Is Toasting Nuts at Home Worth It? (2024)

FAQs

Is Toasting Nuts at Home Worth It? ›

Toasting nuts at home is worth it.

Summary: Both raw and roasted nuts are healthy. It's best to roast them yourself at a low-to-medium temperature of about 284°F (140°C) for roughly 15 minutes.

Both contain significant amounts of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, however the roasting process can make nuts more vulnerable to oxidation. Oxidized fats in turn cause rancidity, and rancid oils tend to be pro-inflammatory. Personally I prefer raw nuts, but if you like the taste of roasted, look for “dry-roasted”.

Since it just takes a minute or two for the sugar to caramelize, if you're not already using a nut like a peanut, that is already roasted, you may want to pre-toast your nuts in the pan until they are just barely golden brown and then add the sugar. That way the sugar doesn't finish cooking before the nuts are toasted.

Hands down, the best method for toasting nuts is in the oven. In my experience, it produces the best flavor and yields the most even results, especially for large batches.

Heat used during roasting nuts can slightly reduce their levels of antioxidants and vitamins. Roasting may also damage some of their healthy fats. Further, if stored improperly in heat or exposed to sun for too long, these fats can get rancid which will give the nuts an unpleasant taste and smell.

If this occurs in too many minerals, a mineral deficiency can occur. Soaking raw cashews prior to roasting them breaks down this phytic acid, allowing it to be absorbed properly and giving your body the minerals it needs.

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.

When polyunsaturated fats are exposed to heat, as is the case with roasting, they're more likely to become damaged or oxidized. This can lead to the formation of harmful free radicals, which can damage your cells. Oxidized fat, or rancid fat, is responsible for the “off” taste and smell in some nuts.

Toasting or lightly roasting nuts removes all the raw green, slightly astringent flavors that you taste when they are uncooked. This is especially true with walnuts.

Do you use oil when toasting nuts? ›

You don't need any oil because the nuts and seeds that you are toasting naturally have a lot of oil in them. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a sheet pan and pour the nuts on top. Spread them out so that they are in a single layer.

How to Roast Nuts. Step 1: Preheat oven and mix nuts with oil and salt on a baking sheet. Make sure the nuts are not on top of one another, then set in the oven to roast!

Spread them out in an even layer on a sheet pan, and pop them in a 350° oven. Generally speaking, lighter, more tender nuts like pecans, pistachios, and walnuts will take 6-8 minutes to get to a good place. Denser nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, and macadamias will take more like 8-10 minutes to finish toasting.

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.

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

Because they are such a nutrient- and calorie-dense food, portion control is essential to avoid excess weight gain. More importantly, eating too many nuts can actually lead to food toxicity which can range from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Given their strong antioxidant/anti-inflammatory potential, nuts may also exert a favorable effect on other risk factors of cardiometabolic disease, such as inflammation and oxidative stress. Inflammatory and oxidative processes modulated by nutrients and bioactive substances in tree nuts and peanuts.

Roasted nuts are more flavorful and digestible, but tend to have a higher salt content. Both raw and roasted nuts have a high fat content.

Roasting nuts can actually enhance digestibility, making them easier on your stomach, especially if you have digestive sensitivities. Researchers have found that roasted almonds, for example, are easier to digest than their raw counterparts.

Walnuts may already be a staple in your pantry or a go-to snacking option; but, if you really want to up the ante, try toasting them. Toasted walnuts bring deeply nutty flavors to everything from stuffings and dressings to pasta dishes to baked goods and desserts.

Why are nuts often roasted before use in baked goods? ›

Toasting improves the texture of nuts too, so that they stay crisp whether buried in baked goods or on top of a salad. And the best part is, it doesn't cost a thing.