Nuts are a delicious and healthy snack. They pack a lot of protein and good fats, as well as other nutrients that can help you feel full and energized. That’s why many people love to keep nuts on hand so they can throw together a quick and tasty treat anytime! But with so many different kinds of nuts available at the store—not to mention different grades, like “extra-shelled” or “in-shell”—it can be hard to know which will be best for your needs. So I’m here today to tell you exactly that: which nuts are best for snacking (and cooking!).
How to tell if your nut is fresh
- Nuts should be hard and dry. If you find a nut that’s soft, oily, or has any visible signs of decay (mold), then it’s not fresh.
- If you’ve ever had a bad experience with rancid nuts before, don’t worry! It’s easy to tell if your nuts are still good: just take one in your hand and squeeze it gently. If it cracks open easily and feels slightly oily between your fingers–even if they’re not actually greasy–then toss them out immediately; they won’t taste as good as they could have been had they been stored properly.
If you can’t find any nuts that are fresh, then consider buying them from a store where they’re sold in bulk and storing them yourself. If your local grocery store doesn’t offer this option, ask a manager if they would be willing to start! They might want to talk about their current packaging practices before deciding on anything too quickly.
If you’re buying nuts in a package, then look for ones that are free from dents or cracks. If any of these issues exist, then throw them out–they won’t taste as good as they could have been had they been stored properly.
Almonds
Almonds are a great source of protein, fiber and healthy fats. They’re also high in monounsaturated fat and low in saturated fat. In addition to being good for your body, almonds contain vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant), calcium, magnesium and other nutrients that help keep you healthy.
Almonds come in many different forms: raw or roasted; whole; sliced or chopped; salted or unsalted. You can buy them online at Amazon or Walmart.
Almonds are a great source of protein, fiber and healthy fats. They’re also high in monounsaturated fat and low in saturated fat. In addition to being good for your body, almonds contain vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant), calcium, magnesium and other nutrients that help keep you healthy.
Almonds come in many different forms: raw or roasted; whole; sliced or chopped; salted or unsalted. You can buy them online at Amazon or Walmart. Almonds are a great source of protein, fiber and healthy fats.
They’re also high in monounsaturated fat and low in saturated fat. In addition to being good for your body, almonds contain vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant), calcium, magnesium and other nutrients that help keep you healthy. Almonds come in many different forms: raw or roasted; whole; sliced or chopped; salted or unsalted. You can buy them online at Amazon or Walmart
. Almonds are a great source of protein, fiber and healthy fats. They’re also high in monounsaturated fat and low in saturated fat. In addition to being good for your body, almonds contain vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant), calcium, magnesium and other nutrients that help keep you healthy. Almonds come in many different forms: raw or roasted; whole; sliced or chopped; salted or unsalted. You can buy them online at Amazon or Walmart
Walnuts
Walnuts are a great source of omega-3s, which have been shown to help improve brain function. They’re also rich in vitamin E, which helps keep your skin looking young and healthy.
Walnuts are an excellent source of antioxidants that can help fight free radicals that cause aging and disease.
Walnuts contain more than 20 different vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium and zinc–all important for keeping bones strong as you age (or anytime).
A handful of nuts can help you feel full and satisfied, so it’s a great snack to have on hand when hunger strikes. Nuts are also an excellent source of vitamin E, which helps keep your skin looking young and healthy. Walnuts are an excellent source of antioxidants that can fight free radicals that cause aging and disease.
Nuts are also an excellent source of vitamin E, which helps keep your skin looking young and healthy. Walnuts are an excellent source of antioxidants that can help fight free radicals that cause aging and disease. Walnuts contain more than 20 different vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium and zinc–all important for keeping bones strong as you age (or anytime). A handful of nuts can help you feel full and satisfied, so it’s a great snack to have on hand when hunger strikes
Pecans
Pecans
Pecan trees are native to North America, but you can find them growing in other parts of the world as well. The nuts are a good source of protein, fiber and healthy fats like monounsaturated fats (MUFAs). They’re also high in antioxidants that help fight free radical damage. Pecans contain more than two times the amount of MUFAs found in almonds or peanuts–a key reason why they’re so good for you! The only downside? They’re low in sodium compared with other nuts.
The best way to eat pecans is by adding them to your salads, yogurt or oatmeal. You can also use them as a topping on ice cream or pancakes.
Pecans are a great snack to eat on their own, and they make a tasty addition to many recipes. They’re delicious in desserts like pecan pie and candies like pralines.
They’re also great in savory dishes like pecan chicken and tacos.
Pecans are a great choice if you’re looking for a healthy snack. They’re high in protein, fiber and healthy fats like monounsaturated fats (MUFAs). They’re also loaded with antioxidants that help fight free radical damage. Pecans contain more than two times the amount of MUFAs found in almonds or peanuts–a key reason why they’re so good for you!
The only downside? Pecans are low in sodium compared with other nuts. The best way to eat pecans is by adding them to your salads, yogurt or oatmeal. You can also use them as a topping on ice cream or pancakes. Pecans are a great snack to eat on their own, and they make a tasty addition to many recipes. They’re delicious in desserts like pecan pie and candies like pralines.
