The Script: How to Crack Black Walnuts
Tools
Crusher: There are other good crushers on the market. I have been pleased with the combination of power and control that I have with the one pictured. There is no comparison between the function of this tool and a vise or a hammer for instance.
Screw Driver: I find this tool to be very helpful in separating the shards of the cracked shell. It is not so much a pry as a gentle tease to separate the shell fragments without bruising or breaking the nut-meats. It is certainly not used as a nut pick.
Diagonal Electrician’s wire cutter: This sturdy tool is the closest we come to the powerful teeth of a squirrel. Used properly it can greatly enhance pleasure and productivity when shelling this hard nut.
Wearing a glove on the left hand makes it possible to reduce the shower of shrapnel from the fracturing shell while protecting your fingers from that shrapnel.
External Walnut anatomy
The Blossom End of the Walnut shows itself with a bit of a point.
The Stem End of the Walnut tends to be flat and will sometimes have a bit of a depression.
The importance of making this distinction will be shown in the crush; in the inspection following the crush; and in the use of the Diagonal Cutter in step four below.
Crushing the shell
Lining up the Stem/Blossom axis in the crusher. This exposes the Blossom End to the full force of the crusher resulting in complete loss of structure of this end of the nut as well as a number of cracks in the rest of the shell extending to the Stem End.
Inspecting the crushed shell and use of the Screw Driver. Note that the damage is primarily at the Blossom end of the nut while longer cracks extend through to the Stem End.
Getting a look inside. Note how the nut typically falls apart into four quadrants each of which contains a plump nut-meat.
Internal Walnut anatomy
You will see that the nut naturally falls into Four Quarters plus a bridge, or connector, as exposed by the initial crush and use of the Screw Driver. Note that the “bridge” is found at the Blossom end of the nut. The initial crush will almost always shear the “bridge” from the four quarters. This is no great loss and the resulting fragment is also useable.
Use of the Diagonal Cutter will help to expose the undamaged quarters. This step emphasizes again the importance of distinguishing between the Stem and Blossom ends of the nut. Using this tool at the Blossom End almost always yields frustration.
Always approach the nut from the Stem End when using the Diagonal Cutter.
Summary
The combination of a very hard shell of the Black Walnut, and nut-meats that almost fill the four compartments means that there is very little room for error in crushing the shell. Too much pressure and the nut-meats will be crushed beyond recognition and will have tiny fragments of shell that will break (your) teeth if not removed. Too little pressure and you will be frustrated by the many cuts you will have to make in order to expose the nut-meats.
Using a good crusher which allows for fine control of the amount of pressure is essential to a good result. The additional use of the screw driver and the diagonal cutter will reduce frustration and enhance output and the quality of the product. The resulting bounty of flavor, texture and beauty will be enjoyed even by those persons who lack the patience and sharp teeth of a squirrel.
18 янв 2015
