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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@AdamIt does add a slight salty taste but it isn’t overwhelming. I would use the salt and see what you think.
Even the nuts that we buy in containers ready to eat, are we suppose to eat? Even the nuts in little handy packages bought at sores or vending machine, are these already presoaked?
This is confusing. No container of nuts I have ever purchased has told the consumer to presoak and this in dangerous then. Why is it this way? Can you explain further which nuts that are sold are indeed presoaked and where to purchase; and vice versa. Thank you
It would be rare indeed for commercially packaged nuts to have been soaked. You must buy quality raw nuts, soak then and dehydrate them at a temp no higher than 115º, 125º max. There is some debate on this issue. In the world of raw vegan live food 115º is the ceiling.
I do not use salt water and don’t know the science behind the idea that it reacts with “enzymes”. That bears further research.
I spray my nuts with a 3 per cent solution of culinary grade hydrogen peroxide and rinse thoroughly before soaking overnight.
You must rinse the nuts thorougly after soaking.
You can’t leave the nuts around wet, even after peroxide treatment. Nuts are expensive, why let them go moldy.
If these clear and simple instructions are too much for you maybe you should re-think. Some things you just can’t alter or fudge.
Cooking or raw eating is alchemy, be a wizard.
Should we rinse and soak (hulled) hemp seeds as well?
What about my favorite…pistachio nuts?
Let me look into that. I think most pistachio nuts are roasted already aren’t they?
Raw pistachios are available. The bulk of pistachios used to come from Iran, now they come from California’s central valley. Don’t by the red dyed ones.
This is good. Thank you, Linda
Got any outcome research on this?
Are all nuts created equal? Do they all need soaking?
What if someone doesn’t have trouble / issues with digesting nuts?
Sounds fadish to me..
LMA, Durham NC
Natural food enthusiasts have known about soaking and/or sprouting nuts, seeds and beans for a long time. Native cultures knew to do this ages ago to make gathered food more digestible. Even in conventional American (North & South) culture, cooks have soaked beans overnight for baked beans, beans and rice, bean soups, etc. So soaking nuts and seeds is more or less the same idea. Old European, Asian, Middle Eastern, African & South American cultures have soaked their beans and grains throughout history. When food fans discover this lore, other people who haven’t researched it might see it as some new “fad,” but there’s nothing new about it, and no more faddish than were , say, avocados or meditation in the 1950s or 60s, both quite commonplace today (more examples of foods or practices from ancient times becoming known again). Looking up the origins of “new-seeming” things has been a lot of fun for me, as well as a real eye-opener. Take care
My oven goes as low as 170 degrees. Will that work, or will I still need to leave the door ajar?
150F is recommended.
What is the salt for? Is it necessary to add it?
Yes it needs to be added. The salt helps break down the phytic acid.
Whole Foods now has a large section of SPROUTED nuts, seeds and granolas. Are the sprouted nuts and seeds at Whole Foods already soaked and dehydrated then? Or do I need to do the soaking/drying process on those too?
Thank you!
Good questions and I am not sure what the answer to that question is. I would recommend you call the company who makes them and ask them.
Can anyone confirm how long soaked / dehydrated nuts will last if stored in an air tight container in the fridge or freezer?
Hi there. I was wondering about peanuts and how long/how much salt to use. And Im assuming that most pre roasted nuts arent soaked and should be avoided? And that,anything sprouted does not further need to be soaked? Thank you!!
Don’t eat peanuts. All peanuts, except one species grown in Bali, have a fungus that is not good for us. Peanuts are not nuts anyway. Proper nuts are part of the reproductive mechanism of the trees from which they come. Google peanuts. You might never eat another one. Too bad, I love the things.
What about organic jungle peanuts found in the wild? These are different from mainstream peanuts. Thoughts? I soak and dehydrate wild jungle peanuts.
I am so glad I saw the post on this post on facebook. I never knew about soaking nuts before. I was so surprised at how much better they taste. It may be time consuming, but everything in life is hurry up and wait. Well worth it. Thanks.
I agree, they totally taste better!