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Walnuts are a favorite for stirring into banana bread and baking into cookies; walnuts that have been baked take on a richer, nuttier flavor. You know what I’m talking about. That extra nutty goodness of a walnut that’s been baked into a chocolate chip cookie is so much better than a raw walnut. You can enjoy the flavor of toasted walnuts without the baked goods, though.
There are two ways to toast walnuts, both of which work very well. Toast them in a skillet on the stove top or pop them in the oven on a baking sheet. Either way, it doesn’t take long to make toasted walnuts at all and the flavor will be much improved. What’s better than a nuttier nut?
My son came in the other day and grabbed a handful. “Hm!” he said. “These are…extra.” When I told him they were toasted, not raw, I got a nod of approval.
No matter which of the following methods you opt to try, you don’t need to add any oil to the pan.
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How to Toast Walnuts
For a small amount of nuts, you can toast them in a skillet or small pan right on the stove. Measure walnuts into a dry skillet — no oil — and cook on medium. When you begin to smell the aroma of roasted nuts, stir the walnuts. Continue cooking until the nuts are toasted on all sides, about 5 minutes.
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Toasted Walnuts in the Oven
This method works well to toast a larger amount of walnuts. Spread nuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Place tray in a 350º oven for 5-to-10 minutes or until the walnuts begin to brown. Stir them around occasionally, so they brown evenly. You will smell the aroma of roasting nuts. Be sure to set a timer; they can scorch quickly.
You’ll know they’re done when you see them visibly become slightly darker.
If you’d like, line the baking sheet with parchment paper. This is optional, but it will make cleanup easy.
Chopping Nuts
You can toast walnuts in large pieces and chop them after they’re toasted, or chop them prior to toasting. Your call! In either case, there are several ways to chop nuts.
In a food processor:Place walnuts in the bowl of the food processor and pulse until nuts are desired size.
In a manual chopper:Place walnuts in the chopper. Don’t fill it more than in inch or so deep, to allow easy chopping.
With a knife:Choose a knife with a slightly curved blade. Place a handful of walnuts on a cutting board, and rock the knife back and forth over the nuts until they are the desired size.
Using Toasted Walnuts
Toasted nuts give an extra flavor pop and crunch to recipes.Try sprinkling toasted walnuts on top of a hot fudge sundae or in your favorite kale salad. They’re a delicious snack eaten right out of hand, too!
Toasted walnuts are keto and paleo diet approved.
Allow the nuts to cool before adding them to recipes. Store extra nuts in an airtight container and use as needed.
How to Toast Walnuts
Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Toasting walnuts is easy — it takes just 10 minutes or so — and results in super flavor perfect for topping waffles, pancakes, salad, or yogurt.
Instructions
Toasting walnuts on the stove top
- Measure walnuts into a dry skillet. Cook over medium heat.
- When you begin to smell the aroma of roasted nuts, stir the walnuts. Continue cooking until the nuts are toasted on all sides, about 5 minutes.
- Turn the hot nuts out onto a plate to cool.
Toasting walnuts in the oven
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Spread walnut pieces on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Place tray in oven for 5-to-10 minutes or until they begin to brown and become aromatic.
- Turn the hot walnuts out onto a plate to cool.
Using toasted walnuts
- Use the walnuts as is, or chop them into smaller pieces. Use a knife and a rocking motion on a cutting board to chop the nuts into the size you need for your recipe.
Notes
Adjust the amount of walnuts to suit your needs, using the skillet method for small amounts and the oven method for larger quantities.
Cool completely, then store toasted pecans in an airtight container for up to a month.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 191Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g
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FAQs
The stove top method is much faster, but you also don't get the more even cooking of the oven method. If you have time (or large quantities of walnuts) to toast, I'd suggest the oven method. But the stove top method will work just fine when you need to speed things up.
Should walnuts be roasted before eating? ›
Walnuts may already be a staple in your pantry or a go-to snacking option; but, if you really want to up the ante, try toasting them. Toasted walnuts bring deeply nutty flavors to everything from stuffings and dressings to pasta dishes to baked goods and desserts.
How long do toasted walnuts last? ›
If you plan on storing them long-term, you can refrigerate or freeze them for 2 to 3 months. If you store the toasted walnuts at room temperature, keep them in a dark, cool place and use them within 1 week.
