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Although pecans in the shell have a long storage life, you'll need to manually remove the nuts before you enjoy them as a delicious addition to sweet and savory dishes. Our guide, how to shell pecans, discusses a variety of tools and techniques to remove pecan shells and provides a selection of recipes to use pecans in after you do.
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Pecan Shelling Tips
- Choose fresh pecans with smooth shells that don't have any cracks or holes.
- Also look for nuts that don't rattle when you shake them.
- Prepare pecans for shelling by freezing or soaking them in warm water for 30 minutes.
- Consider a handheld, tabletop or electric nutcracker to shell the pecans.
- Use a nut pick to lift the pecans from the cracked shells.
- Store shelled pecans in the refrigerator for up to nine months or in the freezer up to two years.
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How to shell Pecans Overview
Although pecans in the shell have a long storage life, you'll need to manually remove the nuts before you enjoy them as a delicious addition to sweet and savory dishes. Our guide, how to shell pecans, discusses a variety of tools and techniques to remove pecan shells and provides a selection of recipes to use pecans in after you do. -
Pecan Shelling Tips
- Choose fresh pecans with smooth shells that don't have any cracks or holes.
- Also look for nuts that don't rattle when you shake them.
- Prepare pecans for shelling by freezing or soaking them in warm water for 30 minutes.
- Consider a handheld, tabletop or electric nutcracker to shell the pecans.
- Use a nut pick to lift the pecans from the cracked shells.
- Store shelled pecans in the refrigerator for up to nine months or in the freezer up to two years.
How to shell Pecans Introduction
- The next time you want a hearty snack or a crunchy addition to a salad, main dish or dessert, the buttery flavor of pecans may fit the bill. You can also enjoy pecans without feeling guilty. In addition to being a good source of vitamin E and fiber, they've also been shown to be rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.Mayo Clinic: Nuts and Your Heart: Eating Nuts for Heart Health If you've bought a batch of fresh, unshelled pecans, consider the following tools and tips to crack them easily so you won't have to wait to enjoy their rich goodness.
Using Fresh Pecans
- Get the best shelling and cooking results with pecans that you've selected carefully and stored properly to maintain their freshness.
Pecan Selection
- Choose smooth pecans with smooth shells that don't have any cracks or blemishes.About.com: Pecan Selection and Storage
- Pecan shells should be light brown.North Carolina Pecan Growers: How to Choose and Handle NC Pecans
- Fresh pecan shells may also look dusty and feature black marks.North Carolina Pecan Growers: How to Choose and Handle NC Pecans
- When shaken, pecans shouldn't rattle in the shell.Epicurious: What to Cook Now: Pecans
Pecan Storage
- While still in the shell, pecans can sit in a cool, dry area for up to 12 months.National Pecan Shellers Association: Tips for Buying and Storing Pecans
- Keep shelled pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for two months.Durden Pecan: Pecan Selection and Storage Tips
- Store shelled (or unshelled) pecans in the refrigerator for up to nine months.North Carolina Pecan Growers: How to Choose and Handle NC Pecans
- Pecans housed in the freezer will last up to two years.Texas Pecan Growers Association: What is the Best Way to Store Pecans?
Shelling Pecans
- Choose a shelling tool and technique that suits the amount of pecans you need to crack. You may also wish to choose a method to "prepare" the pecans before cracking to make shelling easier.
Preparation Methods for Pecans
- Try freezing the pecans just before cracking.The Nut Factory: Cracking Nuts
- Store them in a damp place overnight to make the nuts less brittle.National Center for Home Food Preparation: Home Preservation of Pecans
- Consider soaking them in warm water for 30 minutes before cracking.Seeker Ranch: Tips
- Note: If you use one of these methods to prepare the pecans and don't plan to eat the nuts immediately, allow them to dry in a thin layer for 24 hours after shelling.National Center for Home Food Preparation: Home Preservation of Pecans
Pecan Shelling Tools and Techniques
- Hammer: Stand the nut on a solid surface on its flat end, then hit the top with a hammer.The Nut Factory: Cracking Nuts
- Traditional Nutcracker: Position the pecan in the jaws of the plier-like tool and gently squeeze the handles together to crack the nut.Williams-Sonoma: Nutcracker Nutcrackers.com: Quick Tips for Functional Nutcrackers
- -Some nutcracker sets also come with nut picks that you can use to lift stubborn pecans out of the shell.Kitchen Store: Quackenbush Nutcracker Set
- Rotary Nutcracker: Place a pecan in the specialty tool and turn it clockwise to crack the shell so the nutmeat will be easy to remove.Homestead Market: Nut Cracker
- Ergonomic Nutcracker: Simply drop a pecan into the cone and squeeze the handle to crack.Amazon.com: Chef's Planet Innovative Black Nutcracker
- Twist Nutcracker: Position a pecan in the opening and twist the handle just until the shell cracks so you can free the whole pieces.Amazon.com: Nutcracker by Blomus
- Tabletop Nutcracker: Insert a pecan and press the handle to crack the shell into large pieces.Amazon.com: Duke Pecan Cracker Base Nutcrackers.com: Quick Tips for Functional Nutcrackers
- Electric Nutcracker: Place a pecan in the rotating cylinder, which can crack one every two seconds. Ideal for cracking a large amount of pecans.Pecans.com: Kinetic Nutcracker Nutcrackers.com: Quick Tips for Functional Nutcrackers
Pecan Recipes
- If you're itching to use your shelled pecans for something other than snacking, consult this list of recipes that use whole or chopped pecans.
Pecan Desserts
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All Recipes: Unbeatable Pecan Pie
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Rachel Ray: Pecan Sandies
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Martha Stewart: Pecan Squares
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All Recipes: Pecan Torte
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Eating Well: Pecan Cranberry Tart
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Recipezaar: Bread Pudding with Apples, Pecans and Raisins
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Rachel Ray: Caramel Surprise
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Emeril's: Patrick Clark's Pecan Banana Tart
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Martha Stewart: Glazed Pecan Raisin Cake
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BBC Food: Flambeed Oranges with Sugared Pecans
Pecan Main Dishes
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Eating Well: Pecan Mushroom Burgers
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All Recipes: Pecan Breaded Chicken Breasts
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Epicurious: Pecan-coated Roast Loin of Pork
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All Recipes: Chicken Pecan Quiche
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Martha Stewart: Pecan Crusted Catfish
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All Recipes: Alaska Salmon Bake with Pecan Crunch Coating
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Eating Well: Spicy Pecan Crusted Chicken
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Epicurious: Roast Lamb with Marionberry Pecan Crust
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Food Network: Roasted Turkey with Fried Pecan Bourbon Glaze
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{{Img|PecanPie_JB_121108.jpg||right}}Recipezaar: Teriyaki Chicken with Pecans
References for How to Shell Pecans
Pecans Appetizers, Salads and Sides
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All Recipes: Pecan Roasted Potatoes
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Food and Wine: Cauliflower Soup with Pecans and Rye Croutons
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Martha Stewart: Chicory, Jicama and Pecan Salad
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Martha Stewart: Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Figs with Blue Cheese and Pecans
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All Recipes: Apple Pecan Corn Bread Dressing
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BBC Food: Rice Stuffing with Greens, Pancetta and Pecans
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BBC Food: Almond Custard Soup with Caramelized Pecans
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CHOW: Endive with Figs, Blue Cheese and Pecans
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Epicurious: Roasted Beet, Shallot and Pecan Salad
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Real Simple: Roasted Broccoli and Pecans
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