In this article I am going to explain how to eat different types of walnuts.
Walnuts are an exceptionally nutritious and delicious nut; you can include walnuts in almost anything you can imagine with their versatility. Either on its own as a snack, in a bowl of salad, or even incorporated into your desserts.
Here are some ways you can enjoy walnuts.
Different Types of Walnuts and How to Consume Them
Did you know that there are different types of walnuts that you can enjoy? Here are several types of walnuts that you may or may not know. From black walnuts to pickled walnuts, choose one that is suitable for your taste.
Black walnuts and green walnuts right off the trees
If you have never heard of green walnuts, they are just young unripe walnuts before they mature. Black walnuts, on the other hand, are the ripe version that is commonly found in North America.
Unfortunately, walnuts are not something that you can eat straight from the tree-like fruits. To eat it, first, you need to remove the husks, wash them, and shell them because walnuts are protected by very thick husks and shells.
Then after you shelled them, you can eat either both green and black walnuts raw, the taste is rather subtle and bland, and the texture is crunchy.
But if you really want to eat them properly and prefer to have more flavor, you can toast them.
Wild walnuts
What is meant by wild walnuts are walnuts you find anywhere. They are safe to eat because most of the time they are probably a variation of the black walnuts we have mentioned earlier.
The way you eat it is like the previous section: husk them, wash them, then shell them. Give them a toast if you want to bring out more flavor or eat it raw if you are not in the mood to cook.
Pickled walnuts
Pickled walnuts are traditional English pickles made from green walnuts that are brined until they are dark in color and then pickled in a pickling solution such as vinegar or spices and sugar.
They have a strong taste and a grainy texture, so you might want to keep your consumption on the lighter side. One of the best ways It can be eaten is together as part of a cheese and cold cuts tray.
The rich cheese and cold cuts are a great combination with the grainy, tangy walnuts.
Soaked walnuts
Soaked walnuts are walnuts that have been soaked for up to overnight in water with a little bit of salt. The good thing is the soaked walnuts are usually easier to digest.
To make this, soak your walnuts for a minimum of 2 hours up to overnight, then rinse and enjoy. You can combine the walnuts into your salads, as a snack, or even on desserts.
Daily Recommendation For Eating Walnuts
Walnuts are great for your health, which is probably why you would want to consume them every day as a part of your daily diet.
They are rich in fiber, fat, vitamins, and minerals – this means if you consume them every day, you will be full for a longer time, and is good for your heart, hair, and skin.
The recommended daily intake for walnuts is 28 grams or 1 oz which is equivalent to ¼ cup of walnuts or around 12 walnuts.
We recommend that you consume more soaked walnuts instead of raw because they are much easier to digest compared to raw walnuts.
Incorporate walnuts into your daily diet easily by using one of these options:
- As a portable snack, you bring around
- On green salads
- On slices of bread together with jams or cheese
- Roasted with meat
- Incorporated into stir-fries
- In a dessert, such as walnut cheesecakes
Rule on Eating Walnuts: soaked or not soaked?
As mentioned, you can both soak your walnuts or not soak walnuts. It is just that soaked walnuts can be digested faster and have more nutrients than unsoaked walnuts, which means it is the best way that you can eat walnuts.
If you are planning to eat walnuts directly or dry, which is consuming them without soaking, you may not get several nutrients and the texture will be harder; so, make sure you dice them up nicely to not damage your teeth.
The Best Time to Eat Walnuts
As mentioned, the best time to eat walnuts is when you have them first thing in the morning. Make sure that they are soaked walnuts though, so it is easier to digest.
It is ideal to be eaten on an empty stomach because it improves your cholesterol levels and gives you protein and fiber.
But be mindful not to drink too much water afterward, because it could slow down the digestion process. Give it about 30 minutes to 1 hour, or if you do need a drink then make it a sip of lukewarm water.
Weirdly enough, walnuts are also good to consume before you go to bed or as a late-night snack. Walnuts are proven to help you to sleep better thanks to melatonin and healthy fats.
So, leave some of your daily recommended walnut quotas at night, and eat a few pieces before bed for a good night’s sleep.
Another factor you need to think about is the season: summer or winter. You should limit your intake during the summer months due to them generating heat inside your body, which can make your summer months even harder.
So maybe, if you want to eat walnuts in the summer you can do it at night. On the other hand, you can consume more walnuts during winter to keep yourself warm.