Are toasted walnuts still healthy? ›
Both Have a Similar Nutrient Content
Roasting nuts changes their structure and chemical composition. Specifically, it changes their color and decreases their moisture content, giving rise to their crunchy texture (5, 7). Raw and dry-roasted nuts have very similar amounts of fat, carbs and protein.
Does roasting walnuts destroy omega-3? ›
Both raw and roasted nuts can be a healthy addition to most diets. Both types are a good source of beneficial nutrients such as Vitamin E, manganese, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.
Can you toast walnuts in an air fryer? ›
Spread the nuts into a single layer so they toast on all sides. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes. It helps to preheat the air fryer to 320°F first, and be sure to shake the basket halfway through the cooking time. It's VERY important not to overcook them, or the sugar will burn and the toasted walnuts will taste bitter.
Why are my toasted walnuts bitter? ›
That astringent note in walnuts comes from the tannins found in the paper-thin skin that covers the walnut. That bitterness is a perfect counterpoint to all the sweet notes in these rugelach.
What is the difference between roasting and toasting nuts? ›
Roasted, for me, means you cook them in the oven, and toasted means you cook the nuts on the stove top. I see both words used interchangeably online, though. I use both methods, depending on whether I need to roast a few nuts or a lot, and how quickly I need them.
How do you eat walnuts as a snack? ›
Just Eat a Handful Plain
About 1 oz adds 2.5g of omega-3 ALA, the plant-based fatty acid (the most ALA of any tree nut), 4g of plant-based protein, 2g of fiber, and 45mg of magnesium. To add to that nutty flavor, try toasting your walnuts, it only takes 10 minutes.
When should I eat walnuts morning or night? ›
Best time to eat walnuts, how to add them to your diet
Adding them to your smoothies, salads, shakes, chutneys, breakfast cereal, desserts, dalia is also a good idea. "The best time to eat walnuts in summers is in the morning. You can soak 6 to 8 halves of walnuts at night and consume them on an empty stomach.
While you could eat walnuts any time of the day, bedtime is a great time to eat walnuts because they have numerous compounds that are tied to healthy sleep patterns. They're a good source of tryptophan, an amino acid that your body uses to produce serotonin and melatonin – both involved in regulating sleep.
How many walnuts should you eat in a day? ›
How many walnuts should you eat in a day? A 2021 article on the effect of walnut consumption found that consuming 30–60 grams of walnuts daily is beneficial for heart health. 30–60 grams is the same as 1–2 ounces or a 1/4–1/2 cup of walnuts.
Can you tell if walnuts are rancid? ›
Walnuts go rancid when exposed to warm temperatures for long periods of time. Heat causes the fat in walnuts to change structure, which creates off odors and flavors. Fresh walnuts smell mildly nutty and taste sweet. If your walnuts smell like paint thinner, you know they're rancid.
Should I soak walnuts before roasting? ›
Get your nuts raw—they're already expensive enough! —and roast them yourself. Just be sure to soak them first. In addition to being less oily and less expensive than your typical party mix, roasting your own nuts will allow you to experiment with different flavors and spices.
Should I toast nuts in pan or oven? ›
At 325°F, most nuts will only need to stay in the oven 5 to 8 minutes. On the stovetop in a pan, toasting nuts may take a few minutes less, about 5 minutes.
Do you use oil when toasting nuts? ›
You don't need any oil because the nuts and seeds that you are toasting naturally have a lot of oil in them. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a sheet pan and pour the nuts on top. Spread them out so that they are in a single layer.
Can you toast walnuts without oil? ›
How to Toast Walnuts on the Stove. Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the walnuts to the hot, dry pan, only toasting as many walnuts as fit in the pan in a single layer. Cook, watching constantly and stirring frequently until the walnuts start to brown and they smell toasted—about 5 minutes.
How do you toast nuts without burning them? ›
Cook, stirring constantly, until nuts are as brown as you like and smell “toasty.” Tip: The hotter your pan, the quicker the nuts will cook and the more likely they are to brown unevenly and exhibit burned spots. Cooking over lower rather than higher heat and stirring constantly is your best bet for even toasting.
