Nature gave pecan meat a wonderfully protective shell. However, it’s not impossible to crack through it if you know the right methods of how to open pecans.
If you’re planning to buy some pecans that haven’t been shelled by Pecan Nation, try these cracking techniques. They’re the easiest way to open pecans. The faster you open your pecan, the faster you get snacking satisfaction!
1. Use Your Hands
When native Americans and European settlers wanted to indulge in tree-ripened pecans, they regularly used their hands. Today, this is still a go-to method for how to shell pecans!
To successfully hand-shell a pecan, try these steps. First, grab two big pecans. Lay them in the palm of your hand with their long sides aligned. Next, close your hand into a first. Squeeze the pecans as hard as you can.
Pretty soon, you should hear or feel the pecan shells crack. Turn them over and repeat your squeezing maneuver to crack the other side. Keep working at your pecans until you can loosen the shell and pull it off.
2. Try a Nutcracker
Not sure you want to take the time and energy to master how to crack pecans by hand? Turn to a classic nutcracker device.
A basic nutcracker that you’ll find in almost any grocery or kitchen goods store is made up of two metal rods. The rods are held together by a hinge. Just place your pecan between the rods, squeeze them together and crack the shell.
Looking for a cooler nutcracker? You could also buy a working nutcracker during the holidays. Many soldier-themed nutcrackers used for Christmas displays have been designed for real-world use. Just be sure before you try your nutcracker so you don’t break an heirloom or favorite decoration.
3. Head to the Toolbox
A nutcracker tool looks remarkably like another tool you probably have in your house: pliers. In fact, the same principle that works for pliers works for shelling pecans.
Of course, your pliers are meant for heavy-duty jobs. Plus, they might be kind of dirty if you’re a fixer-upper. Be sure to wipe down and sanitize your pliers before using them to crack your pecans!
4. Boil the Pecans
A final way to crack open pecans is to soften the shells first. Fill a saucepan with water and turn your stovetop to high. Wait until the water boils. Then, bring the boil to a simmer by slightly turning down the heat.
Add your pecans and keep them in the simmering water for up to 15 minutes. Drain them and place them on an unlined baking sheet to cool. When they’ve completely cooled down, you can begin to crack them by hand or with a nutcracker.
You’ll find out fast that boiling pecans lessens the likelihood of the shell shattering into a lot of smaller pieces. Boiling shouldn’t affect the taste of the pecan, though.
Get Cracking With Pecan Nation
It’s fun knowing how to crack pecans in a shell. However, you don’t always want to spend your free time shelling nuts. Good thing you canorder up pre-shelled pecansfrom Pecan Nation. Have them sent right to your home for fast, nutritious nibbling.
FAQs
Squeeze the pecans as hard as you can. Pretty soon, you should hear or feel the pecan shells crack. Turn them over and repeat your squeezing maneuver to crack the other side. Keep working at your pecans until you can loosen the shell and pull it off.
Should you soak pecans before cracking? ›
To keep the pecan meat from shattering, the nuts are moistened or “conditioned” before cracking. There are two methods used to accomplish this. The cold water method soaks the pecans in chlorinated water for as long as eight hours.
Should you wash pecans after shelling? ›
Don't wash pecans. Don't run water over them or even use a damp towel to clean them. Especially in-shell pecans.
What causes pecan hulls not to open? ›
However, once the nut shell becomes hard, the nut will no longer drop from stress, rather the leaves drop resulting in little to no filling of the nuts. Poor shuck opening can be caused by either, third generation casebearer damage and/or stress. A common late season problem in many locations is casebearer.
How do you keep cracked pecans fresh? ›
It is simple. Just keep your pecans in airtight containers and store them in the refrigerator or freezer. When you are ready to serve, you can bring them to room temperature or cook with them right away, no thawing necessary.
What to do with old pecans in shell? ›
Pecan Shells Make Great Mulch
Simply break the shells into smaller pieces and use alone of mixed into your favorite mulch. They also help deter slugs who hate the sharp edges, so it's a perfect mulch to place around any vulnerable plants in your garden.
Can you eat pecans straight from the shell? ›
Whether you plan to eat them plain or roasted, or are going to use them in your favorite pie recipe, before pecans are eaten, they must be shelled and cleaned.
What are the cobwebs in my pecans? ›
If you've noticed spiderwebs in your pecan trees, chances are they're not spiders. They're fall webworms. Fall webworms are partial to pecan and persimmon trees but will also feed on other trees, including Bradford pears. These small, hairy caterpillars occur in groups and spin their webs on the ends of tree branches.
What is the black aphid in pecans? ›
Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are serious pests of pecan foliage (Carya illinoinensis [Wangenh.] K. Koch). The black pecan aphid, Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Davis) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), feeds on pecan foliage and elicits leaf chlorosis that can cause defoliation.
How do you crack pecans quickly? ›
Boil for about 10 minutes, drain them in a colander, and let them cool enough to handle. Boiling them first will soften the shell, making them easier to crack. The moisture will also reduce the mess by preventing so many tiny shell fragments. Once your pecans have cooled, you can start cracking them.
Immersion in hot water at 170 degrees F or greater for at least two minutes, or a flow of hot water at 170 degrees F for at least 5 minutes, or be exposed to 180 degrees F hot air for at least 20 minutes.
How long should pecans dry before cracking? ›
Eating pecans everyday has several benefits from the perspective of health. However, you'll need to ensure that the nuts are thoroughly dry before shelling them. In case you've harvested the nuts before they're fully ripe, you'll have to dry them up for about two weeks before you remove them from their kernels.
How are pecans cracked commercially? ›
Current shelling techniques tend to crack the nut through either a drum or plates that apply a compressive force. While the process is designed to extract intact pecan halves, these valuable pieces typically make up only 48% of the meat collected.
What is the best way to store cracked pecans? ›
Want to know the secret to keeping your pecans fresh? It's simple. Just keep your pecans in airtight containers and store them in the refrigerator or freezer. When you are ready to serve, you can bring them up to room temperature or cook with them right away, no thawing necessary.
How do you grind pecan shells? ›
Simply place your pecan shells in a food processor or even a coffee grinder. You want to get them to grind down and make a coarse paste. You can then add these small shell particles to your soaps or facial cleansers.
What do you do with raw pecans in the shell? ›
In-shell pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for 6 to 12 months. They can be refrigerated up to 18 months and frozen for about three years. After removal from the freezer, pecans will last for an additional two months.
