How to Crack and Shell Walnuts: 7 Ways to Open Raw Nuts

Scientist and author, Beth is also a keen home cook. She enjoys trying new recipes.

Best Ways of Shelling and Cracking Walnuts

Most nuts are pretty easy to separate from their shells. However a walnut kernel and its crinkly outer shell often seem impossible to prise apart. Here are some good ways to crack open and shell walnuts, and get the kernel out in one piece. Some are serious and some are (just a little) tongue in cheek. You can make up your own mind which method is the most effective.

7 Ways to Crack Open Raw Walnuts

1. Hinged nutcracker.
2. Screw press nutcracker.
3. Sharp knife blade.
4. Freezing (ice crystals expand).
5. Door hinge desperado.
6. Crushing machine.
7. The hammer blow.

1. Use a Hinged or Spring-Loaded Nutcracker

A simple nutcracker is made from two pieces of metal or wood joined by a hinge. You put the nut near the hinge and grip hard. Your success at cracking a nut depends upon your personal strength. For some people this simple nutcracker is enough, but I'm not strong enough for it to work for me. An update on this classic design has a spring-loaded hinge. I like the Anwenk Heavy Duty nutcracker as it's perfect for my weak hand-grip strength. It makes shelling walnuts easy-peasy and means everyone in the family (including me) can take their turn at cracking nuts at Christmas.

2. Screw Motion or Screw Press Nutcracker

Many people need a little help with applying the pressure needed to crack walnut shells easily. This is where the screw motion or screw press nutcracker comes to the rescue. This ingenious device dates back hundreds if not thousands of years. By using a screw motion, pressure is applied onto the shell of the nut without the user having a strong hand grip themselves. My favorite is this stainless steel black walnut nutcracker. The amount of pressure used to crack the hull can be carefully regulated. This means that as soon as the walnut’s shell cracks, pressure on it can be stopped. The kernel can then be removed in one piece rather than in fragments.

Screw type nutcrackers are usually made of either wood (known as treen), or of metal (often stainless steel). There are also many examples of these type of nutcrackers made in the shape of a person as tourist souvenirs.

3. Use a Sharp Knife to Open Walnuts

If you have a steady hand (and there are no small children nearby) you could use a sharp knife to open the walnut and get the kernel out in one piece. The video below demonstrates this method. The tip of the knife is placed into the seam or hinge of the walnut. Once inserted, the knife is twisted to force open the seam. If done correctly, the shell of the walnut will split open. Please take care if you use this method, as it's easy for a knife to slip and cause injury.

How to Shell a Walnut With a Pointed Knife

4. Freezing Method Works for Quantity

Using a freezer to crack open walnuts relies on the chemistry of water changing from a liquid into a solid. Put the walnuts into a freezer bag and seal. Place the sealed bag into the freezer for several hours. The water present in the nuts and their shells freezes. Water expands as it freezes and so the shells will split open.

This method works well for walnuts intend using for baking or cooking. This is because the expansion and contraction of the water within the nuts causes the kernels to become slightly soft and flabby tasting. If you use this method and intend eating the walnuts as a snack, you will need to roast or cook them before eating.

5. Rough and Ready Method Using a Door Hinge

If all else fails you can use a door hinge. With this rough and ready method the walnut kernel is undamaged (although I cannot guarantee that the doorjamb will remain unmarked!)

• Find a suitable door with a hinge in good condition.
• With the door open, place the walnut in the hinge between the door jamb and the door.
• Close the door so that the hinge presses tight onto the nut. You will hear a cracking sound as the shell splinters.
• Carefully pick out the kernel from among the debris (and eat).

6. Separating Walnuts from their Hulls in Quantity

If you grow and pick your own walnuts, you may want to de-hull a lot of nuts quickly and cheaply. One way to do this is by placing the crop in a wire cage, and then smashing the walnuts together using water and a pressure hose. When the weather is hot, this is a fun way to complete your harvest. However this often results in the nuts being reduced to a mess of shell and kernel that need to be sieved apart again. The valuable part is the walnut kernel, the broken shells can be used as fuel in a wood-burning stove.

7. Cracking Walnuts With a Hammer Blow

Have you heard the expression "taking a sledge-hammer to crack a nut"? It literally means using disproportionate force to achieve a simple aim.

• Take a hammer.
• Lift.
• Strike the walnut.

Unfortunately, the result is that the nut is smashed along with the shell. Unless you have the patience of Job and pick out the fragments of edible kernel from amongst the broken shell pieces, this is not a good method. However, if you are of a gentle and patient disposition, it is possible to gently tap the walnut with a small hammer and by tapping (not hitting) the shell, can achieve good results.

Is it OK to Roast Walnuts in Their Shell?

I like to eat walnuts raw even though their shells are awkward to remove. Some people prefer to eat them roasted as this makes de-husking less of an issue. You can roast walnuts in the oven at 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes. Spread them out on baking sheets. If they're too close together they will take longer to cook. Allow the nuts to cool before attempting to remove the shells. The roasted husk is brittle and should be easier to crack than that of an unroasted nut. Use a food pick to help you prise every last piece of the kernel away from the shell.

Can You Crack a Walnut Using Just Your Bare Hands?

Yes, some people can, but I've never been able to. N.B. This method is not recommended. Cracking walnuts with your bare hands can hurt like hell. To succeed you'll need strong hands, a grip like steel, and a tough-as-leather thick skin.

Put two nuts in the palm of one hand. Close your fingers around the walnuts. Squeeze hard. Use your other hand around the first to increase the pressure. With a great deal of effort and force, the nuts will crack open.

Why Do Some People Soak Walnut Kernels Before Eating?

I prefer to eat my walnuts straight after removing the outer shell. However, fresh nuts can be tough to chew if you wear dentures or have other dental problems. Soaking them in water for a few hours can help to soften them without losing their nutritious value.

How To Shell and Open Every Type of Nut

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.