How to Get the Skins Off of Almonds

The brown skin of almonds holds fast to the nut and removing it will take more than one step.

Almond skin has a fibrous texture and slightly bitter flavor some find distasteful and distracting from the natural taste of the nut. Removing the skins will bring out the natural sweetness of the almonds more than using the nuts with their skins intact.Getting the skins off almonds requires warming the nuts in boiling water and slipping off the skins. Boiling loosens the tough skins from the almonds, allowing you to pop the nuts out of their skins.

Things You'll Need

• Saucepan
• Shelled almonds
• Colander

Instructions

1. Combine the shelled almonds with enough water to cover them in a saucepan. Bring the pan to a boil over medium-high heat.

2. Boil the almonds for two to three minutes.

3. Pour the almonds through the colander held over a sink.

4. Rinse the almonds in the colander with cold, running water until the nuts cool.

5. Hold each almond between your thumb and forefinger and squeeze to pop the almond out of the skin. Repeat with the remaining almonds.

6. Use the skinless almonds in any recipe calling for blanched almonds.

References

• Michigan State University Extension; Preserving Food Safely -- Blanching Nuts; August 3, 1999
• "The Science of Good Food"; David Joachim, et al.; 2008