Walnut trees prepare us for an exciting treasure hunt in autumn. The delicious nuts can be discovered everywhere in their vicinity. Once ripe, they just fall off. Now it's time to fill your own pantry. But first we have to dry them.

Walnuts must be well dried before being stored

Harvest time - Day after day is harvested

When it is time to harvest the delicious nuts is not decided by us, but by the tree itself. Then it practically throws them at our feet, picking is not necessary. Just bend down and pick up.

Around the beginning of September, the patient search can begin. It extends into October, because the tree only gives its fruit in portions. Wear gloves when doing this, because the remains of the green peel will stain.

tips

Speeding up harvest time by purposefully picking the nuts off the tree is not such a good idea. These nuts are not yet fully mature, do not taste good and cannot be stored.

Moisture - the enemy

On the tree, the nut is protected by its green covering. If it falls to the ground, it will burst open and detach. Now the nut is exposed to the influences of the environment. Humidity, especially if it stays for a long time, can quickly lead to mold growth.

  • moist soil is not optimal
  • even rain wets the nuts
  • therefore collect it off the ground every day if possible

The risk of mold is also the reason why walnuts should never be washed before drying. Your shell does not dry as quickly and can therefore mold quickly, especially at the seam of the two halves.

Perfect walnuts sorted

Not every nut that falls from the tree is suitable for consumption and therefore not for drying.

  • Discard nuts with damaged shells
  • discard moldy nuts
  • remove any remaining green peel
  • use a brush for stubborn residue

If only the brown shell of the nut is damaged, but the inside was not exposed on the ground, it is still perfectly suitable for immediate consumption.

Air drying

Walnuts are rich in oils that go rancid at high temperatures and negatively affect the taste. For this reason, nuts must not be dried in the oven or microwave. A temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius is ideal, and under no circumstances should 28 degrees be exceeded. Walnuts dry best in a dry and well-ventilated room.

  • spread out on newspaper
  • or on a grating
  • Wooden frames covered with mesh are also suitable
  • Never layer nuts on top of each other
  • the individual nuts should not touch

On sunny days, walnuts can also be dried outside during the day, but must be brought inside at night.

drying time

Walnuts need 4 to 6 weeks until they are dry enough to be stored. In that time, they've lost about half their weight. In order for the drying to work safely, you should heed the following tips during this time:

  • Turn nuts every few days
  • discard bad nuts

storage and shelf life

Once the walnuts are dry, they can be collected and stored. The insides of properly dried nuts are brittle and not pliable. This is a good way to tell when the drying process is complete.

  • store in baskets or nets
  • Potato sacks are also suitable
  • The main thing is airy

Whole dried walnuts have a shelf life of about 12 months.

Conclusion for fast readers

  • Harvest time: September to October; collect daily; wear gloves
  • Tip: Do not pick nuts from the tree, these are immature and cannot be stored
  • Preparation: Sort out bad nuts; Remove green remains of peel, do not wash
  • Temperature: Dry nuts at 20 to a maximum of 28 degrees Celsius
  • Place: In an airy and dry room; on newsprint; grating or wooden frame
  • Spread: Single layer only; Nuts should not touch
  • Outside: Only on sunny days; bring in at night
  • Duration: 4 to 6 weeks until the inside is brittle
  • storage: airy; in baskets or nets
  • Shelf life: In the unopened shell: 2 months

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Vegetable garden