How to Roast Nuts Perfectly Every Time (2024)

FAQs

What is the best method for roasting nuts? ›

Spread the nuts out in an even layer on a baking sheet and place in a 350°F oven. Toss and stir the nuts after 5 minutes, then check on them and toss every 2 to 3 minutes after that, until the nuts are golden-brown and toasted, 8 to 12 minutes total.

Using the oven to toast your nuts is ideal because an oven provides uniform, even heat, which means that the nuts are going to be toasted from the inside out.

Dry Roasting vs Roasting with Oil

A neutral oil such as grapeseed oil is fine, too. But it's not always appropriate to roast nuts with oil, especially when they are being used in a baking as the oil does increase their oiliness and can throw off the recipe.

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.

Place nuts on baking sheet and drizzle with oil and salt. Roast for 3 minutes, then shake the pan, and roast remaining 2 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Once cooled, store in air tight container on the counter and eat within 10 days for optimum flavor, or freeze for up to 3 months!

Most nuts take 8-10 minutes to toast, but often the smell of roasting nuts is a sign that they are done. It's important to check them as soon as you smell them because they can burn before you know it! For maximum crunch, let the nuts cool before using them in your recipe.

Since walnuts and almonds are considered superfoods, I make sure to include them into my routine on a regular basis. I prefer to use avocado oil or coconut oil when roasting nuts, because they both have a much higher smoke point while cooking than olive oil does.

In general, roasting is a process where the temperature is lower but the time is higher (may be more than several minutes) while toasting is conducted at a much higher temperature for a short duration (say less than one minute). Until the late nineteenth century, dry heat roasting in an oven was called baking.

Best cooking oil for roasting

Extra virgin olive oil and coconut are both good for slow roasts due to their low smoke point and added flavour, whilst vegetable oil and rapeseed oil are neutral, medium smoke point oils that are versatile and can be used in most roasts.

Unlike almonds and walnuts, cashews do not require soaking before consumption. Cashews are relatively soft and easy to digest, even in their raw form. They contain less phytic acid compared to other nuts, so soaking them does not significantly impact their nutritional value.

What happens if you don't soak nuts? ›

It is true that nuts contain phytic acid, or phytates, which can bind with minerals, making them unavailable to the body. But while soaking nuts in salted water may reduce phytic acid levels, the amount of phytates in nuts is too small to cause a mineral deficiency in either children or adults.

I recommend using egg white because it's really good at getting the flavors to stick and results in a nice, crispy texture. For a vegan alternative, use 3 Tbsp of aquafaba and whip it up as described in the recipe.

A cast iron or other heavy skillet is an excellent choice for toasting nuts. Thinner pans can heat unevenly, making it more difficult to control how quickly the nuts brown.

Nuts are commerically roasted in different ways. Oil roasting typically means nuts are submerged in hot oil. Dry roasting is when nuts either pass on a conveyer belt through an oven, or roll around in a mini rotating drum like a cement mixer over a flame.

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.

But have you ever wondered if you can roast nuts in the air fryer? The answer is absolutely you can! The indirect, dry heat from the air fryer creates an almost perfect, crunchy, golden colour to nuts, with the added bonus that it's also a healthier alternative than on the stovetop or in the oven!