How to Soak Raw Nuts

Soaking nuts makes them tender.

Soaking raw nuts softens them and is a way to infuse nuts with flavor. It may make nuts more digestible and increase vitamin content by stimulating germination. You can steep nuts in a suitable marinade to flavor them for a recipe, or just in cold water. Soaking is also a way to revive nuts that have dried out during storage.

Things You'll Need

• Bowl
• Sugar or salt
• Spoon
• Towel
• Sieve

Instructions

1. Fill the bowl with shelled nuts and at least twice as much water as the nuts. The nuts absorb a lot of the water as they soak.

2. Add about 1/2 tsp. of sugar or a 1/4 tsp. of salt per cup of nuts and stir if you wish your nuts to have a slight savory or sweet taste.

3. Cover the bowl with the towel to keep out dust and insects and leave it for about four hours.

4. Drain the nuts using the sieve and rinse.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want the nuts to begin germination, leave them soaking for up to 12 hours. Some nuts, such as cashews, become bitter if soaked for more than five or six hours.

References

• VegHealthGuide: Nuts and Seeds

Resources

• Yoga Journal: Raw Cashew Cheesecake