Hazelnuts (or filberts)
- What to look for when buying hazelnuts:
- Look for nuts that are heavy, with a glossy appearance and no signs of mold or discoloration.
- Where to buy hazelnuts:
- Hazelnuts can be found in most grocery stores or online. They’re also available from specialty stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market, which may have a wider selection than your local supermarket. If you’re lucky enough to live near an orchard that produces its own hazelnuts (and many do), ask if they sell them directly to the public–it will save you money on shipping costs!
How to store hazelnuts: Hazelnuts can be stored in the pantry for up to 6 months. If you’re planning to use them within a few weeks, place the nuts in an airtight container or resealable bag and store them in the freezer.
How to use hazelnuts: Hazelnuts have a unique flavor that can’t be replicated with other nuts. They’re particularly popular in European cuisine, where they’re often paired with chocolate and used in desserts such as pastries and ice cream.
Hazelnuts are also great in savory dishes such as salads, soups and curries. Hazelnut oil is another popular use of hazelnuts–it has a rich, buttery flavor that’s perfect for drizzling over fish or vegetables.
How can I tell if hazelnuts are fresh? Hazelnuts are best when they’re still in the shell. Look for nuts that have a hard and shiny shell, with no cracks or holes. If you’re buying them in the store, check for an expiration date on the package–it should be within 6 months to 1 year after it was packaged.
Macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts are high in healthy fats, with a higher fat content than most other nuts. They’re also high in monounsaturated fat and low in saturated fat–a good thing, since the former helps reduce cholesterol and the latter has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
Macadamia nut oil has been shown to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels when used as part of a healthy diet that includes aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes per day for five days per week over six months. The study also found that macadamia nut oil may help lower blood pressure by reducing systolic blood pressure by up to 10 mmHg after eight weeks of daily consumption (1).
In addition, macadamia nuts are good sources of protein and fiber. They’re also high in antioxidants that may help protect against oxidative stress and inflammation (2).
Macadamia nuts also contain a number of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, potassium and calcium. Magnesium helps with muscle relaxation, nerve function and bone health (3). Potassium plays an important role in regulating blood pressure (4), while calcium supports bone health (5).
Macadamia nuts contain a good amount of fat, which may be one reason why they’re so tasty. However, they’re rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats and low in saturated fat–a good thing, since the former helps reduce cholesterol and the latter has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
They’re also a good source of vitamin E, which may help protect against heart disease by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress (6).
Pistachios
Pistachios are a good source of fiber and protein, which can help you feel full faster. They’re also high in vitamin B1 (thiamin), copper and manganese–nutrients that many people don’t get enough of in their diets. In addition to being rich in these nutrients, pistachios contain antioxidants like vitamin E.
Pistachios have less sodium than most nuts: about 1% by weight compared with 3% for almonds or cashews. Because they have less sodium than other nuts, they’re often recommended as part of a heart-healthy diet by doctors who specialize in nutrition (e.g., cardiologists).
Pistachios are also a good source of fiber and protein, which can help you feel full faster. They’re also high in vitamin B1 (thiamin), copper and manganese–nutrients that many people don’t get enough of in their diets. In addition to being rich in these nutrients, pistachios contain antioxidants like vitamin E.
Pistachios have less sodium than most nuts: about 1% by weight compared with 3% for almonds or cashews. Because they have less sodium than other nuts, they’re often recommended as part of a heart-healthy diet by doctors who specialize in nutrition (e.g., cardiologists). Pistachios are also a good source of fiber and protein, which can help you feel full faster. They’re also high in vitamin B1 (thiamin), copper and manganese–nutrients that many people don’t get enough of
in their diets. In addition to being rich in these nutrients, pistachios contain antioxidants like vitamin E. Pistachios have less sodium than most nuts: about 1% by weight compared with 3% for almonds or cashews. Because they have less sodium than other nuts, they’re often recommended as part of a heart-healthy diet by doctors who specialize in nutrition (e.g., cardiologists). Pistachios are also a good source of fiber and protein, which can help you feel full faster
Knowing which nuts are best will help you make better choices.
Knowing which nuts are best will help you make better choices.
- How to tell if your nut is fresh.
- How to store nuts properly so they don’t go bad before you get around to eating them all yourself.
- Roasting your own nuts is easy and delicious!
Nuts are full of nutrients and healthy fats, but they spoil quickly. You can extend the shelf life of your nuts by storing them in the freezer or refrigerator. Nuts have a high fat content, so don’t store them with other foods that will absorb their flavors.
The best way to tell if your nuts are fresh is by smelling them. If they smell like a fresh, crisp apple, then they’re good! If you want to check the flavor of your nuts before eating them all yourself, roast them in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
If you don’t have time to roast them, place them in a plastic bag and leave them out for a few hours. Nuts go rancid quickly, so store yours in an airtight container or refrigerator. You can also freeze nuts to preserve their freshness longer.
Nuts are full of nutrients and healthy fats, but they spoil quickly. You can extend the shelf life of your nuts by storing them in the freezer or refrigerator. Nuts have a high fat content, so don’t store them with other foods that will absorb their flavors.
