Record the weight edible meats, minus the weight of the container. Okay, so I had a previous post about natural dyeing, about lemongrass. So when you find pecans on the ground, it's time to gather them (or the squirrels will beat you to it). Commercial pecan processing companies have a large amount of by-product in the form of shells from the nuts they sell. You do not need any "Special Nutcracking tools". Get Recipe . Peel the green outer shell from pecans that fall from the tree and are not quite ready to eat. You can do something similar: Cover the nuts with cold water in saucepan, then heat to a boil. When applied in fall before cold weather moves in, they extend the growing season. Regular slip joint pliers are good for cracking pecan shells. Both are accurate- the vibrancy dye from pecan shells is very sensitive to light, but thus far the skein has NOT faded in any way. They are acidic with a pH of 4.34 and have high concentrations of iron, sulfate, phosphate, zinc, copper, & manganese. Taste of Home. We have bulk unshelled pecans for sale in larger quantities, too! However, there are years when pecans are affected by other factors at the time the pecan shell (not the shucks) are hardening in late August. As organic mulch, pecan shells offer even more benefits than inorganic ones such as gravel: In summer, they extend the life of heat-sensitive crops by cooling the soil. If you are still wondering how to use pecans, roast and grind them for a unique flour. They are acidic with a pH of 4.34 and have high concentrations of iron, sulfate, phosphate, zinc, copper, & manganese. Pecan Crafts. (Image credit: Erika Tracy) How to Open a Pecan Shell “The best way to open pecans is to use a hand cracker and do it one at a time,” says Little. Soaking wood chips or shells in water for about 30 minutes generates steam that adds moisture and heat to the smoking process. Pecan shells do eventually break down into the soil, but at a rate much slower than bark mulch and wood chips. Occasionally you might be able to find a nut that hasn’t gone bad when cracked if the mold on the outside hasn’t had time to find its way to the inside. How to Use Pecans . The Harrises get their pecan shell material - the shells are ground into a flour-like substance - from a mill supply house in Toccoa, Ga., usually buying in truckload lots. Remove from heat, let stand about 10 minutes, then pour off the water and let cool. While pecan shells are smooth and medium to dark brown, with an oblong shape, walnuts shells are more bulbous, with exterior ridges, and their color is light to medium brown. Caramel-Pecan Pumpkin Pull-Aparts. New Uses for Pecans. Remove any pecan kernels that are undesirable. For example, look for pecans that are shriveled and wafer-like, show signs of embryo rot, or have black spots from stink bugs. “It’s a lot of work, though. The shape of the shells interlock to resist blowing in the wind. At room temperature the shelf life is 4 months in the shell and 3 months shelled. Eat 'em all the time with these recipes for 5-star breads, pies and even dinners! The shells can be piled up and allowed to age. Pecan shells can be part of a family craft project such as creating a mosaic with the shells, beans, and other pantry staples. This attractive pecan pie is bound to please with its traditional filling and honey-glazed pecans. Shelled pecans store for up to a year when frozen in a 32-degree Fahrenheit freezer so you can shell them as soon as you get the pecans home. The pecan tree is a hickory native to North America that has been domesticated and is now grown commercially for its sweet, edible nuts. Sort through the pecans and throw out any with small holes, that rattle or that feel light compared to the other pecans. Once ready, you can harvest the pecans 1 or 2 ways: Either collect them off the ground as they fall or shake the tree to dislodge them. Protect your hands with a pair of thick leather work gloves to keep them from contacting the green outer shells of the pecans. —Cathy Hudak, Wadsworth, Ohio. 2 / 70. Paper-Shell Pecans. We do, too! Easy way how to shell and crack pecans in under 30 seconds. Green to brown shield-shaped stink bugs cause nut drop when they feed on pecans that have unhardened shells. Roasting nuts in the shell takes a little longer than roasting nuts without a shell but it will give the pecans a natural, rustic flavor. Pull each divided section with the tip of your knife until you've removed the green husk from the hard inner shell. Mature trees can produce 400-1,000 pounds of nuts per year. Place one nut between the arms of a squeeze-style nutcracker. Pecan Shells . They are also a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals such as … The nut meats themselves are used for a myriad of products. Buy our orchard fresh in shell pecans today!! Pecan shells will eventually decompose and are … The pecan will be moldy when cracked if there is mold on the outside of the shell. Gather the pecans. They help to conserve soil moisture and prevent unwanted growth. Carefully shell the pecans. 