Black walnuts are a delicacy that can be enjoyed both cooked and raw. Black walnuts have a very strong flavor and should be used sparingly in cooking so they don't distract from the rest of your ingredients. Black walnuts are very tough to crack, and extreme measures are sometimes needed to separate the nut meats from the shells.
Nutcracker
One of the simplest methods for cracking a black walnut is to use a strong nutcracker. A nutcracker traditionally consists of two metal rods connected at an angle with a hinge. The nut is placed between the two rods and the rods are squeezed together. The pressure from this simple lever should crack the walnut. If the nutcracker isn't strong enough, the metal rods can bend or break.
Vise
Using a vise, a tool normally used to hold something in place in order to work on it, is an easy way to crack a black walnut if you have one handy. It works on a principle similar to that of the traditional nutcracker, except the two pieces of metal are mounted on a screw and brought together by turning a handle. Turning the handle moves one metal plate toward the other, trapping the walnut and crushing it. However, you must provide some means of catching the walnut as it breaks and falls from the vise. A vise may take more effort than a nutcracker, but is usually much more durable.
Hammer
An old-fashioned hammer or mallet can be a very effective tool for cracking a black walnut. By driving the hammer down onto the walnut, the pressure of the blow combined with the weight of the hammer head will bust the shell and allow you to pull out the meat. Don't use too much force or you will risk crushing the actual nut instead of just cracking the shell. If you choose this method of cracking a walnut, make sure you do it on a hard surface, such as a work bench or a concrete floor, that will not be damaged.
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