How to Peel Walnut Skin

Walnut skin can be removed by soaking in hot water, tapping lightly on the back of a knife, steaming and softening, and other methods. Walnut outer skin contains tannic acid, with a bitter taste. Peeling can enhance the eating experience, but retaining some of the outer skin also has certain nutritional value. Soak walnuts in boiling water for a few minutes, then rub them with your hands until the water temperature drops slightly. The outer skin will naturally peel off due to thermal expansion and contraction. This method is suitable for large-scale processing, but it should be noted that high water temperature may damage the unsaturated fatty acids inside walnuts. Walnuts with shells can be lightly tapped along the gap with the back of a knife until cracks appear, then picked out with a toothpick or specialized tool, and finally scraped off the remaining brown skin with a fingernail. This method can maximize the integrity of the nuts, but it requires certain skills.

Steam shelled walnuts in water for five minutes, and the woody outer shell will soften due to water vapor infiltration. After clamping the outer shell with pliers, the inner shell will naturally separate from the kernel. This method is the most thorough for peeling, but high temperatures may cause some vitamins to be lost. Special varieties such as cardboard walnuts can be directly pinched and cracked by hand, and their inner film is loosely bound to the nuts, which can be easily separated by gently tearing. For difficult to remove residual skin in the gaps, coarse salt particles can be used to wrap walnuts and rub them, using friction to remove them.

Walnut endothelium contains antioxidants and dietary fiber, and complete peeling may result in loss of some nutrients. If it is used for baking or cooking Congee, it can retain the endothelium to enhance the flavor. It is recommended to refrigerate the processed walnut kernels to avoid the oxidation of oil and the production of a rancid taste. The daily intake should be controlled within 20 grams, and people with yin deficiency and excessive fire constitution should reduce their intake. Walnut peel extract can be used to make natural dyes, and the peeled hard shell can be crushed and used as a horticultural paving material.