Transfer the nuts to a bowl of ice water with a slotted spoon, drain, and slip the skins off with a towel. The hot alkaline water quickly breaks down the pectin, the primary component in the skins, allowing them to peel off not only more easily but also more completely.
Is there an easy way to peel hazelnuts? I usually toast them in a hot oven for about 10 minutes, then rub them together in a tea towel, but I often find that only some of the skins come off and it seems like a very labor-intensive process. Anybody have a better way? Recommended by Food52
Basically you boil the hazelnuts in baking soda and water for a few minutes then immerse them in cold water before you peel the skins away. This technique enabled my perfectionist self to easily remove every single piece of hazelnut skin with ease! Now don’t get me wrong, this is still a bit of process, so don’t expect the skins to magically disappear, but I will tell you it works like a charm and is actually kind of fun!
After rubbing and rubbing and rubbing, many of the hazelnuts were still flecked with pieces of brown skin which pretty much annoyed the heck out of me. I knew there had to be a better way. Again, I turned to Google and happened to stumble upon a method from Alice Medrich.
Since picking papery peels off of 1 cup of hazelnuts sounded less than awesome, I did a little research and decided to use the roast and rub method. Essentially you roast the hazelnuts at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until the nuts have darkened a bit and you can smell the nutty goodness wafting through your kitchen. Next, you place the hot nuts into a slightly dampened kitchen towel and rub the skins off using the towel. Apparently the combination of moisture and heat helps to loosen the skins. Well, this worked – sort of.
In recent weeks, I have become reobsessed with Nutella which prompted me purchase a bag of hazelnuts (aka filberts) which had their skins intact. One of the recipes that I was playing around with called for peeled hazelnuts, but I figured they would be a cinch to remove – however, I quickly realized that was not the case. Hazelnut skins are stubborn – mighty stubborn.
Alice Medrich demonstrated this method to Julia Child while making Hazelnut Biscotti – you catch the entire process and Julia’s reaction to this method by watching the YouTube video below.
The Fastest and Easiest Way to Remove Skin From Hazelnuts!
FAQ
How do you toast hazelnuts and remove skin?
How do you peel nuts easily?
How do you peel hazelnuts?
Fold one end of the towel of the dried boiled nuts and rub the skin off of the nut. Repeat if necessary. If you are going the peeling route first you will place the nuts into a towel and fold the towel over the nuts. Use a firm hand on top of the towel to rub the skin off of the hazelnut.
Are hazelnuts healthy?
Hazelnuts are a healthy food, as they are a quick source of energy and an easy source of plant-based protein. They improve heart health, due to the omega-3 fatty acids content. They also reduce cancer risk, as hazelnuts contain vitamin E, which helps protect cells against the types of cellular damage that can lead to cancer. The daily recommendation, is up to 1. 5 ounces (56. 7 grams) of hazelnuts.
Do hazelnuts Peel well?
Not all of the hazelnuts will peel perfectly but you can try to roast these ones longer to get the skins off. Let them cool completely, then store in a sealed container for up to 3 months in a cool dark place.
Can you cook peeled hazelnuts in the oven?
Although, peeled hazelnuts will need less time in the oven. It may be tempting to use a pan to roast the nuts but this is bad practice. When using a pan you get uneven heat and you can easily burn them if not careful. It’s always better to roast nuts on a sheet tray in the oven for nice even browning.