Jump to Recipe
Walnuts are a favorite for stirring into banana bread and baking into cookies; walnuts that have been baked take on a richer, nuttier flavor. You know what I’m talking about. That extra nutty goodness of a walnut that’s been baked into a chocolate chip cookie is so much better than a raw walnut. You can enjoy the flavor of toasted walnuts without the baked goods, though.
There are two ways to toast walnuts, both of which work very well. Toast them in a skillet on the stove top or pop them in the oven on a baking sheet. Either way, it doesn’t take long to make toasted walnuts at all and the flavor will be much improved. What’s better than a nuttier nut?
My son came in the other day and grabbed a handful. “Hm!” he said. “These are…extra.” When I told him they were toasted, not raw, I got a nod of approval.
No matter which of the following methods you opt to try, you don’t need to add any oil to the pan.
The Handcrafted Pantry
Ready to DIY your pantry with more wholesome ingredients? Check out my ebook, The Handcrafted Pantry! Filled with delicious recipes for some of your favorite condiments, snacks, and toppings, it’s the guide you need to start skipping packaged products and embrace homemade.
How to Toast Walnuts
For a small amount of nuts, you can toast them in a skillet or small pan right on the stove. Measure walnuts into a dry skillet — no oil — and cook on medium. When you begin to smell the aroma of roasted nuts, stir the walnuts. Continue cooking until the nuts are toasted on all sides, about 5 minutes.
5 Easy Steps to Transform Your Pantry!
Ready to switch from store bought to homemade? Let me help you make some changes! Grab my FREE five-part guide to getting started.
Get the Guide!
Toasted Walnuts in the Oven
This method works well to toast a larger amount of walnuts. Spread nuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Place tray in a 350º oven for 5-to-10 minutes or until the walnuts begin to brown. Stir them around occasionally, so they brown evenly. You will smell the aroma of roasting nuts. Be sure to set a timer; they can scorch quickly.
You’ll know they’re done when you see them visibly become slightly darker.
If you’d like, line the baking sheet with parchment paper. This is optional, but it will make cleanup easy.
Chopping Nuts
You can toast walnuts in large pieces and chop them after they’re toasted, or chop them prior to toasting. Your call! In either case, there are several ways to chop nuts.
In a food processor:Place walnuts in the bowl of the food processor and pulse until nuts are desired size.
In a manual chopper:Place walnuts in the chopper. Don’t fill it more than in inch or so deep, to allow easy chopping.
With a knife:Choose a knife with a slightly curved blade. Place a handful of walnuts on a cutting board, and rock the knife back and forth over the nuts until they are the desired size.
Using Toasted Walnuts
Toasted nuts give an extra flavor pop and crunch to recipes.Try sprinkling toasted walnuts on top of a hot fudge sundae or in your favorite kale salad. They’re a delicious snack eaten right out of hand, too!
Toasted walnuts are keto and paleo diet approved.
Allow the nuts to cool before adding them to recipes. Store extra nuts in an airtight container and use as needed.
How to Toast Walnuts
Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Toasting walnuts is easy — it takes just 10 minutes or so — and results in super flavor perfect for topping waffles, pancakes, salad, or yogurt.
Instructions
Toasting walnuts on the stove top
- Measure walnuts into a dry skillet. Cook over medium heat.
- When you begin to smell the aroma of roasted nuts, stir the walnuts. Continue cooking until the nuts are toasted on all sides, about 5 minutes.
- Turn the hot nuts out onto a plate to cool.
Toasting walnuts in the oven
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Spread walnut pieces on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Place tray in oven for 5-to-10 minutes or until they begin to brown and become aromatic.
- Turn the hot walnuts out onto a plate to cool.
Using toasted walnuts
- Use the walnuts as is, or chop them into smaller pieces. Use a knife and a rocking motion on a cutting board to chop the nuts into the size you need for your recipe.
Notes
Adjust the amount of walnuts to suit your needs, using the skillet method for small amounts and the oven method for larger quantities.
Cool completely, then store toasted pecans in an airtight container for up to a month.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 191Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g
Did you make this recipe?
Share an image on Instagram and tag @attainablesustainable with #attainablesustainable!
