Hello,

reading around the www, I came across people who soak nuts before they
eat them. I get the impression they are doing so for health reasons. I
have never come across it in recipes and I can't really imagine to what
extent soaking would change the flavour. So, before I might start
soaking expensive organic almonds, I thought I's ask: is soaking done
for flavour reasons? And if so, how does it affect the flavour?

jake wrote:
> Hello,
>
> reading around the www, I came across people who soak nuts before they
> eat them. I get the impression they are doing so for health reasons. I
> have never come across it in recipes and I can't really imagine to what
> extent soaking would change the flavour. So, before I might start
> soaking expensive organic almonds, I thought I's ask: is soaking done
> for flavour reasons? And if so, how does it affect the flavour?

Soaked in what... soaking almonds in concord grape wine has worked well
for more then a few years. Myself I like nuts soaked in chocolate.
And ain't ya ever heard of beer nuts?

Sheldon

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 22:15:53 +0200, jake > wrote:

>reading around the www, I came across people who soak nuts before they
>eat them. I get the impression they are doing so for health reasons. I
>have never come across it in recipes and I can't really imagine to what
>extent soaking would change the flavour. So, before I might start
>soaking expensive organic almonds, I thought I's ask: is soaking done
>for flavour reasons? And if so, how does it affect the flavour?

It is probably being done to get rid of the phytic acid*. Phytic acid is
present in the bran. If you soak almonds the brown bran will then easily
come off.

* Phytic acid strongly binds to minerals like iron, calcium, zinc and
magnesium to form insoluble salts, phytates. There is overwhelming evidence
that this mechanism decreases the absorption of such minerals. Though this
is generally discussed in the context of whole grain cereals, and not nuts.

Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).

Sheldon wrote:

> jake wrote:
>
>>Hello,
>>
>>reading around the www, I came across people who soak nuts before they
>>eat them. I get the impression they are doing so for health reasons. I
>>have never come across it in recipes and I can't really imagine to what
>>extent soaking would change the flavour. So, before I might start
>>soaking expensive organic almonds, I thought I's ask: is soaking done
>>for flavour reasons? And if so, how does it affect the flavour?
>
>
> Soaked in what...

Plain tap water.

soaking almonds in concord grape wine has worked well
> for more then a few years. Myself I like nuts soaked in chocolate.
> And ain't ya ever heard of beer nuts?

I have never seen beer nuts. I have always assumed they had to be nuts
that would be served in bars to get you thirsty and drinking more beer.
I take it they're not?
>
> Sheldon
>

Don Wiss wrote:

> On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 22:15:53 +0200, jake > wrote:
>
>
>>reading around the www, I came across people who soak nuts before they
>>eat them. I get the impression they are doing so for health reasons. I
>>have never come across it in recipes and I can't really imagine to what
>>extent soaking would change the flavour. So, before I might start
>>soaking expensive organic almonds, I thought I's ask: is soaking done
>>for flavour reasons? And if so, how does it affect the flavour?
>
>
> It is probably being done to get rid of the phytic acid*. Phytic acid is
> present in the bran. If you soak almonds the brown bran will then easily
> come off.
>
> * Phytic acid strongly binds to minerals like iron, calcium, zinc and
> magnesium to form insoluble salts, phytates. There is overwhelming evidence
> that this mechanism decreases the absorption of such minerals. Though this
> is generally discussed in the context of whole grain cereals, and not nuts.
>
> Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).

Okay, that makes sense when held against the context of what I was
reading. Somehow I don't think I'm going to care to soak my nuts,
though. Don't want to mess up the flavour.

jake wrote:
>
> Somehow I don't think I'm going to soak my nuts.

Me neither. I scrub with a soapy washcloth, need too big a tub to soak
my nuts.

Sheldon