How to Crack and Shell Walnuts

Cracking a walnut is not an easy thing to do. Oftentimes, it’s easier to buy kernels without the shell and avoid unpleasant hassles. But if you still need to crack a walnut, our advice will help you cope with this task.

5-Minute Crafts will show you 4 ways to crack walnuts and remove their shells. The bonus part will tell you how to remove the skin from cracked walnuts.

Method #1: Using a nutcracker

1. Open the nutcracker and place the walnut in the center. Keep the nutcracker over a bowl, a towel, or a garbage bin so that the pieces of shell don’t scatter around.
2. Squeeze the nutcracker in your hands until the nut cracks.
3. Open the nutcracker, take the walnut out and remove the shell.

Method #2: Using hands

1. Place 2 walnuts in your hand. Line the nuts up so the ridge of one is slightly inserted in the indentation of the other.
2. Tightly close your hand and squeeze 2 nuts together.
3. Open your hand. If the shell has cracked, remove it from the kernel.
4. If the shell remained solid, repeat the previous steps once again. Also, this method won’t let you crack 2 walnuts at once. You’ll have to crack them one by one.

Method #3: Using a knife

1. Insert the tip of a knife into the seam or hinge of the walnut.
2. Carefully turn the knife and open the walnut.
3. Remove the shell from the kernel.

❗ Be careful when using this method — the knife may slip and cause injury.

Method #4: Using a hammer

1. Place a clean towel on a solid stable surface.
2. Put a walnut on one half of the towel, and cover it with the second half. It will prevent the pieces of the shell from scattering around.
3. Hit the hammer over the nut 2-3 times. Be careful — if you hit too hard or too many times, the kernel will simply shatter into small pieces.
4. Unfold the towel and remove the kernel from the shell with the help of a knife.

❗ Be careful when using this method — the knife or hammer may slip and cause injury.

Bonus: How to remove the skin from cracked and shelled walnuts

1. Pour water into a small pot and bring it to a boil.
2. Place walnut kernels into the pot.
3. Boil them for 8 minutes. Then take the kernels out and cool them down.
4. Carefully rub the nuts with your fingers to remove the skin. If it doesn’t separate from the kernel, use a peeler.

What other methods of cracking and shelling nuts are you aware of?