How to peel and peel almonds

Almonds are traditionally considered a delicacy, which is valued for its subtle taste and special specific pleasant aroma. It has a lot of useful properties, it is used not only in cooking, but also in the cosmetics and perfume industry, as well as in the wine industry.

Nut lovers always have some stock of almonds at home. So as not to spoil them as long as possible and to make eating them pleasant and beneficial it is necessary to know the rules of selecting and storing almonds.

How to choose the right almonds

1. The quality fresh almonds, capable of pleasing the palate, should have a uniform color and the correct classic shape of the kernel. Dark spots or specks of rusty color are not allowed.
2. If the nuts are cracked or cracked, it is possible that there are germs inside, which will make the kernels unusable very quickly. It is better to refrain from buying them.
3. Good almonds have a characteristic smell, but it cannot be very strong. If there is bitterness in the flavor, it is better to leave it on the counter.
4. Nuts suitable for purchase are usually dry. Dried ones spoil quickly, perhaps even in the store this process has already begun, just the buyer visually does not see it yet. It is better to look for more suitable almonds in another outlet.

If you follow these tips when choosing nuts you will be able to choose good quality almonds that will keep well.

Do I have to peel almonds?

The thin skin with which each almond nut is covered is not only unpleasant because of the bitter taste, but also stains baked goods, turning them brown. Moreover, they are even dangerous to health, because they contain benzaldehyde and amygdalin glycosides, which reduce the body's immune abilities, slow down tissue repair and clot the blood, which ultimately has a negative effect on the heart and vascular system.

For some people, almond husks can have an allergic effect - so severe that not only rashes are possible, but also swelling of the throat and respiratory irregularities. Sometimes a person in life almost does not suffer from allergies, and the intolerance of almond husks can be an unpleasant surprise.

Therefore, it is necessary to remove the skin before consuming nuts, adding them to dough, making almond milk or nut flour.

How to peel almonds

Manually free the nut from the shell is not possible: the kernel is very hard and strong. You can only rely on a variety of devices such as a special nutcracker, pliers, hammer or garlic crusher. You should count on the fact that at the moment of splitting the main force was directed to the edge, then the shell opens its halves, and the core remains whole and unharmed.

Hammer

If there is no special device for cracking nuts in your house, you can use an ordinary hammer. In order not to hit the nut and not to jump out, it is necessary to put the kernel on one half of the towel, cover the other half and only after that hit it. The blow should not be very strong, otherwise you can, along with the shell and the kernel and crush.

The shells of dry nuts are the best way to crack, so before peeling almonds from their shells, one should dry them in the oven.

Garlic Peeler

The garlic press can be used not only to peel garlic, but also nuts. The handles of this device are also designed for cracking nuts. It is easy to see the semicircular notches on each of them, in general they make a round hole, where a nut is inserted. Clutching almonds with the handles is very convenient to crack them.

But there are models of garlic crushers, where there is no such a device on the handles. Then you can use the recess in which the garlic cloves are usually pressed. Just a little pressure and the nut shell cracks.

Peanut cracker

There are many models of devices for cracking nuts - nut crackers. Among them there are special - for a certain kind, for example, for walnuts, which are not always suitable for almonds. Therefore, when buying such a device, you should give preference to universal models. They can be similar to ordinary tongs or work like a lever.

With a nutcracker to get rid of the shells is simple: put a nut in the recess designed for it, squeeze the handles - and that's it! You can take out of the pit kernels and throw the shells.

Pliers

Pliers are also good for cracking almonds, you just need to squeeze the nut in the "lips" of the tool. The main thing is not to press the handles too hard, otherwise it's very easy to crush the kernel along with the shell.

And one more thing: the nut must be carefully aligned in the pliers, otherwise when you squeeze the handles it can jump out and fly away.

How to peel almonds quickly

The skin adheres to the kernel of almonds very tightly, and simply remove it is not possible. To do this you will need to use one of the special techniques.

Use a towel .

One can, for example, boil the nuts for three minutes on low heat, then put them in a colander, rinse under cold running water and add water for five more minutes, so that the skin will be thoroughly soaked. Drain the liquid, and put the almonds on half of a wafer towel, cover the other, free half, and rub the kernels thoroughly with your hands. Then open the nuts, select those that have peeled, and repeat the procedure with the remaining almonds.

When all the almonds will be peeled, put them on a baking tray and send it into the oven to dry, setting the temperature to 45-50 degrees. Leave the door slightly ajar to allow the moisture to evaporate. After three hours, increase the temperature to 70 degrees and hold in the oven for another 30 minutes, after which the product will be considered dried.

Using a rolling pin.

Hold the nuts in boiling water for a couple of minutes, drain the liquid, and transfer the almonds to a plastic bag, which there to roll with a rolling pin on the table, only pressing lightly. When some of the kernels are peeled, select them and continue the procedure until all the nuts are clean, after which to dry them in the oven according to the already familiar method.

With water.

In a poured, glass, ceramic or plastic bowl, leave the almonds in cold water overnight. In the morning, the skin will be easy to remove with your fingers. After peeling the nuts, hold them in the oven to dry them out and toast them slightly.

