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In recent weeks, I have become reobsessed with Nutella which prompted me purchase a bag of hazelnuts (aka filberts) which had their skins intact. One of the recipes that I was playing around with called for peeled hazelnuts, but I figured they would be a cinch to remove – however, I quickly realized that was not the case. Hazelnut skins are stubborn – mighty stubborn.
Since picking papery peels off of 1 cup of hazelnuts sounded less than awesome, I did a little research and decided to use the roast and rub method. Essentially you roast the hazelnuts at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until the nuts have darkened a bit and you can smell the nutty goodness wafting through your kitchen. Next, you place the hot nuts into a slightly dampened kitchen towel and rub the skins off using the towel. Apparently the combination of moisture and heat helps to loosen the skins. Well, this worked – sort of.
After rubbing and rubbing and rubbing, many of the hazelnuts were still flecked with pieces of brown skin which pretty much annoyed the heck out of me. I knew there had to be a better way. Again, I turned to Google and happened to stumble upon a method from Alice Medrich.
Basically you boil the hazelnuts in baking soda and water for a few minutes then immerse them in cold water before you peel the skins away. This technique enabled my perfectionist self to easily remove every single piece of hazelnut skin with ease! Now don’t get me wrong, this is still a bit of process, so don’t expect the skins to magically disappear, but I will tell you it works like a charm and is actually kind of fun!
Alice Medrich demonstrated this method to Julia Child while making Hazelnut Biscotti – you catch the entire process and Julia’s reaction to this method by watching the YouTube video below.
How To Peel Hazelnuts
Ingredients:
- 2 cups boiling water
- 3 tablespoons baking soda
- 1 cup hazelnuts
Directions:
- In a medium saucepan with high sides, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add 3 tablespoons of baking soda to the water – the water will foam up.
- Add the nuts to the boiling water and boil for about 3 minutes. The water will turn black – don’t be alarmed. While the hazelnuts are boiling, prepare a medium bowl of ice cold water. After three minutes, use a slotted spoon to remove one test nut, placing the nut into the prepared bowl of ice water. Use your fingers to remove the skin, if the skin doesn’t come off easily, boil the nuts 1-2 minutes longer and try another test nut.
- When a test skin rubs right off, add the rest of the nuts to the ice water and peel them with ease.
- Place peeled nuts into a kitchen towel or paper towels and dry them thoroughly.
- If desired, toast the peeled and dried hazelnuts at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes - trust me it's so worth it!
- Method from Alice Medrich
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I love this!! I usually end up paying the extra money to buy the peeled filberts, but this is great for when I can’t find those! I’ve never heard to boil them with baking soda, awesome.
Like you I rekindled my love for hazelnuts this fall! Boy did I have big plans to use anew bag I bought for holiday baking. Well, like you I detest skinning them. Every time I went to make something with them I just grab my walnuts, almonds, or pecan instead! Why the whole processes of removing the skins, thanks for digging deeper and finding and sharing this simple method. Something old is new again and now I can start baking/cooking with my hazelnuts.
So awesome! I’m going to turn my mother onto this method…then she can make me her amazing hazelnut cake..
Very interesting….I always do it the first way..never get all the peels off.
Wow, I’ve never peeled them this way before. Thanks, Jamie!
This is good information to have!
I’ve used hazelnuts in many of my cookie recipes for family and friends. They are great crushed up in many yummy treats!!! Thanks for the great tips!
Interesting…I’ve done the rub them clean method and you’re right…no way it gets rid of all the skins. Which doesn’t bother me like it does you. :)
But I have to try this. Just cause…maybe I want to see that dark water!
Wow thats great to but oddly enough I love all nuts, but not a huge fan of hazelnuts, weird I know!!
I’ve used this technique many times…. interesting how the water turns a deep black color, don’t you think?
:)
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