How to Dry English Walnut Shells

Walnut nuts not only provide nutrients, but the shells also contains vitamins and minerals.

English walnuts are cured as soon as they have developed and fallen off the tree. The usual method for shelling and curing the nuts consists of soaking the walnuts in water for 24 hours. The hard cover is then broken off the nut and usually discarded. However, these shells have valuable properties that can be used in numerous ways. When retaining the shells after this process, they must be dried in order to be stored or used. An easy process, drying English walnut shells is quick and allows the shells to be used for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Baking sheet
• Cloth bags

Instructions

1. Place the English walnut shells on the baking sheet in one even layer.

2. Preheat the oven to 215 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook for 20 minutes.

4. Remove the walnut shells and allow them to cool.

5. Place the shells in the cloth bag and store for up to three months in a dry, cool pantry or indefinitely in the freezer.

Tips & Warnings

• After dried and crushed, English walnut shells can be used to make dyes for cloth, mulch for gardens, or blended and mixed in to recipes to add nutrients.

• If the nuts have been shelled while kept dry, the shells can be utilized right away without baking.

• Discard any nuts that float when placed in water -- they have either been affected by fungus or insects.

References

• Tom Clothier: Growing & Processing Black Walnuts
• University of Minnesota: Harvesting Black Walnuts
• Arlene Wright-Correll: What to do with Black Walnut Shells and Hulls
• Texas A&M University: Walnuts
• American Botanical Council: English Walnuts

Resources

• California Walnuts: Walnuts and Health