Garden expert explains how to eat and enjoy black walnuts
MANHATTAN (KSNT) - A Kansas gardening expert is giving out her advice on how to eat and enjoy black walnuts this fall.
Cynthia Domenghini, a horticulture expert with Kansas State University, said in a recent publication that black walnuts are starting to drop as fall moves forward. People who want to get the most out of the walnuts they find outside will need to follow a few tips and tricks to successfully harvest and cure them.
Domenghini said the first step after collecting black walnuts is to remove the outer layer, referred to as the hull. Taking this off can prevent a staining process from happening which discolors the inner meat and gives it an undesirable flavor.
“Black walnuts are ready to be harvested when the hull can be dented with your thumb,” Domenghini said. “You can also wait until the nuts start falling from the tree.”
People who are taking the hull of the black walnuts are encouraged to wear gloves as they could get a stain on their hands or clothes which is nearly impossible to remove. Black walnuts can be run through a corn sheller, driven over while on a gravel driveway or pounded through holes in a board to get the hull off.
“The hole must be big enough for the nut, but smaller than the hull,” Domenghini said.
Domenghini said the nuts can be dried by spreading them in no more than three layers deep in a dry, cool area like a garage or tool shed. The walnuts should be dry after two weeks and ready to be eaten or added to another fall dish.
Black walnut trees can be found in central and eastern parts of Kansas, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Farmer's Almanac recommends getting ahold of black walnuts early as they are a food source for hungry squirrels and can grow mold. Harvested black walnuts can be used to make flour, cookies, ice cream and be eaten raw.
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