How To Tell If Black Walnuts Are Good

You can tell if black walnuts are good by checking their weight, smell, and the sound they make when you shake them.
 
If you’re wondering how to tell if black walnuts are good, the answer starts with a few simple sensory tests you can do right at home.
 
Black walnuts are good when they feel heavy for their size, have a clean nutty aroma, and rattle slightly when shaken.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through how to tell if black walnuts are good, from the float test to cracking one open, so you never waste time on bad nuts again.
 
Let’s dive in.
 

How to Tell If Black Walnuts Are Good: The Key Signs

Knowing how to tell if black walnuts are good comes down to a few reliable checks.
 
Here’s what to look for.
 

1. Check the Weight and Feel

Good black walnuts feel heavy and solid in your hand.
 
A black walnut that’s good will have a dense, substantial weight because the nut meat inside is fully developed.
 
If a black walnut feels light or hollow, that’s a sign the kernel inside has shriveled or dried out.
 
You can compare a few nuts side by side, and the heavier ones are almost always the better black walnuts.
 

2. Give Them the Shake Test

Pick up a black walnut and shake it near your ear.
 
A good black walnut will rattle slightly because the kernel has shrunk a bit during curing and moves inside the shell.
 
If you hear nothing at all, the kernel may still be too moist or stuck to the shell.
 
If it rattles loudly like a marble in a can, the kernel may be too small or dried out.
 
So a soft, subtle rattle is the sweet spot for black walnuts that are good.
 

3. Do the Float Test

Drop your black walnuts into a bowl of water.
 
Good black walnuts will sink to the bottom because they’re dense and full of kernel.
 
Bad black walnuts will float, which usually means the kernel is hollow, shriveled, or eaten away by insects.
 
Any black walnut that floats should be tossed aside right away.
 

4. Smell and Inspect the Shell

A good black walnut has a faint, earthy, nutty smell with no mustiness.
 
If a black walnut smells sour, moldy, or rancid, it’s past its prime and not worth cracking.
 
Look at the shell too, and a good black walnut will have a hard, intact hull with no cracks, holes, or dark soft spots.
 
Small holes often mean insects got inside, so skip those black walnuts.
 

Cracking One Open to Confirm Quality

The most reliable way to tell if black walnuts are good is to crack one open and look inside.
 
Here’s what a good black walnut looks like on the inside.
 

1. Plump, Light-Colored Kernel

A good black walnut has a plump kernel with a light tan or creamy color.
 
If the kernel is dark brown, shriveled, or rubbery, that black walnut isn’t good.
 
Healthy kernel should fill most of the shell cavity and feel firm to the touch.
 

2. Fresh, Nutty Taste

Take a small bite, and a good black walnut tastes rich, earthy, and slightly bold.
 
If it tastes bitter, soapy, or oily in a bad way, the black walnut has gone rancid.
 
Rancid black walnuts contain oils that have spoiled, and eating them isn’t pleasant or healthy.
 

3. No Mold or Webbing

Check the inside of the shell for mold, webbing, or fine dust.
 
A good black walnut will be clean inside with no signs of pests or fungal growth.
 
If you see any webbing or powdery residue, that black walnut is not good and should be discarded.
 

Storing Black Walnuts So They Stay Good

Once you’ve confirmed your black walnuts are good, proper storage keeps them that way.
 
Here’s how to protect your harvest.
 

1. Dry Them Thoroughly First

Fresh black walnuts need to cure in a cool, dry, ventilated spot for a few weeks.
 
Good black walnuts are dry enough when the shells feel hard and the kernels snap instead of bending.
 

2. Keep Them Cool and Dark

Store good black walnuts in mesh bags or breathable containers, not sealed plastic.
 
Keep them in a cool, dark place, and for longer storage, shell the kernels and freeze them.
 
Frozen black walnuts stay good for up to two years when stored properly.
 

3. Watch for Signs of Spoilage

Check your stored black walnuts every few months.
 
If any start to smell off or show mold, remove them so they don’t ruin the good black walnuts around them.
 

So, How Can You Tell If Black Walnuts Are Good?

You can tell if black walnuts are good by checking their weight, sound, smell, and kernel color.
 
Good black walnuts feel heavy, rattle softly, smell nutty, and have plump, light-colored kernels inside.
 
Bad black walnuts float, feel light, smell musty, or taste bitter and rancid.
 
Use the float test, the shake test, and a quick crack test, and you’ll always know how to tell if black walnuts are good before you commit to shelling a whole batch.
 
Happy cracking!