Introduction:

Walnuts are a delicious and nutritious snack, packed with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, hulling them can be a challenging task for many. In this article, we will guide you through 14 steps to efficiently hull walnuts without causing damage to the nuts inside.

Step 1: Harvest Walnuts

The first step is gathering walnuts that are ready to be hulled. Walnuts can be harvested from the ground where they have fallen or directly from the tree. Make sure they are ripe by checking for a green or brown outer husk with a slight give when gently squeezed.

Step 2: Wear protective gear

Before starting the hulling process, it is crucial to wear protective gear like gloves and eye protection since the walnut’s outer husk can stain your hands and irritate your skin.

Step 3: Prepare a workspace

Choose a flat working surface outside or in a well-ventilated area since the process can be messy and you want to avoid staining indoor surfaces.

Step 4: Remove excess debris

Remove any leaves, twigs, or dirt attached to the walnuts before hulling them.

Step 5: Use a hulling tool or brick

To begin hulling the walnuts, use either a specialized walnut huller or a simple brick. Press down on the fruit’s husk until it splits open but avoid using too much force to prevent breaking the shell inside.

Step 6: Twist and remove the husk

Once split, twist the husk while gently pulling it away from the shell. The husk should come off in large pieces, revealing the hard inner shell.

Step 7: Rinse walnuts

After removing the green outer husk, rinse off any remaining pieces under running water.

Step 8: Soak overnight

Soaking the hulled walnuts in water overnight will help soften any remaining husk and make it easier to remove before drying.

Step 9: Remove remaining husk

After soaking, use a small brush or your fingers to remove the remaining husk from the shell.

Step 10: Dry walnuts in the sun

Place the cleaned walnuts on a drying rack or a tray covered with a clean cloth. Allow them to dry under direct sunlight for approximately two days or until the shells become hard and brittle.

Step 11: Store in a cool and dry place

Once dried, store the hulled walnuts in a cool and dry area away from direct sunlight and high humidity, like a pantry or cupboard.

Step 12: Crack open the walnuts

When you’re ready to eat them, use a nutcracker or other cracking tool to gently break open the shell without shattering it into small pieces.

Step 13: Pick out walnut meat

Using either your hands or small tools like tweezers, carefully remove the walnut meat from inside of the shell.

Step 14: Enjoy!

Once all meat has been removed from the shell, enjoy your fresh, hulled walnuts as a snack, ingredient in recipes, or as an addition to other dishes.

Conclusion:

By following these 14 steps, you can efficiently hull walnuts and gain access to their nutritious and delicious contents. Always take care when handling walnuts during hulling to reduce waste and achieve optimal results.