Finding Whole Blanched Hazelnuts: What to Know Before Shopping

[DebPC]

Making this next week for a show. Will I have trouble finding the whole blanched hazelnuts in a reg. grocery store?
Thanks!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Around here, the only time I can find them in the grocery store is at Christmas.

 

[babywings76]

They can be hard to find. I found them at a couple stores that have bulk bins in a special section.

 

[wadesgirl]

I think I just got walnuts

 

[babywings76]

Almonds could work, too, I think.

 

[LeslieSGI]

I could only find them in the skins (thank heavens they were shelled!) at our Fresh Market Grocery in the bulk food section. The best method for removing the skins was Julia Childs' way -- and true to my experiences in the past, she was right. I put 2 cups of water in a 3 quart saucepan (trust me, this was a good size), brought it to a boil and added the 3 T of baking soda that I had previously measured and placed in a plastic cup) all at once. FOAM! This was why the 3 qt pot was a good size. Stirred and added my half pound of hazelnuts in their skins. MORE FOAM! Danger Will Robinson - we almost had a boil over - a RED boil over. I reduced the heat to medium and kept stirring and picking up the pot to prevent a big messy boil over until my timer went off. After just 3 minutes, I checked one nut under cold running water - the peel slipped right off. SUCCESS!
Poured the remaining nuts into a colander and cooled them with cold running tap water. The peels slipped right off. The Decadent Hazelnut Torte was worth the trouble. YUM!
​

 

[cochef]

Making this next week for a show. Will I have trouble finding the whole blanched hazelnuts in a reg. grocery store?
Thanks!

I have found them in the packaged nut section. Kind of pricey, though. I just bought bulk at Christmas and put them in the freezer.

 

[akrebecca]

I could only find them in the skins (thank heavens they were shelled!) at our Fresh Market Grocery in the bulk food section. The best method for removing the skins was Julia Childs' way -- and true to my experiences in the past, she was right. I put 2 cups of water in a 3 quart saucepan (trust me, this was a good size), brought it to a boil and added the 3 T of baking soda that I had previously measured and placed in a plastic cup) all at once. FOAM! This was why the 3 qt pot was a good size. Stirred and added my half pound of hazelnuts in their skins. MORE FOAM! Danger Will Robinson - we almost had a boil over - a RED boil over. I reduced the heat to medium and kept stirring and picking up the pot to prevent a big messy boil over until my timer went off. After just 3 minutes, I checked one nut under cold running water - the peel slipped right off. SUCCESS!
Poured the remaining nuts into a colander and cooled them with cold running tap water. The peels slipped right off. The Decadent Hazelnut Torte was worth the trouble. YUM!
​

Sounds like an easy fun way to blanch hazelnuts. I ended up toasting the nuts and rubbing the skins off with a microfiber towel. I Guess I will have to make the Torte again so I can use blanched hazelnuts. Sigh. The things I do for Nutella.

 

[babywings76]

I could only find them in the skins (thank heavens they were shelled!) at our Fresh Market Grocery in the bulk food section. The best method for removing the skins was Julia Childs' way -- and true to my experiences in the past, she was right. I put 2 cups of water in a 3 quart saucepan (trust me, this was a good size), brought it to a boil and added the 3 T of baking soda that I had previously measured and placed in a plastic cup) all at once. FOAM! This was why the 3 qt pot was a good size. Stirred and added my half pound of hazelnuts in their skins. MORE FOAM! Danger Will Robinson - we almost had a boil over - a RED boil over. I reduced the heat to medium and kept stirring and picking up the pot to prevent a big messy boil over until my timer went off. After just 3 minutes, I checked one nut under cold running water - the peel slipped right off. SUCCESS!
Poured the remaining nuts into a colander and cooled them with cold running tap water. The peels slipped right off. The Decadent Hazelnut Torte was worth the trouble. YUM!
​

So all this talk about this recipe made me crave it. Besides, I have a open jar of Nutella that is screaming to get used up. Of course, it's not enough for the recipe, so I actually had to buy some more. ha ha

Thanks for posting these instructions, because the hazelnuts I have I'll need to remove the skins. Your instructions have me nervous though. Wish me luck!