Stupid Question #2: Almond Skins

I made some almond ricotta this afternoon for lunch. I soaked the almonds over night and then struggled to get my wimpy blender to break them down. It turned out very mild and nice.. it could have used maybe some herbs or something to spruce it up as a dip but otherwise yummy. This would definitely be nice with other goodies stirred in or as a spread for sammies or as layer in a raw veggie lasagna. Unfortunately mine was full of little brown speckles of almond skins; its a NOT big deal but I see other nut cheezes, etc that are so white and pretty. it would be nice to be able to make this look more like the real thing for company/special occasions.

Whats the best way to remove almond skins?


*fingers crossed* :o

Edit:
Oops! I meant "not a big deal" geez.. one silly typo makes a big difference.. lol ;)

I just soak them between 24-48 hrs and then you can pretty much get the skin off them by pinching them between your fingers, most come off effortlessly.

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Originally Posted by Hina

I just soak them between 24-48 hrs...

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Ohhhh!! That's why! I only soaked them overnight. I tried rubbing them in a rough towel but that wasn't working. I would have scraped the skins off with my fingernails but dang.. 1 whole cup of almonds.. no thank you. lol

Next time I'll soak them for much longer.. thanks.. :D


(For the record the skins tasted fine BUT I have read if you eat almonds very often it may be best to try to remove the skins if you can being it might not be all that good for your tummy.) ;)

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Originally Posted by DawnSierra

(For the record the skins tasted fine BUT I have read if you eat almonds very often it may be best to try to remove the skins if you can being it might not be all that good for your tummy.) ;)

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I haven't found that to be true at all. I never remove the skins and have never had a problem. Eating raw, to me, should be simple. Removing the peels from nuts? Not simple enough.

That's why it would mostly just be for special occasions like having company over.. that kind of thing. Trust me.. I'm far far too lazy to make that a daily chore. lol :rolleyes:

Also I'm not really worried about the skin possibly being a bad thing issue.. again.. me and laziness. Its just something I've read more than once.. ;)

really? i've never heard of the skins being bad for your tummy. i'll go do some research on it cause honestly... one of my pet peeves is when people share misinformation. i figure the world is soooo connected with the internet that sharing correct info isn't that hard to do. not accusing you of it... just sharing is all.

off to research...

wow that took me no time at all:

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It has been said that beauty is only skin deep. But for almonds, the skin is as deep as you may need to go to get a real antioxidant punch. In a study, published in this month's Journal of Nutrition, the antioxidants in almond skins and the vitamin E in almonds were shown to work together as an antioxidant team. The study was co-authored by researchers at the Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and the Almond Board of California.
Researchers tested the brown skins of almonds to determine their antioxidant content. Almond skins have been known to contain antioxidants called flavonoids, which are a large group of plant nutrients found in wine, tea, fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids can act as antioxidants in the body protecting cells from damage. They also can protect LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, from being attacked by oxygen or oxidized, which makes LDL stickier and more likely to clog arteries. Additionally, these plant nutrients are thought to protect the body from the effects of aging.

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taken from here.

oh and by the way... the ONLY info i could find on the internet about almond skins being bad for the tummy... was this thread! LOL

Hey - for getting the skins off, you first soak (changing the water about every 8 hours at your convenience) for 24 hours. Then you put the almonds in warm water for 20 minutes (NOT HOT WATER!). Then, putting them between your thumb and forefinger, press hard. The skin will come off easily.

I do this rarely, but you get faster every time you do it.

I use the almonds to top on salads for company. Once you have the skin off, they will easily split in half.

Actually - I do this for group dinner parties only for the most part. That way I get help! LOL!

Thanks so much for the tips! I think, just for me and the hubby, I won't bother with the skins BUT for company.. definitely worth the effort. Especially since I want so much for one of my friends to get excited about raw food and join me in my little experiment and I think the pretty it looks the more enticing it'll be.. :D

Oh and the skin thing.. well dang I feel bad for mentioning it now but its just something I've heard over an extended period of time as rumor from various sources. I only mentioned it being when I was searching for almond skinning tips I ran across this...

From http://www.rawfoodinfo.com/recipes/glossary.html

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WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO REMOVE ALMOND SKINS?
Almond skins have a high concentration of tannic acid. Research has indicated that tannic acid may interfere with the body's uptake of iron. When you eat a lot of almonds, it might be a good idea to remove the skins. (If you are just having a handful, then you don't need to skin them.) The Merck Index states that tannic acid is highly soluble in water. Once the almonds have been soaked, I suspect a lot of the acid is leached out, but I have not had my theory tested.

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Oh and also.. http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?p=61384

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..Almond skin is high in tannin and not good for your digestive system..

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Tannic acid doesn't have me quaking in my boots or anything though. lol I love almonds and walnuts and other yummy nuts for snacking and what not and I'm honestly not worried about it. ;)

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Originally Posted by DawnSierra

I've heard over an extended period of time as rumor ....

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"Rumor" being the operative word.

As someone who's been eating raw for about 14 years now, this is the first I recall hearing this particular "rumor".

I'm very sorry I mentioned it. :(

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Originally Posted by DawnSierra

I'm very sorry I mentioned it. :(

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No! :eek: This is where others learn too! There is conflicting information all over - this forum is great to compare the "education" and experiences of others :D

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Originally Posted by LotsaRaw

No! :eek: This is where others learn too! There is conflicting all over - this forum is great to compare the "education" and experiences of others :D

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Aw thanks... I just.. arg.. I have this knack for saying THE WRONG THING. *slaps forehead* I'll just be more careful about what I say in the future.. :o

it's not about what we do or don't say... it's just that when we share, people tend to believe what they are reading. so if we are sharing something that we don't know to be true, it's best to check our facts before sharing it. ;)

i would rather benefit from the amazing antioxidant qualities than worry about the tannic acid though LOL