Higher quality gourmet nuts are packed with flavor and used in hundreds of ways.
A nut may be classified as gourmet for several reasons: its size, how it is roasted or the quality of the nut itself. There are several varieties of nuts, but almonds, pecans and peanuts may be the most popular in America. Peanuts are really legumes, but many people think of them as nuts.
Higher quality gourmet nuts are packed with flavor and used in hundreds of ways. They can be eaten raw, smoked, roasted or baked, mixed into salads, main courses and desserts, blended with spices, ground into butters or pressed into oils.
On the healthy side, nuts seem to produce modest declines in cholesterol, says the Harvard University Medical School, but when they are combined with other healthful foods, the results can be spectacular.
Gourmet Almonds
The highest grade "fancy" and "extra No. 1" almonds typically have the best visual appeal, crunch and taste.
Almonds are California's largest tree nut crop in dollar value and acreage, according to the Almond Board of California. Small wonder almonds rank as the largest U.S. specialty crop export.
Natural, blanched, roasted, flavored or covered in dark chocolate, gourmet almond lovers look for the "fancy" or "extra No. 1" grades. These highest-grade almonds typically have the best visual appeal, crunch and taste. Many gourmet almond sellers also roast batches in smaller quantities to ensure more uniform quality.
If you're ordering direct, buy during or just after the mid-August through October harvest season to get the freshest, tastiest almonds.
Whole natural almonds can be stored for almost two years if you keep them sealed, cool ( 40 degrees F or less) and dry (65 percent relative humidity or less). The Almond Board suggests roasted almonds be stored in containers, resealable plastic bags or vacuum packed to stay fresh and flavorful.
Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats, the same type of health-promoting fats as are found in olive oil, which have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease, according to WHFoods.org.
Gourmet Peanuts
Shelled peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free.
Peanuts account for two-thirds of all snack nuts gobbled up by Americans, according to the National Peanut Board.
The best gourmet peanuts come in two sizes; USDA Grade Fancy or USDA Grade Jumbo.
There are several varieties of peanuts, but the Virginia peanut has the largest kernels and accounts for most of the peanuts roasted and processed in-the-shell, according to the Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina Peanut Boards. When shelled, many of the larger Virginia peanut kernels are sold as gourmet snack peanuts. Most come roasted in flavors ranging from spicy-hot and salted, to honey and dry roasted. Some gourmet peanuts are "blister" roasted to give them a crunchier taste.
Shelled peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free and, according to WHFoods.org, will keep in the refrigerator for three months or in the freezer for up to six months.
Gourmet Pecans
Color is an important quality indicator in pecans. Lighter colored pecans are generally considered more attractive.
Americans love pecans. Eaten raw, roasted, as chocolate-caramel "turtles," sugary pralines or pecan pie, 400 million pounds of pecans were harvested in 2007. Pecans are also loaded with 19 vitamins and minerals--including vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, several B vitamins and zinc, says the National Pecan Shellers Association.
Gourmet pecans come in "fancy" and "choice," or in the USDA grade of "U.S. No.1 halves." The freshest pecans mature in mid-October and are harvested through December.
Look for plump gourmet pecans that are uniform in color and size. "Mammoth," "extra large" and "large" top the pecan size chart. For color, lighter pecans are generally considered more attractive, says the Commercial Users Guide for Georgia Pecans.
Pecans can turn rancid if stored improperly. Fortunately, they stay fresh for up to two years if kept in a sealed bag or container and stored in the freezer.
Tags: according WHFoods, Almond Board, almonds stored, almonds typically, almonds typically have, appeal crunch, appeal crunch taste