Using a sieve

This method does not involve soaking the nuts, you just need to roast them in a pan for 5-7 minutes with constant stirring, so they do not burn. Then put these kernels in a sieve and rub them on a mesh bottom. The peel will separate quite easily, but it is unlikely to achieve a perfect result this way.

How to Store Peeled Almonds

The best place to store peeled almonds is in a cool, well-ventilated place such as a pantry. If there is no pantry, the nuts are placed on the bottom - the hottest - shelf in the kitchen, either in a cabinet or a table. It is important that this piece of furniture does not stand next to the stove. In cooler seasons, you can take the nuts to the balcony, it is better if there is a securely insulated cabinet. In this place, almonds will lie quietly for a whole winter. You can also put them in the very bottom of the refrigerator, in a drawer for fruit.

At a lower temperature, the nuts will retain their inherent flavor and aroma for up to six months. In a warm room, even in a hermetically sealed container, the shelf life of nuts is drastically reduced: they become rancid rather quickly.

Another possible place for almonds is the freezer. In a sealed plastic bag or plastic container, frozen nuts will remain usable for a year.

Remember that almonds easily absorb foreign odors. Also, the interaction of walnut oil with oxygen very quickly occurs an oxidation process. Therefore, the containers for storing the kernels should be tightly closed, and a vacuum container is better suited than other containers. However, a glass jar with a tightly closing glass lid and a rubber seal will also come in handy. If you do not observe these conditions, in two weeks the product will be hopelessly ruined.

If the almonds are not whole, but crushed, the storage time is reduced by at least half.

The benefits of peeled almonds

One look at the composition of almonds, and it is immediately clear that it is a healthy product. This is due to the presence of tocopherol, which is important for visual acuity, heart health, strengthening the muscular system and the prevention of urogenital cancers, especially in men, as well as a large number of B vitamins. Among them is B1, which not only supports the cardiovascular, nervous system and brain function, but also strengthens the immune system and gives the body the strength to fight alcoholism.

B2, also called beauty vitamin, is responsible not only for the appearance, but is also involved in all the biological processes occurring in the body, helping the digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, respectively, having a positive effect on digestion. B3 slows down aging, ensures uninterrupted cardiac activity and trouble-free functioning of joints, and is responsible for normal hormone levels.

Vitamin B5 is involved in strengthening the immune system, prevents arthritis and arthrosis, some heart diseases, and fixes the connections between neurons and muscles, that is, it allows people to perform the physical exercises and movements that they intended. B6 prevents nerve disorders and prevents skin problems by preventing aging, and it also has the power to relieve cramps and spasms in the calf muscles.

B9, better known as folic acid, is essential for pregnant women, because it ensures the proper establishment and development of all systems and organs of the unborn child.

In addition, almonds are known for a rich set of micro- and macronutrients, of which the greatest number are represented:

1. Calcium and phosphorus, which provide healthy hair, bone skeleton, teeth.
2. Potassium, which regulates the condition of blood plasma and has a great influence on the work of the blood vessels and heart.
3. Magnesium, which regulates the calm activity of the nervous system.
4. Manganese, which helps the absorption of vitamins E, B group, resists infections, controls the growth and development of bones, adjusts the digestive process and brain activity.
5. Iron, which is a constant participant in the process of hematopoiesis and the formation of hemoglobin.

Thanks to a rich array of plant flavonoids, which have the ability to neutralize the negative effects of free radicals and slow down the destruction of cells, almonds thus delay aging. In addition, flavonoids prevent atherosclerosis, dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Almond nuts are recognized by the medical community as one of the most medicinal. They are useful for patients with heart disease and with atherosclerosis, they have also been proven to strengthen the nervous system and have enveloping properties, reducing the digestive reaction to certain foods. The systematic consumption of almonds improves brain activity, increases hemoglobin and gets rid of anemia, strengthens the bone apparatus, helps to clear the kidneys and reduce inflammation in them.

Eating a handful of almonds can relieve migraine attacks, reduce stomach rumblings and flatulence, improve mood in case of depression, regulate sleep and relieve insomnia.

The beautiful half of mankind enjoys the cosmetic abilities of almonds: the industry makes almonds as a skin cleanser, makeup remover, as well as face creams and masks with a rejuvenating effect. But nuts are especially widely used in shampoos, oils and other hair and eyelash care products, which thanks to the addition of almond extracts accelerate growth, become shiny, also improve the condition of the scalp.

The use of almonds is important for pregnant women, because the vitamins and minerals they contain prevent hair loss, and not only saturate the body of the future mother, but also ensure the proper development of the baby. And the fiber, which in fact is a nut, helps to eliminate digestive problems, which are known to every woman expecting a child.

For men, almonds are useful as a powerful aphrodisiac, increasing potency, stimulating the formation of sperm and significantly improving its composition. In addition, men can benefit from the almonds' ability to strengthen the hair. A mask of milk with crushed nuts can fight baldness, strengthening the hair follicle and spurring hair growth.