Question About Soaking Nuts

[TriciaR]

Wasn't sure where to post this question. Hope this will be okay.

I know nuts need to be soaked. My question is this: after soaking, do they need to be dried before eating or using them in a recipe? Or do I just soak them and store them, put them in my recipe, etc.? I'm a little confused about this.


Thanks!

[Raw Angel Mom]

It depends of your recipe and what you want to do with them. No, you don't need to dry them. Cashew, i do for 5 min to 10 min before i do my recipe.

If i make an almond patte, i won't dry them, a walnut patte, i will dry them enough to get the water out.

It is up to you. If you don't have a dehydrator yet, you can use a hair dryer.

All the best!

[TriciaR]

Now I'm more confused! lol

According to the chart, they should be soaked for several hours. My understanding is that it activates the enzymes. So, say I want to just have them for snacks?

Sorry about all the questions, but I'm brand new to this and am reading Alissa's book. Not sure about how to handle them for different purposes

Thanks for your patience!

[Revvell]

Do what you want with them. Many nuts don't even need to be soaked. If you're going to store them (almonds, especially), you can store them in water for a few days, changing the water daily. If you aren't planning on using them w/in a few days, dry them. Whether they are wet or dry when you use them in a recipe, doesn't matter. Does the recipe say to dry them? If not, just drain and use. Do you enjoy eating them wet? Then do so. Don't over-think this.

[TriciaR]

Thanks! Maybe I am trying to make it harder than it is!

Tricia

[Raw Angel Mom]

Now I'm more confused! lol

According to the chart, they should be soaked for several hours. My understanding is that it activates the enzymes. So, say I want to just have them for snacks?

Sorry about all the questions, but I'm brand new to this and am reading Alissa's book. Not sure about how to handle them for different purposes

Thanks for your patience!

They say that pine nuts, macadamia nuts don't need to be soak. Some recipe don't require to soak walnut and Pecan.

Now this being said, i recommend that you do soak them anyway. The only thing that i don't soak is hemp seed. I soak my sesame seed in a nut bag just for the day.

I am so sensitive with nuts that i find they are much easier to digest this way. Even for Alissa recipe with her mock salmon, i soak the walnut then i dehydrate them.

Soaking release the enzyme inhibiter and make the nuts far more easier to digest.

[jevans]

Here is some info. Basically you should soak ALL to help release more nutritional value:

http://vegetarian.about.com/od/beverage1/a/soaking-nuts.htm

[Revvell]

Thanks! Maybe I am trying to make it harder than it is!

Tricia Seems like ~ and know one thing for sure. On this (and pretty much every forum) you're going to get so many answers you'll probably confuse yourself. Go with what's easy and what feels right. Keep it Simple.

[TriciaR]

Thank you everyone for your input. It helps to know what you do!

I intend to start next week and want to be sure I'm clear on that one point. Everything seems so easy, including Alissa's recipes! Compared to other books I have with recipes, hers really puts it all into perspective and how easy it can be!

I'll keep you all posted!

[Raw Angel Mom]

Thank you everyone for your input. It helps to know what you do!

I intend to start next week and want to be sure I'm clear on that one point. Everything seems so easy, including Alissa's recipes! Compared to other books I have with recipes, hers really puts it all into perspective and how easy it can be!

I'll keep you all posted!

Agree. Do you have her dvd's, i love them so much

[TriciaR]

No. I was going to get them with the book, but thought the book would be enough. Have a $10 credit on Open Sky and am considering just ordering them.

Tricia

[Revvell]

Order the dvd's. You'll be glad you did ~ and don't loo so sad. :( :D

[Spunkymama]

I'm so glad you posted this question. I was just coming here to post the same question. I just finished both of Alissa's books.

My understanding is that the nuts need to be soaked to release the enzymes and to make them easier to digest. Kind of a spinoff of your question - does dehydrating them after soaking them still leave them in the "released enzyme" state so-to-speak?

I'd really like to know this so I can soak, dehydrate and store bulk amounts of nuts so that they are in jars in the pantry ready to go. I don't want to have to think about soak time every day before I prepare food.