How To Get Black Walnuts Out Of The Shell

Getting black walnuts out of the shell is a labor of love, but it’s totally doable with the right approach.

 

If you’ve ever cracked open a black walnut, you know these nuts don’t give up their treasures easily.

 

Their shells are incredibly hard, much tougher than regular English walnuts, so getting black walnuts out of the shell takes some patience and the right techniques.

 

The good news is that once you know how to get black walnuts out of the shell properly, you’ll be rewarded with rich, flavorful nutmeats that are perfect for baking, snacking, or gifting.

 

In this post, we’ll walk through the best ways to get black walnuts out of the shell, including how to harvest them, dry them, crack them, and pick out the nutmeats without smashing them to bits.

 

Let’s dive in.

 

How to Get Black Walnuts Out of the Shell

Getting black walnuts out of the shell starts long before you actually crack them open.

 

The key is proper harvesting and curing, because if you skip these steps, the shells will be even harder to work with and the nutmeats won’t taste as good.

 

Here’s the process broken down into simple steps.

 

1. Harvest Black Walnuts at the Right Time

To get black walnuts out of the shell successfully, you need to start with mature nuts.

 

Black walnuts are ready to harvest in the fall, usually from September through October, when the outer green husks turn yellow and start to soften.

 

You’ll often find them scattered on the ground after a good wind or rain.

 

Gather them promptly because the longer they sit, the more likely insects or mold will get to them.

 

2. Remove the Outer Husks

Before you can even think about getting black walnuts out of the shell, you need to remove the fleshy outer husk.

 

This husk is the green or black layer surrounding the hard shell inside.

 

You can stomp on them with boots, roll them under your foot on a hard surface, or use a corn sheller.

 

Just be warned, black walnut husks stain everything they touch, so wear old clothes and gloves.

 

3. Cure the Nuts Properly

Curing is the secret step that makes getting black walnuts out of the shell much easier later on.

 

After husking, spread the nuts in a single layer in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from squirrels.

 

Let them cure for at least two weeks, sometimes up to four to six weeks.

 

Curing dries out the shell and shrinks the nutmeat slightly, which makes it easier to separate when you crack them.

 

Best Methods for Cracking Black Walnuts

Now that your nuts are cured, it’s time to actually get black walnuts out of the shell.

 

There are a few tried-and-true methods you can use depending on what tools you have.

 

1. Use a Hammer and Hard Surface

The most old-school way to get black walnuts out of the shell is with a hammer.

 

Place the nut on a hard, flat surface like a concrete patio or a heavy cutting board and give it a firm, controlled tap.

 

You want to crack the shell without pulverizing the nutmeat inside.

 

A gentle tap on the pointed end usually does the trick, then you can peel away the shell pieces.

 

2. Try a Bench Vise

If you’ve got a bench vise in your garage, you’re in luck.

 

A vise gives you controlled pressure, which is great for getting black walnuts out of the shell without crushing the kernels.

 

Place the nut in the vise and slowly tighten until you hear the shell crack.

 

Then release, rotate the nut, and tighten again until it splits open.

 

3. Use a Nutcracker Designed for Hard Shells

Not all nutcrackers are created equal.

 

For getting black walnuts out of the shell, you need a heavy-duty nutcracker made for hard-shell nuts.

 

These often look like a lever-style cracker with a ratcheting mechanism or a screw-type cracker that applies steady pressure.

 

They’re slower than a hammer, but they give you more control and less broken nutmeat.

 

4. Freeze Them First

Here’s a trick many people don’t know about getting black walnuts out of the shell.

 

Pop your cured nuts in the freezer for a couple of hours before cracking.

 

The cold makes the shell more brittle, so it cracks more cleanly and the nutmeat pops out more easily.

 

Just don’t freeze them for too long or the nutmeat can become mushy after thawing.

 

Tips for Picking Out the Nutmeats

Once the shell is cracked, getting black walnuts out of the shell still requires a bit of finesse.

 

Use a pick or a small screwdriver to gently pry the nutmeat free from the shell fragments.

 

Don’t rush this part, because black walnut shells are sharp and can cut your fingers.

 

A good tip is to crack several nuts at once and then pick them all in one sitting, it saves time and keeps you in a rhythm.

 

Also, don’t worry if the nutmeats come out in pieces rather than whole.

 

That’s totally normal with black walnuts, and the pieces taste just as good in recipes.

 

So, How Do You Get Black Walnuts Out of the Shell?

Getting black walnuts out of the shell comes down to harvesting at the right time, removing the husks, curing the nuts thoroughly, and then using a controlled cracking method like a hammer, vise, or heavy-duty nutcracker.

 

Freezing the nuts before cracking and using a pick to extract the nutmeats makes the whole process smoother.

 

With a little patience, you’ll be enjoying fresh black walnuts in your favorite recipes in no time.

 

So go grab those nuts and start cracking, because getting black walnuts out of the shell is worth every bit of effort.