Comments on: Soaking Nuts and Seeds Makes Them Better

By: Grocery Guidelines When You Can’t Afford Organic | Listen To Your Gut

Grocery Guidelines When You Can’t Afford Organic | Listen To Your Gut — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:35:51 +0000

[...] protein source, just make sure it’s wild (not farmed) and mercury levels are not too high. Nuts and seeds are another good protein source when you cannot afford much [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:41:00 +0000

Soaking and sprouting is what does the trick. But then you have soggy nuts. If you want them crispy and crunchy again, you have to dehydrate. You could roast them in the oven to get them crunchy again too, but you lose a lot of nutrients and change the flavor. For some recipes, like nut milk, soggy nuts are fine, just discard the soak water.

Best to you!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:28:00 +0000

If we don’t have a dehydrator – will soaking them in water overnight help? Or is there another stop or trick I’m missing?

Thanks.
Jennifer

By: Strong Healthy Community

Strong Healthy Community — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:53:49 +0000

[...] 2 cups almonds, pecans or walnuts, soaked and dehydrated [...]

By: Dawn Gifford

Dawn Gifford — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 04:03:07 +0000

If they are organic almonds, then they have been steam pasteurized. If they are chemically-farmed almonds, they will have been treated with any one of a handful of approved fumigation chemicals. (Ew!) Pasteurized almonds still retain their protein, fats, carbohydrate and minerals, so organic, steam-pasteurized almonds are still a good food choice—they just aren’t “turbo-charged” by soaking and sprouting. If you live in California (or have friends or family here), you can still get real raw almonds at many farmer’s markets. The pasteurization law does not apply to small farms doing direct-to-consumer sales. You can also find them online at http://livingnutz.com/.

Pasteurized almonds may not be able to sprout, but you can soak them if you want to soften them for making almond milk. Soaking will also remove some of the tannins in any almonds as well as help the indigestible skins to come off more easily, but otherwise there is no other value to soaking pasteurized almonds.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 17:42:36 +0000

Since the almonds I buy are labeled “raw” but from California, I know they are in fact pasteurized. Thus not truly raw. I know there are several methods of pasteurization. Do you have any idea how nuts are done?
If they are pasteurized is there really any reason to eat them? And if so, do you still recommend soaking them? Thank you.

By: Dawn Gifford

Dawn Gifford — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 20:54:26 +0000

Yes, the U.S. almond industry has been pulverized by the pasteurization requirement. Unless you can get truly raw almonds directly from a farmer who does not pasteurize them, you have to import them. The link for where this ridiculous law stands is updated now…

By: Janet K

Janet K — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 20:44:40 +0000

Is it still true that raw almonds in the U.S. are “pasteurized”? If so, your link to buy direct from a farmer did not work.
Thank you!
Janet K

By: Stinging Nettles are Good For You | Farm to Table

Stinging Nettles are Good For You | Farm to Table — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:33:51 +0000

[...] 1/2 cup walnuts, previously soaked and dried [...]

By: Cheaper Ways To Eat Organic | Listen To Your Gut

Cheaper Ways To Eat Organic | Listen To Your Gut — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:16:46 +0000

[...] protein source, just make sure it’s wild (not farmed) and mercury levels are not too high. Nuts and seeds are another good protein source when you cannot afford much [...]