All About Hazelnuts: Harvesting, Drying, and Enjoying
What are Hazelnuts?
Hazelnuts, also called filberts, are delicious nuts that grow on trees. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Hazelnuts are native to Europe and Asia, but they are now grown all over the world, including in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, which produces about 99% of the hazelnuts grown in the United States.
Harvesting Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts are ready to harvest in the fall, usually in October. You can tell they are ripe when they start to drop from the trees. To harvest hazelnuts, you can either pick them up from the ground or shake the tree limbs to loosen them.
Once you have harvested the hazelnuts, it is important to remove the husks. You can do this by rubbing them together in your hands or using a nutcracker.
Drying Hazelnuts
After you have removed the husks, you need to dry the hazelnuts. This will help to preserve them and prevent them from molding. You can dry hazelnuts in the sun, in a food dryer, or in a warm oven.
Storing Hazelnuts
Dried hazelnuts can be stored at room temperature for several months. If you want to store them for longer, you can put them in the refrigerator or freezer.
Enjoying Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts can be eaten on their own or added to a variety of recipes. They are a great addition to baked goods, salads, and nut butters. You can also make homemade Nutella with hazelnuts.
Fun Facts About Hazelnuts
- Hazelnuts are a good source of antioxidants.
- Hazelnuts are used to make hazelnut oil, which is a popular cooking oil.
- Hazelnuts are the state nut of Oregon.
Tips for Harvesting and Drying Hazelnuts
- Mow the area around the hazelnut trees to remove grass and weeds. This will make it easier to harvest the nuts.
- Gather nuts from the ground. Some of the fallen nuts may be wormy or empty. You can distinguish between good and bad nuts by placing them in water. Floating nuts are the duds.
- Dry hazelnuts within 24 hours after picking. Lay them out in a single layer on a screen to allow for good aeration.
- If you want to speed up the drying process, you can use a food dryer. Set the temperature of the dryer to 90-105 degrees F.
- You can also dry the nuts over a furnace or radiator.
- Once the hazelnuts are dry, the meat will be cream colored and firm.
Recipes Using Hazelnuts
- Hazelnut cookies
- Hazelnut bread
- Hazelnut salad
- Hazelnut pesto
- Homemade Nutella
With their delicious taste and versatility, hazelnuts are a great addition to any diet. So next time you are looking for a healthy and satisfying snack, reach for a handful of hazelnuts.
