Crack and peel hazelnuts quickly and with no mess

Everybody needs peeled hazelnuts for cookies and other goodies, but cracking these tough boys can be hard. Try our trick which involves using a potato net. You know those that potatoes are sold in. We shall also teach you how to remove the brown skin from hazelnuts.

Hazelnuts, as many other types of nuts, taste great, but they are also a valuable source of many beneficial substancessuch as biotin, vitamin E, zinc, calcium, magnesium, good fats and of course, fibre.

Net and a hammer for cracking

Any net with sufficiently small openings – “eyes” will do Clean it well and use if for hazelnuts.Put nuts inside. Separate a small amount of nuts and move it towards the open edge. Twist the net on both sides so that the cracked nuts will not mix with the ones that have not yet been cracked. This will also prevent nutshells from bouncing and flying around.

Photo: Pixabay

Tap the upper side of the nuts. Use a hammer or kitchen mallet well. Pour the cracked nuts out of the net and separate and move another part of the nuts towards the end. When all the nuts are tapped or cracked, you may simply peel them. This procedure will not destroy the lower halves of the nutshells, and you may use them for various decorations – in autumn for example.

Use oven to get rid of the brown skins

And how can you prepare white kernels for various festive desserts?You know that you need to use hot water for almonds and then peel them piece by piece, right? Fortunately, the process is much easier for hazelnuts.

Preheat the oven to 200 °C.Put the nuts onto a tray and put it in the oven. Leave the tray inside for 5-10 minutes, depending on the size. Pour the still hot nuts onto a towel and rub everything in your hands. The peels should come off easily. To separate the skins open the towel and lightly blow air on them and you’re done. Store peeled nuts in jars and use as needed.

Preview photo: Pixabay