What are you using the soaked nuts for? Personally, I am addicted to almond milk-I make it every week. i also soak nuts and seeds to make raw granola in the dehydrator.
Oh really, i'd like to know about the agent in toothpaste. And thank you for the wonderful answers and explanations. It helped set things really straight for me.
I know, Chef Michael, and it is a known carcinogen. Don't get me started on what the foaming agent is in toothpaste that is used to clean factory floors and whomever uses it has to be fully protected.
I will address soaking nuts and pasturized and unpasturized nuts. The raw food wisdom says soak all nuts first except for macadamias. Not necessary to soak those and you can. The purpose of soaking is to take away the skin of the nut, which is nature's way of protecting the nut from little pesky creatures eating them. I do find that when I soak walnuts, almonds and slip the skin off the nut taste is more pronounced and the bitter taste lessens.
Regarding pasturized and unpasturized. Pasturized nuts started with almonds and a law passed in California a couple of years ago. There are two ways of pasturizing: 1. Quick-steaming 2.spraying them with propylene oxide (PPO) which is not a great chemical. The only way you know if your nuts are quick steamed is to buy organic, otherwise there is no guarantee what you are eating.
When I purchase nuts I go to my favorite organic grocers here and they label pasturized/non-pasturized. Also buy in bulk online and freeze them.
Thank you. How does one soak the nuts-in what solution, how long, in fridge? etc. Does this apply only to raw nuts or also regular roasted nuts that have skin. For example, hazelnuts or almonds?
Soak the nuts in plain water. Usually a couple of hours does it and they do not have to be refrigerated while soaking. Use raw nuts, not roasted. Here are some tips: http://www.learnrawfood.com/blog/comments/storage_tip_soaked_nuts_and_seeds/
By the way, Jennifer Cornbleet has a great book.
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Regarding pasturized and unpasturized. Pasturized nuts started with almonds and a law passed in California a couple of years ago. There are two ways of pasturizing: 1. Quick-steaming 2.spraying them with propylene oxide (PPO) which is not a great chemical. The only way you know if your nuts are quick steamed is to buy organic, otherwise there is no guarantee what you are eating.
When I purchase nuts I go to my favorite organic grocers here and they label pasturized/non-pasturized. Also buy in bulk online and freeze them.
By the way, Jennifer Cornbleet has a great book.