Hazelnuts are a delicious and nutritious snack that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.
Whether you’re roasting them for a savory dish or adding them to your morning oatmeal, it’s important to know when they’re ripe and ready to eat.
In this article, we’ll explore what ripe hazelnuts look like and how to harvest and store them properly.
So, grab a cup of coffee and let’s dive in!
What Do Ripe Hazelnuts Look Like
Ripe hazelnuts can be identified by their shiny, reddish-brown color. They should also feel firm and heavy in your hand.
Hazelnuts typically ripen from late August through October, depending on the weather. As the hazeltree leaves change color, the nuts begin to mature and dry out.
To become edible for humans, the nuts have to grow to full maturity and dry out a bit. Once the papery outer covering starts pulling back from the nut, the hazels are safe to eat.
If you’re foraging for hazelnuts in the wild, it’s best to pick them when they’re just beginning to turn brown and let them finish ripening at home. If you wait for them to fully ripen and drop, they will most likely be eaten by wild animals before you can get your hands on them.
The Hazelnut Harvesting Season
The harvesting season for hazelnuts typically begins in late August and can last until October. Hazelnut bushes usually produce their first nuts in their fourth year, but they won’t come into full nut production until year nine or later.
Hazelnuts should be harvested just as soon as they become loose in their husks to avoid losses to animal predation. This can occur when the husks are still green and moist or when they are brown and dry. In general, if the clusters can be pulled from the bushes easily, they are ready to harvest.
If you’re harvesting hazelnuts from your own trees, you can simply collect them from the ground below once they fall. It’s a good idea to place tarps under the trees to collect them or rake them into a pile. If you’re foraging for hazelnuts in the wild, it’s important to forage sustainably so that plenty of nuts are left for wildlife.
After harvesting, it’s important to dry out the hazelnuts for 2-3 weeks in a well-ventilated area. You can store them in a sack, crate, or net in your garage or another well-ventilated place. Once they’ve dried out and turned brown, you can pluck them from the involucres and store them for up to 3 months in the refrigerator.
It’s important to check the nuts as you harvest them and throw away any with signs of damage or disease. Occasionally, hazelnuts from seed-grown shrubs may be difficult to remove from their husk, so they are best removed by cracking the shell to remove the nut meat. With proper harvesting techniques, you can enjoy delicious and fresh hazelnuts throughout the harvesting season.
Identifying Ripe Hazelnuts
Identifying ripe hazelnuts can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you’re competing with squirrels and other wildlife for the harvest. However, there are a few key signs to look out for when determining whether the nuts are ready to be picked.
One of the most important things to look for is the color of the nuts. Ripe hazelnuts will have a shiny, reddish-brown color that is uniform across the entire nut. If the nuts are still green or have splotches of green on them, they are not yet ripe and should be left on the tree.
In addition to color, the texture of the nut can also be a good indicator of ripeness. Ripe hazelnuts should feel firm and heavy in your hand. If they feel soft or light, they may not be fully mature and may not have developed their full flavor.
Another sign to look for is the outer covering of the nut. As the nuts mature and dry out, the papery outer covering will begin to pull back from the nut. If you see this happening, it’s a good indication that the nuts are ready to be picked.
It’s important to note that hazelnuts can ripen at different times, depending on weather conditions and other factors. For this reason, it’s a good idea to check your hazelnut tree regularly during the harvest season to ensure that you don’t miss any ripe nuts.
Hazelnut Harvesting Techniques
Harvesting hazelnuts is a relatively easy process. Hazelnuts grow on shrubs rather than trees, so it’s important to look down and under the leaves to find them. The nuts drop from the shrub as they ripen, so all you have to do is collect them from the ground below. It’s recommended to place tarps under the shrubs to collect the nuts as they fall or simply rake them into a pile.
When picking hazelnuts from the wild, it’s important to forage sustainably and leave plenty of nuts for wildlife. If you want a source of ripe nuts that are less likely to be eaten by squirrels, you can consider buying your own hazel trees.
The standard advice for harvesting hazelnuts is to wait until the husks start turning brown in September or October. However, some growers tend to pick a bit earlier in late August or early September when the husks are starting to brown. The nuts on some trees develop earlier than others depending on their position and how much sun they get, rather than the variety.
Once you’ve collected your hazelnuts, they need to be de-husked. Hybrid or American hazelnuts require mechanical removal from the husk because they don’t fall free on their own. Most growers will pick as soon as the nuts have abscised and are loose in the husk, while others prefer to let them hang on the bush to dry out before removing the husk.
Storing Hazelnuts For Optimal Freshness And Flavor
Once you have harvested or purchased ripe hazelnuts, it’s important to store them properly to maintain their freshness and flavor. Hazelnuts have a high oil content, which can cause them to become rancid if not stored correctly.
Shelled hazelnuts should be kept in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator or freezer. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to eight months and in the freezer for up to one year. It’s important to keep them away from heat and humidity to prevent spoilage.
If you prefer to store unshelled hazelnuts, they can be kept in a dry, cool place for a long time. You can also use vacuum jars or glass jars with an air gap or paper towel to further dry the nuts and prevent mold growth.
It’s important to note that fresh hazelnuts are perishable and delicate, and should be consumed as soon as possible. If you’re not planning on using them right away, it’s best to store them in the refrigerator or freezer to extend their shelf life.
In summary, storing hazelnuts properly is crucial for maintaining their freshness and flavor. Keep shelled hazelnuts in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator or freezer, and unshelled hazelnuts in a dry, cool place or vacuum jars. Remember to consume fresh hazelnuts as soon as possible or store them in the refrigerator or freezer for later use.
