How to Roast Almonds (Quick & Simple) | Blue Apron (2024)

  • How-To, Ingredient Guides

This guide to almonds was contributed by Nikki Miller-Ka. Nikki is a culinary expert and social media influencer based in North Carolina. A former associate editor at Food And Wine, her favorite things to cook are tacos and biscuits.

How to Roast Almonds (Quick & Simple) | Blue Apron (1)

Depending on how they’re prepared, almonds can be slightly sweet, rich and toasty, or mild and buttery. This versatile ingredient can be the golden brown star of a dish, or it can subtly enhance a recipe as a garnish. Almonds have a high oil content, giving them a long shelf life when handled and stored properly. Whole, sliced, diced, slivered, ground, chopped, or blanched—almonds add flavor and texture to just about any savory or sweet recipe.

All almonds taste nuttier and richer when they’re roasted. Roasting almonds brings their natural oils to the surface, and also crisps up the bronze, papery skins. Roasting nuts deepens their flavor, rendering them richer, nuttier, and more complex. It also gives them a crispier texture that shines in many recipes. There are two ways to roast almonds: in the oven or in a frying pan. Read on for instructions for both methods.

How to roast almonds

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Place almonds in a single layer on the sheet. To enhance browning, it’s optional to use a neutral oil and drizzle a small amount (1-2 teaspoons total) over the nuts and toss to coat evenly. Roast whole almonds in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, sliced almonds for 5-7 minutes, and slivered almonds for 6-8 minutes. Place in the oven and check every 5 minutes.

Stir and shake the pan so that the nuts are redistributed to roast evenly. When the nuts are browned and smell nutty, remove them from the oven and immediately transfer to a work surface or an unheated baking sheet to cool. The nuts will continue to cook and potentially burn if not removed to a cool surface.

To toast a small number of almonds, use a frying pan. Place the nuts in a single layer in a small dry skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, for 3 to 5 minutes until they start to smell nutty and they look golden. Pay attention to the pan closely as pan-roasted almonds burn easily on the spots in contact with the pan.

How to Roast Almonds (Quick & Simple) | Blue Apron (2)

Try this romesco sauce recipe using roasted whole almonds. Store it in a jar in the refrigerator for up to one week.

What are blanched almonds?

Blanched almonds are almonds with the skin removed. Blanching refers to briefly submerging the almonds in boiling water to loosen and remove the skins. Without skins, almonds have a shorter shelf-life but can still be roasted or processed to make almond meal, milk, or flour.

How to blanch almonds

There are two common methods for blanching almonds: an overnight soak or a 5-minute boil. Be sure to dry the almonds thoroughly after blanching in a single layer on paper towels or on dish towels. Store in an airtight container, in a cool, dark place.

Overnight Soaking Method

Place almonds in a bowl. Fill it with cold water just until they are fully submerged. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, a paper towel, or a loose-fitting lid, and let it sit under refrigeration overnight. Drain the water from the bowl. Gently squeeze the almonds to loosen their skins—they should slip off easily. Compost the discarded skins.

Boiling Method

Fill a small saucepan with 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Once it boils, add the almonds to the saucepan. Turn off the heat, cover the pan and let them rest for 2 minutes. Drain the water from the pan into a colander as soon as the skins become wrinkled. Rinse the almonds under cold water and gently squeeze the almonds to loosen their skins immediately. Start peeling the skins while the almonds are still warm—as they cool down it will become more difficult to remove the skins.

Try this Tangy Sweet Meyer Lemon Almond Tart recipe with blanched almonds. The crust will become brown, nutty and pair perfectly with the bright, fresh meyer lemon filling.

How to Roast Almonds (Quick & Simple) | Blue Apron (3)

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How to Roast Almonds (Quick & Simple) | Blue Apron (2024)

FAQs

Do I need to soak almonds before roasting? ›

Soaking and roasting almonds

They can also be soaked and then roasted. Soaking almonds is said to be beneficial to digestion and increase the availability of nutrients in nuts, yet anti-oxidant vitamin E can be lost at the higher temperatures required for roasting.

What is the difference between toasted and roasted almonds? ›

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 toast almonds without burning them? ›

Stir frequently.

This isn't necessary in the oven (just once will suffice) but if you are toasting sliced or slivered almonds on the stove, it's important that you stir them often to prevent burning them.

How do you activate and roast almonds? ›

Cook the almonds in a 150 °F (66 °C) oven for 12 to 24 hours. If your oven's lowest temperature setting is above 150 °F (66 °C), then bake them on the lowest setting for 8 to 10 hours. The almonds are done when they taste dry, or when their centers are dry and not wet and soft.

What happens if you over roast almonds? ›

Roasting at a temperature of 310°F (154°C) or above will lead to an exponential increase in acrylamide. Dark roasted almonds have strong roasting flavor notes that are considered desirable for some applications, but depending on the roasting temperature used, the acrylamide content may be very high (>1000 ppb).

What happens if you don't soak almonds? ›

Improved Digestibility: Soaking almonds helps in breaking down the enzymes inhibitors and tannins present in their skin, which can inhibit nutrient absorption. This process makes the nutrients in almonds more bioavailable, ensuring that your body can absorb them efficiently.

How do you know when almonds are toasted enough? ›

They should start to smell nutty and you might hear them crackling. Return to the oven if needed and check again after another 3 minutes. If they need longer, give another stir. Nuts rarely take longer than 15 minutes to roast, usually closer to 8 to 12 minutes.

What is the number one healthiest nut? ›

1. Almonds. Relatively low in calories, almonds are an excellent food for health due to their protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

How many almonds to eat per day? ›

She said, that for adults, eating 20-25 almonds a day is a healthy intake of nuts. For children, it limit of around 10 is a decent approach. Ritika explained that almonds are super healthy but one must also keep a check on their consumption.

Are roasted almonds healthier than regular almonds? ›

When selecting nuts, there are two main options to choose from: raw and roasted. Both types contain a similar amount of proteins and carbohydrates. Raw nuts contain more fiber, while roasted nuts pack more calories and fat into a single gram.

What temperature do you roast almonds at? ›

Spread almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in a cold oven. Turn the oven on to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake almonds, stirring occasionally, until light tan and fragrant, 12 to 15 minutes. The nuts will continue to cook after removing them from the oven.

How to roast nuts at home? ›

Toasting Nuts in the Oven
  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
  2. Spread the nuts in a single layer on your baking sheet; don't crowd or assemble them too close together.
  3. Put the baking sheet in the oven, and bake until the nuts are fragrant and slightly browned, about 5–8 minutes, depending on the size and type of the nut.
Oct 21, 2023

Do toasted almonds need to be refrigerated? ›

Store raw or roasted almonds in the fridge. They're an oil-rich ingredient, which makes them more perishable. You can also store them in the freezer, which will extend shelf life even further.

Should I chop almonds before roasting? ›

An oven assures an even, all-over browning. Chopping: If the recipe requires chopping, do this after roasting. It is frightfully easy to burn already chopped nuts since the pieces are so small. Warm nuts also chop more cleanly and with less flaking.

Do you roast almonds in the shell? ›

Less Salt and Seasonings: When almonds are roasted and seasoned in their shells, the actual nut inside often absorbs less salt or other seasonings compared to shelled almonds. This can be a better option for those watching their sodium intake.

Should you peel roasted almonds? ›

To conclude, it is best to have almonds with skin as the skin is a rich source of fibre, but those with weak digestion should consume it without skin. Make sure that you eat almonds in moderation as they are very calorie-dense.

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