How to Prepare an Almond

Grown mostly in California, sweet almonds are a tasty treat raw, cooked or as an ingredient in a variety of recipes. Eat sweet almonds for your health or merely for the taste. Purchase almonds in bulk from online or local nut retailers or pick up a small package of almonds at your local grocer.

Instructions

1. Crack the almond's shell and pop a sweet almond into your mouth. Almonds are delicious eaten raw as a snack. Sliced almonds are a perfect addition to salads or cocktail mixes. For a true delicacy, try green almonds available in limited supplies each Spring. Green almonds are still in their green fuzzy covering that falls off as almonds mature.

2. Blanch an almond. Place the almond in boiling water and pull its outer brown skin off the nut. Slice blanched almonds for use in recipes or eat blanched almonds whole.

3. Roast almonds for a perfect crunchy snack. Bake almonds in a 350 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes. Try numerous seasoning recipes for roasted almonds or just add salt to your baked almonds. Store roasted almonds in airtight containers.

4. Toast almonds in a dry skillet for 2 to 5 minutes. Cook until blanched almonds turn golden brown or until the skins of the almonds begin to crack.

5. Dice, sliver or slice blanched almonds for decorative purposes. Use almonds to decorate desserts and other recipes.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy almonds shelled. Almond shells are difficult to crack.

• Use natural almonds with their skin to add more fiber to your diet.

Resources

• Visit eHow to learn how to blanch almonds.
• Visit eHow to learn how to roast almonds.