Soaking Nuts and Seeds

Soaking Nuts & Seeds

Daily, I welcome calls from our members inquiring about the basics of raw food. While our monthly Raw-4-Life segment usually features new and exciting recipes, with many of you resolving to add more raw foods into your diets, we've decided to introduce a few new spins to our Raw-4-Life segment, including common questions and answers, basic techniques, and ways to KEEP IT FUN & SIMPLE! My goal is to support you as you begin your journey into the exciting world of raw foods!

Question — Why is it important to soak nuts and seeds before eating them?

Answer — Nuts and seeds naturally contain enzyme inhibitors. And by soaking them, you not only release the toxic enzyme inhibitors, but also increase the life and vitality contained within them! The purpose of these enzyme inhibitors is to protect the nut and/or seed until it has what it needs for growing (ex. sunlight, water, soil, etc.). Since the soak water will contain the enzyme inhibitors, and is very acidic to the body, please be sure to rinse your nuts and seeds well after soaking.

PROCEDURE: Typically, we buy a couple of pounds of nuts at a time (raw almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.), soak them overnight in glass jars or large bowls (I like to soak them for a minimum of 12 hours), then rinse them well in the morning. When it comes time to dry them, every tray of my 9-tray Excalibur dehydrator usually ends up full! We generally leave our dehydrator set at 105 degrees Fahrenheit, then I simply set the timer for 18 to 24 hours, checking the nuts near the end to be sure that they are dry and crunchy. Then I store the dried nuts and seeds in jars with lids (you could also use containers) in my refrigerator or cupboard, and they are ready to use in any recipe! For me, it's all about keeping it simple, and saving TIME!

Question — Do soaked nuts and seeds have to be dehydrated?

Answer — If you are unable to dry your nuts or seeds, only soak an amount that you can be sure to use within two or three days. For convenience, I like to soak nuts and seeds in mason jars, rinse them after 12 hours, and then if I don't have a chance to dry them, I store them in my refrigerator without a lid so that air can get to it. But it is vitally important to rinse them at least once (preferably twice) a day with fresh water, draining the water each time. Be sure to use these nuts within a few days, because as with any live food, mold tends to set in within days if you're not careful.

BUT OF MOST IMPORTANCE — KEEP IT SIMPLE & HAVE FUN!!!