Pine nuts are the ideal ingredient to add crunchiness to many dishes. Generally pine nuts are expensive and the ones already toasted can be even more so, but luckily they are easy to toast at home. If they are peeled, toast them in the oven or pan until they develop a uniform golden hue. If they are still in the shell, heat them in the oven or microwave until the shell breaks, then shell them and use them as you like.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Toast the Shelled Pine Nuts in the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 190 ° C and spread the pine nuts on a baking sheet
Use a pan with high sides to keep the pine nuts from falling out when you move it. Place all the pine nuts you want to toast in the pan and wait for the oven to heat up.
Arrange the pine nuts in a single layer, so that they toast evenly
Step 2. Toast the pine nuts in the oven for 5-10 minutes
Place the pan in the preheated oven and toast the pine nuts until they release their characteristic scent into the air. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then mix them to get an even browning.
Step 3. Remove the pine nuts from the oven when they are golden brown
Pay attention to how they change hue and take them out of the oven as soon as they turn golden and release a nice nutty scent.
Keep in mind that the pine nuts will continue to cook even after you remove them from the oven, due to the residual heat released from the pan
Step 4. Transfer the pine nuts to a cold pan and let them cool
Move them to a clean baking sheet to prevent them from burning by remaining in contact with the hot metal.
Suggestion:
do not use a bowl otherwise the moisture will be trapped between the pine nuts, which will then cool more slowly.
Step 5. Store the toasted pine nuts in an airtight container and use within a week
When they are completely cold, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the pantry out of sunlight. Eat them within a week to fully enjoy their taste.
If you want the pine nuts to last longer, place the container in the refrigerator or freezer; they will keep up to 3-6 months
Method 2 of 4: Toast the Shelled Pine Nuts in a Pan
Step 1. Pour the pine nuts into a clean pan
Place the pan on the stove and pour in all the pine nuts you want to toast. Distribute them in a single layer. If they are many and they are likely to overlap, toast them a little at a time.
This method is the most suitable for toasting a few pine nuts quickly
Step 2. Heat the pine nuts over medium-low heat for 3 minutes
You will need to mix them often to prevent them from burning. You can use a wooden spoon or, if you prefer, you can gently swirl the pan.
Did you know that?
Toasting the pine nuts in a pan is quick and easy, but the result is not as uniform as when using the oven.
Step 3. Remove the pine nuts from the pan when they are golden brown
Since they will continue to cook even after turning off the heat, transfer them to a pan or plate; in this way they will cool down faster.
Step 4. Store the toasted pine nuts in an airtight container and use within a week
When they have cooled, pour them into an airtight container and store them at room temperature. Keep them out of sunlight to keep them from going rancid.
If you want the pine nuts to last longer, place the container in the refrigerator or freezer; they will keep up to 3-6 months
Method 3 of 4: Toast the Unshelled Pine Nuts in the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 175 ° C and rinse the shells of the pine nuts
Pour all the pine nuts you want to toast into a colander and wash them under cold water. Discard any that have cracked or faded shells.
Whole pine nuts in their shells can be found online or in stores that specialize in organic and natural foods
Step 2. Soak the pine nuts in salted water for 30 minutes to give them more flavor
If you want them to be slightly salted, similar to the sunflower seeds on the market, dissolve 60 g of sea salt in half a liter of water, pour the pine nuts into the salted water and let them soak while the oven heats.
Skip this step if you want to eat natural pine nuts
Step 3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add the pine nuts
Tear off a piece of parchment paper and spread it on the bottom of a pan with the edges. Drain the pine nuts, if you have soaked them in salted water, then distribute them inside the pan without overlapping them.
If you don't have parchment paper, you can put the pine nuts directly into the pan
Step 4. Toast the pine nuts in the oven for 10-20 minutes
Place the pan in the oven and let the pine nuts cook until the shell cracks. After 10 minutes, stir the pine nuts and then let them cook for another 10 minutes, if the shells haven't popped yet.
If the pine nuts have been soaked in salted water, you will need to leave them in the oven for about ten minutes more
Did you know that?
The time required to toast the pine nuts varies according to the size and degree of humidity.
Step 5. Let the pine nuts cool for 20 minutes before peeling them
Turn off the oven and remove the pan with the pine nuts. Transfer them to a cold baking sheet or lift the paper and place it on a wire rack. Let the pine nuts cool completely before peeling them.
Arrange the pine nuts in a single layer so that they cool faster
Step 6. Break the shells with a rolling pin
Transfer the pine nuts to a clean kitchen towel and fold it over so they are completely covered. Crush the shells with a rolling pin - you should feel them crack. After breaking the shells you can easily extract the pine nuts with your hands.
Use the pine nuts right away or store them in an airtight container. If you intend to eat them within a week you can keep them at room temperature, otherwise put them in the refrigerator and use them within 6 months
Method 4 of 4: Toast the Unshelled Pine Nuts in the Microwave
Step 1. Wash the pine nuts and place them in a microwave safe container
Pour the pine nuts you want to toast into a colander and rinse them under cold running water, then transfer them to a container suitable for use in the microwave oven.
- Discard any pine nuts with broken, soft, or faded shells.
- Do not dry the pine nuts: the moisture will turn into steam when cooking in the microwave.
Suggestion:
if you like salted pine nuts, sprinkle the shells with the desired amount of salt.
Step 2. Toast the pine nuts in the microwave for 6 minutes
Place the container in the oven and leave it uncovered. Toast the pine nuts for 4 minutes so that they become hot and begin to cook, then mix them and put them back in the oven for another 2 minutes.
Handle the boiling container with oven mitts
Step 3. Continue toasting the pine nuts at one minute intervals
Continue until they release a toasted hazelnut scent into the air. At that point, take a pine nut from the container, break the shell and check if it is sufficiently golden and toasted inside.
If the pine nuts are still white or cream colored, put them back in the oven
Step 4. Once ready, transfer the pine nuts to a plate and let them cool
Put on your oven mitts, take the container out of the microwave and pour the pine nuts onto a plate. Distribute them evenly, without overlapping them, so that they cool down faster.
If you leave the pine nuts in the container they will cool much slower and may become mushy
Step 5. Break the shells with a rolling pin
When they have cooled, transfer the pine nuts to a clean kitchen towel and fold it over so they are completely covered. Crush the shells with a rolling pin - you should feel them crack. After breaking the shells you can easily extract the pine nuts with your hands.
