If you’re looking for a delicious and nutritious snack, you can’t go wrong with raw hazelnuts. Hazelnuts are packed with fiber, protein, and antioxidants, making them the perfect choice for an on-the-go snack or a quick and easy addition to your favorite recipe.
But in the market, you can find many different types of hazelnuts. So how do you know if a hazelnut is raw?
Depending on the recipe, hazelnuts can be used with or without the skin. To remove the skin, hazelnuts are usually toasted at about 375°F or blanched in boiling water. Both treatments use temperatures above 118-120 °F, which is usually the maximum raw foodies will consume.
While the process of blanching does not thoroughly cook the hazelnuts, and it is still considered raw after blanching for most purposes, the temperature treatment does not fit the criteria for a raw diet.
In this article, we explore:
- The Raw Food Diet Explained
- What is blanching and how does it work?
- Why is most hazelnut consumed without the skin?
- How to Have Raw Hazelnuts (with and without skin)
- The Bottom Line
1. The Raw Food Diet Explained
The raw food diet has been gaining in popularity in recent years as more people become interested in eating healthy, unprocessed foods.
The raw diet is based on the premise that food in its natural state is more nutritious and healthful than food that has been processed.
The raw diet omits any food that has undergone temperature treatment of more than 118-120 degrees Fahrenheit (48-49 degrees Celsius).
Proponents of the raw diet believe that cooking destroys vital nutrients and enzymes, making food less healthful. They also argue that processing can alter the structure of proteins and other molecules in ways that make them difficult for the body to digest.
However, critics point out that cooking can also make some nutrients more available to the body, and that enzymes are also found in fermented foods. Ultimately, the decision to follow a raw food diet is a personal one. As with any diet, it is important to speak with a healthcare professional before making any drastic changes.
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2. What is blanching and how does it work?
Blanching uses hot water or steam to deactivate enzymes by causing them to denature, or change shape. The goal of blanching is to inactivate enzymes that could cause the deterioration of food quality.
Enzymes are present in all plant tissues, and they can cause changes in flavor, color, and texture. As a result, blanching helps to preserve the nutritional value, flavor, and color of food.
Additionally, blanching can help to loosen the skin of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, making them easier to peel.
There are two main types of blanching: hot water blanching and steam blanching. Hot water blanching is the most common type of blanching; it uses boiling water to deactivate enzymes. Steam blanching uses hot steam to deactivate enzymes. Both methods are effective at preserving food quality, but hot water blanching is faster and easier to control than steam blanching.
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3. Why is most hazelnut consumed without the skin?
Most people prefer the taste of hazelnuts without the skin. The skin is thin and bitter, and it can be difficult to remove without damaging the delicate flavor of the nut. As a result, most hazelnuts are consumed without the skin.
Recipes that call for hazelnuts usually also call for skinned hazelnuts. This not only helps to prevent the bitter flavor that can come from the skins of hazelnuts but also helps create a more uniform texture in the final dish.
However, the skin does contain some nutrients and antioxidants, so there are some health benefits to eating hazelnuts with the skin. For example, the skin is a good source of fiber, which can help to regulate digestion. Additionally, antioxidants help to protect cells from damage and may reduce the risk of some chronic diseases. While the health benefits of hazelnuts with the skin are significant, many people simply prefer the taste of hazelnuts without the bitterness of the skin.
4. How to Have Raw Hazelnuts (with and without skin)
If you are looking for raw hazelnuts, make sure to purchase them with the skin still on. Hazelnuts that have had their skins removed most likely have undergone a blanching or toasting treatment and are no longer raw. It is easy to find raw hazelnuts with the skin still intact at most markets. Simply look for nuts that are labeled as raw or unpasteurized.
But what should you do if you are looking for a raw hazelnut without the skin? There are a few methods that you can try at home but just be advised the texture of the nut will change.
If you are looking for a raw hazelnut without the skin, you can try soaking the nuts in water overnight. This will help to loosen the skin and make them easier to peel. However, it is important to note that soaked nuts will have a different flavor and texture than roasted or blanched nuts.
Another option is to place the hazelnuts in a food processor and pulse them until the skins are broken up. This method won’t completely remove the skins, but it will help to loosen them so that they are easier to remove by hand.
No matter which method you choose, be sure to select fresh, plump hazelnuts for the best flavor and texture.
5. The Bottom Line
Blanching is the process of using hot water or steam to deactivate enzymes by causing them to denature. The goal of blanching is to inactivate enzymes that could cause the deterioration of food quality, flavor, or color. There are two main types of blanching: hot water blanching and steam blanching. Hot water blanching is the most common type of blanching; it uses boiling water to deactivate enzymes.
Most hazelnuts are consumed without the skin because the skin is thin and bitter. Recipes that call for hazelnuts usually also call for skinned hazelnuts. However, the skin does contain some nutrients and antioxidants.
Hazelnuts that have undergone a blanching process will not be considered raw by people following a raw food diet. If you are looking for raw hazelnuts without the skin, you can try soaking the nuts in water overnight or pulsing them in a food processor.