How to Crack Open Black Walnuts

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The strong, earthy flavor of a black walnut is one that can’t be beat. Notoriously hard, these nuts can be tough to crack—but with a little technique and persistence, you’ll be able to enjoy your black walnuts in no time. Grab a hammer, some cutting pliers, and a pile of walnuts to get started!

1

Dry the walnuts for 2 to 3 weeks.

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  1. If you harvested the walnuts yourself, store them in a large pile in a well ventilated area, like a garage. Try to keep them away from moisture to avoid mold and rot. [1]
    • Watch out for squirrels! Critters love to eat black walnuts.
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2

Set the walnut on top of a rock.

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  1. Instead, find a large, solid rock that’s mostly flat to use for your walnut breaking surface. If you have a spice grinder, that works too. [2]
    • Anything made of basalt is usually strong enough to stand up to black walnuts.
3

Hit the walnut with a hammer until you hear a crack.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Crack Open Black Walnuts
    Carefully hold a hammer over the nut with your other hand (try to keep your fingers out of the way). Using steady, even pressure, hit the walnut with the hammer 3 to 4 times in the same spot until you hear a slight cracking noise. [3]
    • If you can tell where the seam is on your walnut, try to aim for that area. It can be a little hard to see though, so don’t worry if you can’t find it.
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4

Rotate the walnut to a different side.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Crack Open Black Walnuts
    Rotate the walnut about 1/3 of the way, then pinch it between your fingers again. Use the hammer to hit the walnut 3 to 4 times until you hear a crack in the new spot, then rotate the walnut and hit it again. [4]
    • Keep rotating and using the hammer until parts of the shell fall apart. Depending on the size of the walnut, this could take a full circular rotation.
5

Pry the nuts out of the shells with your hands.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Crack Open Black Walnuts
    Carefully pry the nuts out of the shells, trying not to crack them as you do. Use your fingernails to really dig them out and separate the nuts from the shells. [5]
    • This can be tough to do by hand, especially if it’s your first time. Don’t give up!
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6

Use cutting pliers on tough shells.

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  1. Gently cut the shell surrounding the nut into little bits so you can carefully scrape them away. In time, you’ll be able to free the nut from its shell. [6]
    • You can find cutting pliers at most hardware stores.

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      Tips

      • Don’t swing the hammer down too hard—the aim is to crack the walnut shells, not smash them.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2008/11/05/96258175/coaxing-the-black-walnut-out-of-its-shell
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=61&v=SkvP7M6Kz3c&feature=youtu.be
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=142&v=SkvP7M6Kz3c&feature=youtu.be
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=159&v=SkvP7M6Kz3c&feature=youtu.be
      5. ↑ https://foragerchef.com/guide-to-black-walnuts/
      6. ↑ https://foragerchef.com/guide-to-black-walnuts/

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