20) Infuse barbecued foods with pecan, walnut or almond essence by tossing shells directly on the fire. With such a large quantity, one might wonder what to do with pecans. Pecan Shells are a richly colored red-brown mulch used in landscaping and gardening. Press a blade into the shell until you reach the hard inner shell. :roll: Nov 30, 2005 #6 coyotewrw Newbie. This mulch may be slightly acidic, so they are especially good for use around azaleas and blueberry bushes. A nutcracker can also be used to shell pecans. A specialized inertial type pecan cracker can also be used if you want to spend the extra money. Add the pecan bits to your soil and mix them in thoroughly to produce garden mulch. Similarly, you may ask, what do they do with pecan shells? Pecan shell mulch is slightly acidic and is especially good around acid-loving plants such as azaleas. Love pecans? The bugs insert their mouthparts into the pecan… Score it by spinning the pecan as you hold the blade in place. Pecan shells have a high fiber content, which can be a great source of carbohydrates for both the crop and microorganisms in the soil. Some people place empty pistachio shells at the bottom of flower pots to help with drainage. These pecans store well in the freezer in an airtight container. Pecan Shells are a richly colored red-brown mulch used in landscaping and gardening. Pecan nuts in fact rank among the top 15 foods with the highest levels of antioxidants according to the USDA. Walnuts are the best substitute for pecans, although you would not go too far wrong using peanuts, almonds, pistachios or macadamia nuts. Often used to bake pecan pies, their taste is a bit sweeter than other types of pecans, and they get their shells that way because of how they are cultivated. “Look for pecans free of the outer husk, but with unbroken shells.” You also want the pecans to feel heavy in your hands. Pecan shells are also thinner and easier to crack. Click to see full answer. ! This can be avoided by periodically fluffing or cultivating the mulched area with a hoe or rake. They help to conserve soil moisture and prevent unwanted growth. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. One pound of fresh pecans in shell will yield about 2 cups of pecan meat. Due to the smaller size of the chips and shells, they provide a burst of natural, mild smoke flavor to foods. They decompose much more slowly — and need replacing much less frequently — than wood chips or shredded bark. Some areas sell pecan shell mulch for the bulk buyer. Easy Pecan Pie Recipe with brown sugar instead of corn syrup makes a delicious gooey pecan pie filling. Pecan shell mulch is slightly acidic and is especially good around acid-loving plants such as azaleas. 21) During Halloween season, make mini walnut Jack-o'-lanterns by gently sanding one end of each nut so they stand upright without assistance, paint them orange, and then adorn them with distinctive faces using recycled materials that you find outside or in your curbside collection bins. Honey Pecan Pie Looking for a sweet ending to a special meal? Make two circles in perpendicular intersections around the green shell. I also use old pecans the same way as the shells. Be sure to get every scrap of edible meat out of the shell. I saw a article in Texas Monthly a few years back on BBQ in Texas and one guy uses pecan shells in his BBQ business. Roasting pecans with the shell on can be performed in the same manner as roasting peanuts and other nuts in the shell. The shape of the shells interlock to resist blowing in the wind. In the refrigerator, the pecans will hold good quality for 18 months in the shell or 12 months shelled. Touching the green shells with bare skin will dye the skin black for a couple days. After a period they become mulch (shells will still be visible). Pecan shells are crushed and are either mixed directly in the soil or used to make organic fertilizers along with other natural sources. The same skein, dyed with pecan shells, under 2 different light sources, artificial and natural. The biggest advantage to these types of pecans is the fact that their shells are paper-thin, which means anyone can open them. You can paint them, use their shape to create a small animal figure like a bullfrog, or you can glue them together to create a beautiful fall wreath for the door. Pecan shells don’t mat up and make a soggy mess the same way straw, hay, and even shredded wood mulches sometimes do. This … An early freeze will do the same, but the pecans will be well filled. Homeowners should store pecans in a polyethylene bag, either in?shell or shelled, and place them in the refrigerator or the deep freeze. Pecan hulls or shells are also an option. Finally, you can also get the kids involved and get crafty with your leftover pecan shells. 1 / 70. You can use your pecan chips and shells in smoke generators, electric/gas/charcoal grills, and smoke boxes. The hazelnut shell smoke adds a mild, nutty nuance to the cheese, balancing the rich and pungent flavors. Pecan is a recommended smoking product for poultry, beef, pork, lamb, and game meats. How to make pecan pie the easy way for Thanksgiving! You can put a handful or two in your grill for a smokey favor. 6 10 Joined Nov 27, … I have used the shells in my smoker to add extra smoke, it works for me. Scrape off any leftover green spots. The key with wood chips/shells is to deny the wood of oxygen so it smolders and smokes. According to nuts.com, hard-shell pecans are selling for $6.99 per pound and paper-shell pecans are $7.49 per pound. Are raw pecans good for you? Coat the baking sheet lightly with cooking spray. This mulch will sometimes form a hard crust, however, as fungal mats develop as part of the natural decomposition process. Pecans can be dried out several different ways. I also remember an episode of Iron Chef America where Bobby Flay smoked ribs with peanut shells. Pecan shells will eventually decompose and are therefore, good candidates for your compost bin. Nutrition in a Nutshell. The hot water softens the shell slightly, and it also plumps nuts that are a little dry. Honestly, smashing the shells with a hammer on a solid surface will do the trick, but if you want a cleaner, more efficient job then choose a specially designed pecan cracker. Pecans with no shells are $13.99 per pound. The wet nuts can be spread out on newspaper to dry. This pecan shell mulch helps to retain soil moisture and can even deter slugs. Pecans are ready for harvest when the green hulls split open on the tree, dropping the nuts in their shells to the ground. Save the pecan shells. Commercial shellers use steam to soften nut shells. The pecan varieties that we sell typically yield over 50% nut meat. Cooking with pecans is, of course, the most common of pecan uses, but there are other ways of using pecans.