Walnuts are perfect toppers, flavor enhancers, protein additions, and their crunch makes good recipes even better.
I personally prefer my chocolate chip cookies WITH walnuts, as they tend to cut the sweetness and add a depth of flavor that I love. But then, we were researching how to toast walnuts that we added them to a couple of recipes.
Let’s just say that this made a great cookie into addictive cookie-eating behaviors that forced me to freeze the batch so I could only eat a couple at a time.
So, let’s talk about toasting walnuts and what just a few extra minutes and a bit of heat will do.
It’s not just walnuts, of course, but for the purpose of this article, these gorgeous golden brown walnut gems are about to be transformed.
Walnuts become wonderfully fragrant with a deep flavor when toasted. Some walnuts are bitter before toasting, and the heat evens out these “raw” flavors.
Fortunately, you can minimize these harsh flavors and give the nuts a nice crunch when you toast them.
Also, toasting walnuts brings out their nutty flavor so ensure that you’ll give them a quick toast before adding the nuts into salads and baked goods.
I’ll cut to the chase—today, I’ll share three simple methods on how to toast walnuts: microwaving, oven method, and the stovetop.
How to toast walnuts in an oven
The oven method works best when you have tons of walnuts that you plan to include in your recipes.
Though it takes several minutes to toast walnuts in the oven, heating them this way makes the nuts cook evenly.
Expect that your walnuts feature a brown hue and crispy textural nuance with a soft and buttery inside when you happen to toast them correctly using this method.
Here are the steps on toasting walnuts in an oven:
Tools needed:
-
- Walnuts, chopped or whole
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Stirring spoon
- Parchment paper, foil
Instructions:
-
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Lined a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Place the walnuts in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Toast the nuts for 5 to 10 minutes. Check and stir occasionally.
- Once they turn brown, remove the baking sheet using oven mitts. ‘
- Toss them into your salad and enjoy!
Pro tip: When you’re toasting walnuts in the oven, make sure not to leave them unsupervised as this can cause a burnt mess.
How to toast walnuts on a stovetop
This is another suitable method of toasting walnuts.
The process is quicker than toasting the nuts in the oven, however, the biggest drawback is that you may accidentally cook the edible seed unevenly.
To avoid this dilemma, I recommend frequently stirring the nuts until they’re nice, brown, and toasty.
Here’s how to toast walnuts using a stovetop method:
Tools needed:
-
- Cast-iron skillet, nonstick frying pan
- Stove
- Walnuts, chopped or whole
- Stirring spoon
Instructions:
-
- Toss walnuts in a cast-iron skillet or nonstick frying pan over medium heat.
- Toast the nuts for about four to seven minutes or until golden.
- Put toasted walnuts into your recipes.
Pro tip: DO NOT leave your walnuts unattended while toasting on the stovetop as this can result in burnt nuts.
Also, make sure to stir them occasionally to avoid burning the food.
How to toast walnuts in a microwave
Toasting walnuts in a microwave is the easiest and the fastest option.
With this method, you don’t have to worry about turning on your oven and heating up the house, but microwaving comes with a real risk.
If you aren’t mindful, you’re going to ruin the nuts.
Also, microwaving walnuts won’t get you that golden-brown color like you achieve using the stovetop and oven method.
But one thing is for sure, it’s possible to get that nutty flavor and nice aroma like the two previous methods.
Tools needed:
-
- Microwave
- Walnuts, chopped or whole
- Microwave-safe dish
Instructions:
-
- Place the walnuts in a single layer on a microwave-safe dish.
- Microwave them for 1-minute intervals. Remove the dish and toss the nuts in between until golden and toasted.
Pro tip: The toasting time of your walnuts depends on your microwave power and the size of the nuts.
How to store toasted walnuts
Generally, toasted walnuts can last for up to a week at room temperature.
If you want to prolong their shelf life, you can store them in your refrigerator for a month or two.
Here’s what you need to do to keep walnuts fresh in the fridge:
Tools needed:
-
- Airtight container, freezer bags
- Markers
- Roasted walnuts
Instructions:
-
- Place the walnuts in an airtight container or a sealable heavy-duty freezer bag.
- Label the container or bag to track the date.
- Once done, cut the container or freezer bag in your refrigerator.
- Consume them within two months.
Pro tip: Whenever you need to use some, take the required amount out of the bags, reseal it then store it again in the fridge.
You’ll be able to use the walnuts right away since they thaw pretty quickly at room temperature.
How to use toasted walnuts
Once you already have toasted or roasted walnuts, the sky’s the limit in recipes!
You can add a harmonizing crunch and nice, nutty flavor to various dishes ranging from simple salads to baked goods. Here are some other ideas:
- Toast walnuts and coat them with a sweet and spicy sauce.
- Toss your toasted walnuts to Caesar salad filled with parmesan, mayo, and lemon juice.
- Add texture to your decadent and chewy chocolate chip cookies.
- Replace pecans and add chopped toasted walnuts into these rocky road brownies.
The bottom line
Toasting walnuts allows the home cook to elevate our dishes: yogurt parfait, sundaes, banana bread, greens, pasta dishes and more are all made even more flavorful by giving walnut pieces a little time in the skillet or the oven.
How To Toast Walnuts In An Oven
Planning to toast tons of walnuts? Toast them in an oven! CookingChew shares a quick guide on how to toast walnuts using the oven method.
Ingredients
- Walnuts, chopped or whole
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Stirring spoon
- Parchment paper, foil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Lined a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Place the walnuts in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Toast the nuts for 5 to 10 minutes. Check and stir occasionally.
- Once they turn brown, remove the baking sheet using oven mitts.
- Toss them into your salad, your baking recipes, parfait, and enjoy!