I got a bunch of (dried) almonds in their shell today. I wasn't aware of how hard their shells were and I have no nutcracker. Is there any way to open them without one?
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Use pliers--preferably flatnose--as a nutcracker, if you have a pair.– SAJ14SAJJan 5, 2013 at 2:16
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1Do you have pliers? Clamps? Vice grips? A hammer with a hard surface?– Jacob GJan 5, 2013 at 2:16
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Actually none of the above at the moment. Not even a heavy cast iron pan. I tried to crack them between two cutting boards, but I couldn't keep the nut whole.– citizenJan 5, 2013 at 2:23
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1Rocks are hammers and anvils if you look at them right. Wash carefully before use. Smashed nutmeat may be a risk. Also, avoid squirrels.– SAJ14SAJJan 5, 2013 at 2:59
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2If the goal is to keep the nut meat whole, then you'll probably need to bite the bullet and get the right tool - either a nutcracker or pliers. Borrow from a neighbor, friend or colleague?– Kristina LopezJan 5, 2013 at 15:52
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2 Answers
To summarize the comments:
- Use common household tools (such as pliers) as improvised nutcrackers
- Try using the bottle gripper/opener on kitchen shears as an improvised nutcracker
- Use impact tools, such as a hammer, a heavy pan, or even cleaned rocks as nut smashers, but you may not get whole nutmeats with this method
- Bite the bullet and buy or borrow a nutcracker
(This is part of my little quest to get answers to some of the non-answered questions....)
answered Jan 21, 2013 at 19:29
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Note another drawback of impact tools - the shell will fly in small pieces all around you at high speeds. Difficult to clean, and can scratch sensitive surfaces (shouldn't have enough power to hurt a person even with a very unlucky hit).– rumtscho ♦Jan 21, 2013 at 20:24
Easy you just chuck it on any floor i just did 5 now
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1Presumably not any floor will do. Possibly a tiled, stone or concrete floor. I also wonder how much time you spent looking for the freed nut and cleaning the floor post-shelling. Jan 11, 2015 at 19:36