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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HI thank you so much for answering my question. My oven only goes down to 170… do know if cracking it will bring it down enough not to hurt the nuts? I do have a candy thermometer but I’m not sure how to use it to find this out.
Oh! and do they have to be soaked in filtered water? My water sits out long enough for the chlorine to be evaperated, would that be doable?
Hi there thanks for your post! Do you know if it is ok to use an acidic medium, such as lemon juice, to soak the nuts in, instead of salt? I know you have to use an acidic medium for soaking grains, but I’m not sure if the same can apply to nuts and seeds? Thanks, Steph
If I’m wanting to make almond butter do you think I still need to dehydrate them before putting them in the food processor or could I just put them in after soaking?
@kayleeh I definitely would. I haven’t made nut butters with soaked, undehydrated nuts, but I can imagine it would make for a somewhat watery nut butter. Also, with the extra moisture, the nut butter might turn moldy a lot quicker. Goodluck!
Do you do the same with all seeds? Sunflower, sesame, and hemp??
I just purchased a Nesco Dehydrator and want to dry some almonds….my question is at what temp do you dry your nuts as the dehydrator indicates 105….above you are stating not to go above 150 so just wondering at what temp you have found to be the best tks
In order for a seed to germinate, it has to take in water. If the salt concentration is too high around the seed, it will actually prevent germination by keeping water from it. If it does take in the salt water, once it sprouts, it will immediately die. The water evaporates from the sprout and leaves the salt behind drying it out and killing it.
So please can you tell me why on earth it is nescessary to soak nuts in salt water? I mean the nutrient content is a thousand fold in sprouted nuts especially if you just soak them in fresh UNSALTED water for two days, after this they are sweet/milky and have a little white tip on the end. I personally take the skins off before I eat them (and when i make almond milk) which makes them easier to digest, and i assume it is the skins which are left with most of the anti-nutrients, oxalic acid, etc. Soaking is the same with legumes. The best tasting sprouted nuts and legumes are FRESHLY dried ones because they sprout the quickest and have the lowest amount of natural anti-nutrients.
Ulie So, what is the verdict? To salt or not to salt
Food for thought: Are the gardens of this earth watered with salty water or fresh water?
Also, can you soak them with a little lemon squeezed in the water to help release the phytic acid. I blend mines to make seed milks. Also I rinse them after I soak them and use them right away.
so if I don’t have access to a oven or a dehydrator but to a hot pot or electric burner can I just gently women up and roast them to get rid of the water
Ulie here is why salt is so important: salt in soaking water activates the enzymes that neutralize enzyme inhibitors.
I have been reading your posts regularly. I need to say that you are doing a fantastic job.
Ulie That makes no sense. Doesn’t apply to human digestion.
Ulie The point is reducing enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid. Sprouting is another topic.
What about LSA mix? Has that been pre soaked before the sesame, linseed and almond hits the grinder?
That’s a lot of sodium, will it taste very salty if you just want to eat the nuts by itself? I am planning to do this, oing to be eating them by itself so should I still use salt? or should I use lemon juice freshky squeezed out of a lemon? Thanks!
It does add a slight salty taste but it isn’t overwhelming. I would use the salt and see what you think.