Is It Necessary To Soak Nuts?
Many of us consume nuts for their healthy fats and their good source of protein. They make a great quick snack that can easily be taken with you, making it an ideal snack. But many of us do not know how to properly prepare nuts so that we can better digest them. Is it necessary to soak nuts? The answer to that question is yes, absolutely!
Nuts have phytic acid. Phytic acid is also found in grains and legumes. Just as with grains and legumes, soaking nuts is essential for proper digestions. When eating nuts that haven’t been soaked, the phytic acid binds to minerals in the gastrointestinal tract and can not be absorbed in the intestine and to many bound minerals can lead to mineral deficiencies. By soaking, you are breaking down the phytic acid so it can be absorbed properly.
Nuts also have high amounts of enzymes inhibitors. This is another reason why un soaked nuts are hard to digest. Soaking nuts can neutralize the enzymes allowing for proper digestion.
Signs That You Aren’t Digesting Nuts
Have you ever had a heavy feeling in your lower stomach after eating too many nuts that were not soaked?
Have you noticed the next day that the nuts are in your stool? These are a few signs that the nuts were not properly digested.
It isn’t hard to soak and dry your nuts. It actually only takes a few minutes of hands on work to accomplish this task. Time is what you need to allow the nuts to soak and dry.
How To Soak Nuts
I have learned this method of drying and soaking from the research of Sally Fallon and her great book ~ Nourishing Traditions: The book that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats. If you do not have a copy of her cookbook it is a great resource of information and is an essential cookbook for traditional cooking.
So the basic method of soaking nuts is pretty much the same with some slight variations. Basically, you soak the nuts in salt water (salt is necessary to help neutralize the enzymes) and then you dry them.
Be sure to fully dry your nuts or they could become moldy. You do not want to dry your nuts any higher than 150°F. You can use a Nesco American Harvest Snackmaster Encore Dehydrator or an oven to dehydrate your nuts.
A lot of the newer ovens do not go below 200ºF. You can most likely change the default setting of 200°F. Check your owners manual to learn how for your make and model. You can also set your oven to the lowest temperature and leave it slightly a-jarred. Use an internal thermometer to reach the desired temperature.
One last thing I want to note. Soaking the nuts not only helps with digestion but it enhances the flavor tremendously! They are slightly crispy, have a nice texture, and taste amazing. That alone encourages me to soak my nuts! If you haven’t tried to soak your nuts, give this method a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised how easy and delicious soaked nuts are!
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Recipes
Almonds
- 4 cups almonds – shop for quality nuts here
- 1 tbsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined salt here
- filtered water (enough to cover nuts)
Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours
Dehydrate for 12-24 hours or until crisp
Macadamia Nuts
- 4 cups raw macadamia nuts – shop for quality nuts here
- 1 tbsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined sea salt here
- filtered water (enough to cover nuts)
Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours
Dehydrate for 12-24 hours or until crisp (do not use temperature above 150°F)
Cashews
- 4 cups raw cashews – shop for quality nuts here
- 1 tbsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined sea salt here
- filtered water (enough to cover nuts)
Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours
Dehydrate for 12-24 hours or until crisp (do not use temperature above 150°F)
Pecans & Walnuts
- 4 cups raw pecans or walnuts – shop for quality nuts here
- 2 tsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined sea salt here
- filtered water (enough to cover nuts)
Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours
Dehydrate for 12-24 hours or until crisp (do not use temperature above 150°F)
Pine Nuts & Hazelnuts
- 4 cups pine nuts or hazelnuts – shop for quality nuts here
- 1 tbsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined sea salt here
- filtered water (enough to cover nuts)
Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours
Dehydrate for 12-24 hours or until crisp (do not use temperature above 150°F)
Pumpkin seeds
- 4 cups pumpkin seeds – shop for quality seeds here
- 2 tbsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined sea salt here
- filtered water (enough to cover pumpkin seeds)
Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours
Dehydrate for 12 hours or overnight (do not use temperature above 150°F).
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While many traditional cultures naturally soaked or sprouted seeds, this step is hardly ever taken with large scale production since it is time consuming. It is, however, simple and inexpensive to do at home and can greatly increase the nutrient content of the seeds and nuts you consume.
yes ok but the downside is whicheverway you like at it they lose some taste or texture after soaking and they don’t taste as good. Even after being left to dry or being dried in a frying pan they’re just not as delicious. Well folks it’s the price you pay for cleanliness and hygiene
Your soaking times are incorrect.
This is all new to me and After many attempts to make a latte with out cows milk and enjoy it like Starbucks, which I have given up due to the cost and sugar, I wanted to try making this nut cream. I followed the directions but only had 7 to 8 hours to soak the almonds. could this be why it only yielded 12 oz cream? Hardly any liquid soaked through my nut cloth until I spent quite a while (and a lot of effort) squeezing out the liquid. I would more than likely use 6 ounces to make a latte therefore this is a lot of work for only two lattes. Maybe my mixture was too thick? I followed the directions using one cup of raw almonds. I used a total of 2 cups of water when I blended them. Are used three dates because I love sweetness. I want to be able to do this on a regular basis but this was extremely time consuming and a lot of effort. I haven’t even tried it in my latte yet as I will be making it in the morning before heading out on a trip. Hoping that it is delicious! My normal routine is to pick up a Starbucks when I’m traveling. It’s a hard habit to break!
Thanks for the information.
How about pistachio nuts?
Do I shell them before drying?
Recipe?
There several scientific researches on the topic. Last one, from 2017, published in European Journal for Nutrition clearly and undoubtedly confirming that there is NO NEED to soak nuts. The effects, stated in the post, do not exist. Please always check for scientific researches prior recommending to people proper nutrition.
Do you have to soak and dehydrate nuts that don’t claim to be raw? I currently use Kirkland’s organic walnuts that I buy off of Amazon.
Also, I use them for making oatmeal in my pressure cooker. If they’re being heated like this is the soaking and dehydrating still necessary?
Personally, I like this step simply because the seeds and nuts taste so much better once they are soaked and it makes the nutrients more available. If you consume a lot of nuts or seeds, this process may be especially helpful to you, as the higher levels of enzyme inhibitors may be more problematic. Soaking and dehydrating organic raw nuts and seeds also creates an end result similar to roasted nuts, but without the added vegetable oils or high temperature roasting that can damage the nutrients and enzymes in these foods.
Does a small dehydrator like the Nesco American Harvest Snackmaster Encore Dehydrator actually dry nuts faster than a larger model, like the Cosori?
Thanks.
I’ve been soaking almonds for years and was under the impression that it becomes more like a vegetable, so I told myself than the 1 oz/day limit on nut consumption did not apply. Not that I ate necessarily more (and I don’t eat nuts daily) but sometimes I did. What do you think? Does the 1oz rule apply whether soaked or dry? Thanks!