FAQs
Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the walnuts to the hot, dry pan, only toasting as many walnuts as fit in the pan in a single layer. Cook, watching constantly and stirring frequently until the walnuts start to brown and they smell toasted—about 5 minutes.
Why do you toast walnuts? ›
Think of the difference between granulated and caramelized sugar, or between straight-from-the-package and browned butter and you'll begin to get the idea. Toasting improves the texture of nuts too, so that they stay crisp whether buried in baked goods or on top of a salad.
What to do with burnt walnuts? ›
The solution for those just-about-burnt nuts: the freezer.
How do you toast walnuts without oil? ›
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Bake the walnuts: Spread walnuts on a large baking sheet—the size doesn't matter as long as they are spread out without overlapping. Bake until the nuts are deeply golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes. ...
- Cool: Leave walnuts on the baking sheet until completely cooled.
The Bottom Line. Both raw and roasted nuts are good for you and provide health benefits. Both varieties contain similar amounts of calories, protein, carbs and fiber. However, roasting nuts may damage their healthy fat, reduce their nutrient content and lead to the formation of a harmful substance called acrylamide.
Are toasted walnuts still healthy? ›
Both raw and roasted nuts can be a healthy addition to most diets. Both types are a good source of beneficial nutrients such as Vitamin E, manganese, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.
Does toasting walnuts destroy nutrients? ›
Maureen Ternus of the Walnut Marketing Board adds, Its best to toast walnuts as close to the time of use as possible. While toasting does not change their nutritional value, it does accelerate the timeline until they lose their freshness.
Should toasted walnuts be refrigerated? ›
You should store any toasted walnuts in an airtight container. You can keep them at room temperature for a couple of weeks or refrigerate for up to 1 month. I like to freeze a batch too for longer storage, up to 3 months, and that way, I always have some ready to go.
How do you toast walnuts without burning them? ›
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup. Toss walnuts in oil and salt if desired. Arrange in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Toast until browned and fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 7 to 10 minutes.
Can I toast walnuts in the air fryer? ›
Spread the nuts into a single layer so they toast on all sides. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes. It helps to preheat the air fryer to 320°F first, and be sure to shake the basket halfway through the cooking time. It's VERY important not to overcook them, or the sugar will burn and the toasted walnuts will taste bitter.
Nuts such as walnuts, peanuts, cashews, and almonds are dangerous territory for your gnashers. The amino acid L-Arginine in these nuts contributes to canker sores. Salted nuts are especially bad, as the sodium dries your mouth out and causes the lining to become slightly inflamed.
What do rancid walnuts taste like? ›
Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.
Is it better to toast walnuts in oven or stove top? ›
The stove top method is much faster, but you also don't get the more even cooking of the oven method. If you have time (or large quantities of walnuts) to toast, I'd suggest the oven method. But the stove top method will work just fine when you need to speed things up.
Do you chop walnuts before toasting? ›
If you toast then chop, the chopping will expose so untoasted edges so the overall effect will be less uniform. Toast the nuts evenly first, it will let off the steam in the nut. Then chop them. If they are evenly toasted the toasty flavor & crunch will be present throughout the nut.
What is the best way to eat walnuts? ›
"The best time to eat walnuts in summers is in the morning. You can soak 6 to 8 halves of walnuts at night and consume them on an empty stomach. You can also add them to your smoothies or make walnut chutney. Ground walnuts can be sprinkled on salads," says Bakshi.
Should I toast nuts in pan or oven? ›
Most of the time, we like to toast nuts in the oven. Why? Because the dry, indirect heat the oven offers will toast the nuts more evenly than a skillet will. Using a skillet might trim a few minutes off your cook time, but the heat is uneven.
Do you need oil to toast nuts? ›
Skip the oil: There is no need to use oil in a pan or on the baking sheet when toasting nuts. It may alter the flavor of the nut as well as how it reacts in a recipe. If toasting nuts for a spiced snack mix, however, your recipe may tell you to use oil.
Should you soak walnuts before roasting? ›
Soaking your nuts beforehand will lead to better absorption of the spices and result in a crunchier, easier to chew texture. You may be tempted to turn the heat up, but don't! If you roast them at too high a temperature you'll have a dark outside and a raw inside, leading to an inconsistent flavor.
