on which method is the best, more reliable. Therefore, choose the method that is most suitable for you.

Drying and storing walnuts is an important point in further preserving the quality of the kernel, which affects the future commodity price of the product. In this article we will find out how to dry walnuts in shells in a variety of ways at home, and also consider all the nuances of storing prepared raw materials.

Gluttonous "queen"

Perhaps the most significant disadvantage of walnuts is that if they are not dried properly, moths can appear in them.
This pest loves everything natural and tasty: cereals, beans, chocolate, nuts... Despite the fact that an adult king moth butterfly (that’s what it’s called) lives only 7-10 days, it manages to lay up to 500 eggs! The hatched larvae are long-lived compared to the insect itself—a month or more. It all depends on the temperature. If it is low, then it may take them six months to grow up. And all this time they will do harm, eating up reserves. It is almost impossible to detect the larvae, because they are located under the shell of the nuts.

Experience shows that the pest really does not like strong odors. These are the ones we will take into service. In places where nut moths have appeared (or may appear), place bay leaves, lavender, and wormwood. The smell of tobacco is great at repelling parasites, but will it be pleasant to you? Orange peel gives a good effect.

Many essential oils - eucalyptus, fir, lavender - have repellent, that is, pest-repellent properties.

To destroy eggs (and at the same time disinfect food storage areas), wipe all surfaces with vinegar, boric acid or ammonia.

When is the best time to collect

As soon as the harvest on a walnut tree approaches ripening, squirrels and various birds begin to hunt for it. In order to prevent the loss of nuts, and at the same time preserve all the beneficial and nutritional properties in them, you should pay attention to the signs by which you can determine the desired ripening phase :

cracked green shell;
tree foliage began to turn yellow;
A fully ripe fruit has a hard light brown shell, and the kernel inside it should be moist and palpable by weight.

The type of nut grown is also important. Trees that bloom in spring ripen by late summer to mid-September, while nuts that bloom in June begin to ripen only by early October.

Honey font

By the way, it is not at all necessary to store walnuts and worry about their quality.
Why not pour the peeled kernels with honey in a 1:1 ratio? The nuts can be roasted to enhance the flavor. First, pour the nuts into the jar and only then pour in the honey. And not the other way around. Nuts in honey are a delicacy that is good for the heart and blood vessels. It is effective during the recovery period after illnesses, to boost immunity, during increased mental work or stress, to enhance metabolism and with reduced potency.

To improve the functioning of the digestive system and increase the proportion of potassium and magnesium, you can add dried fruits to the mixture - dried apricots and prunes. Lemon is also a source of vitamin C.

Since nuts are very high in calories (and doubly so in honey), 4-5 kernels per day are enough for an adult.

How to dry walnuts

In fact, drying walnuts in their shells in familiar home conditions is not at all difficult, you just need to follow some simple rules. How to correctly carry out this process using various proven methods, including in the oven and in an electric dryer, read on.

Outdoors

Drying nuts in the fresh air involves the gradual implementation of the following steps:

In sunny weather:

On a free piece of ground, you need to spread any waterproof fabric, such as a tarpaulin.
Next, the fruits selected and cleared of green film are evenly laid out on the bedcloth, always in one layer.
Now the nuts need to be left to dry in the open sun for several days. If the weather is favorable, drying will take only 3-5 days.

This is the method that agronomists used for many years until more modern methods appeared in the world. Its main disadvantage is the possibility of unexpected precipitation and a sharp drop in air temperature.

In room:

Nut fruits can be dried indoors without fear of adverse weather conditions. For this, as a rule, the attic is usually chosen:

The harvested crop is cleared of the pericarp.
Each nut is sorted by size and washed in cool water.
Then the raw materials are laid out on racks with bars, which must receive fresh air.

If the nut harvest is small, the entire harvest can be dried in the apartment, after spreading newspapers on the floor. In this case, one should also not forget about fresh air.

In the oven

Detailed information on how to dry and thoroughly roast walnuts in the oven looks like this:

The fruit, previously cleared of green peel, must be sorted by size, washed and blotted from excess moisture with a clean towel.
Not forgetting about the temperature at which you need to dry the nuts (this is 40-45°C), we select fruits of the same size, place them on a baking sheet and place them in the oven.
Drying should last no more than 3 hours, while the oven door should be slightly open.
After the designated time has passed, the temperature should be increased to 70°C and the nuts should be kept in the oven for about another half hour.
At the end of the process, the hot food must be removed from the oven and left in the air until completely cooled.

In an electric dryer

If you have a special device in your home—an electric dryer—the process of drying nuts is greatly simplified. But even here it is necessary to follow the instructions supplied with the device and constantly pay attention to the degree of readiness of the products.

The procedure itself usually takes only 5 hours, but the number of fruits should be minimal, otherwise they will have to be dried in several approaches.

Drying nuts in the oven

Nuts in shell . The oven is heated to 90-100 C°. The cleaned nuts are placed on a baking sheet and placed in the oven for 2.5 hours. Every 30 minutes it is advisable to gently stir the contents. This is done to remove excess moisture. In addition, opening the oven door removes unnecessary water vapor. After the end of time, the fruits are left in the oven until completely cooled.

Nuts without shell . Preheat the oven to 180 C°. The baking sheet is covered with parchment paper or food foil. The shelled nuts are laid out so that they do not touch. Total cooking time 10 minutes. After 5 minutes, the product is mixed and placed back in the oven.

Storing walnuts at home

In the future, it is important to preserve the cooked products in such a way that they do not lose all their beneficial components and nutrients in the process. To do this, dry fruits are placed in baskets or mesh bags and stored dark in a fairly cool place (for example, in a cellar). You can also freeze them. Under proper conditions, products will retain their freshness for at least two years.

How to dry and store walnut kernels

You can dry walnut kernels in a simple and proven way. First, they need to be removed from the shell and thoroughly cleaned of films and dirt. Do not rinse! Then the resulting whole products should be dried on trays for two or three days . You can also use the oven and dry the kernels at a reduced temperature until the desired degree of readiness.

Dried kernels must be stored in tightly sealed jars or canvas bags in a cool, dry place. The storage period should not exceed 12 weeks. Once a month, it is advisable to sort out the products and dry them again - this will prevent mold from appearing on them for a long time.

As you can see, there are many ways to prepare walnuts. You just need to choose the most suitable one for yourself, and as a result you will receive a high-quality and truly competitive product.

How to determine fruit ripeness

In order not to rely on deadlines, which can be extended, which is directly dependent on varietal characteristics, the characteristics suitable for collecting green fruits are characterized:

The green fruit is a smooth semi-oval, which can also be ovoid. The peel should be smooth, not cracked, without signs of damage.
The pulp has a white, milky tint. The structure resembles coconut pulp.

Information! Green walnuts are not eaten raw. They are used to make infusions, decoctions, and jam, which have unique beneficial properties.

To determine the state of the green fruit suitable for collection, use a large thick needle or toothpick. The fruit is pierced and the point is observed to enter the center of the pulp. With easy entry and slight secretion of milky juice, it is concluded that green nuts are ready to be collected for the preparation of medicinal products.

If the peel has hardened in places and is covered with dark spots, this fruit is not used. It is on its way to consumer ripeness.