Whether or Not Nuts and Seeds Require Washing
Nuts and seeds are good sources of protein, healthy fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Their regular consumption helps regulate weight and may protect against diabetes and heart disease. In general, we have many reasons to include nuts and seeds in our diet. But after we buy them in a store, we instantly get questioned — should nuts and seeds be washed the way we wash fruits and veggies, or can we eat them without washing them first?
5-Minute Crafts is telling you wheather nuts and seeds should be washed before eating.
If nuts and seeds should be washed
In most cases, yes. Unless the package of nuts or seeds says they are ready to eat, it is best to wash them before eating or preparing food. This is especially true if you purchased them peeled, without husks or shells.
The thing is, even if nuts and seeds have been peeled before, you don’t know what could have happened to them during storage or transportation. You don’t know how they were collected, what containers they were carried in, whether all sanitary rules were followed when sorting them, etc.
How to correctly wash nuts and seeds
It’s quite easy to wash nuts and seeds:
- Take them out of the package and place them in a deep bowl.
- Pour water on the nuts and seeds.
- Take a handful in your hands and carefully rub them for several minutes. Do the same with the rest of the nuts and seeds.
- Rinse the nuts and seeds with tap water until it becomes transparent.
Note: Don’t use soap or bleach when washing them. These products can be very harmful to our bodies, so they should not be used in food preparation or pre-treatment.
If nuts and seeds should be soaked before eating
There is an opinion that nuts and seeds should be soaked in water before eating. In fact, there is no need to do it unless you prefer the taste and texture of soaked nuts. The thing is, their skin is rich in phytochemicals, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, so nuts and seeds will be even more beneficial to your health without pre-soaking.