How to Toast Walnuts (2024)

Toasted walnuts are crunchier and nuttier: you can taste the difference! Use them as a garnish for salads, veggies, or desserts. Here’s how to toast walnuts.

If you’re not making toasted walnuts: start now! Toasting does two things for a nut: it makes it crunchier and it brings out its nutty flavor. Try a raw walnut vs one that’s toasted, and you can immediately taste the difference! Alex and I always make time to toast walnuts if we’re using them as a pancake topping or to throw on a salad. There are two major ways to do it, each with pros and cons — but both easy! Here’s how to toast walnuts: two ways.

Want more ideas for walnuts?Try these10 Tasty Walnut Recipes.

Toasted walnuts: on the stove

Make toasted walnuts on the stove when you have a small quantity of nuts and want to make them quickly.

• Pros:This method is so fast: it takes only 5 minutes!
• Drawbacks:Toasting nuts on the stovetop can cook unevenly. You can also only fit about 1 cup in a skillet.
• Basic stove method (go to recipe):Place the nuts in a dry skillet: don’t add oil! Heat over medium heat for about 4 to 5 minutes, until golden and fragrant.Do not leave the stove because the nuts can burn very easily.(We know from experience!)

How to toast walnuts: in the oven

Make toasted walnuts in the oven when you have time to preheat the oven! This method is also nice for quantities of walnuts that are larger than 1 cup.

• Advantages:This method cooks the nuts more evenly than the stovetop method, and you can cook lots of nuts at once.
• Drawbacks:You’ll need to wait for the oven to preheat: about 10 to 15 minutes!
• Basic oven method (go to recipe):Preheat to 350 degrees and bake the nuts on a baking sheet about 7 to 8 minutes, until golden and fragrant. Again, don’t leave the oven because they can burn easily.

Ways to use toasted walnuts

Add a handful of toasted walnuts to a recipe to add a nutty crunch! They’re a versatile nut and work with both savory and sweet foods. Top them on a salad, sandwich or roasted vegetables. Or, go sweet with oatmeal, pancakes, or an ice cream sundae.

• Sandwiches: This is even better with toasted nuts.
• Salad:A handful of toasted walnuts are perfect on Cabbage Apple Salad,Arugula Beet Salad, , Spinach Apple Salad,Strawberry Summer Salad,orFrench Lentil Salad.
• Veggies:Add a sprinkle on Lemony Green BeansorRoasted Brussels Sprouts.
• Pancakes or Waffles:Use them to topBanana Pancakes,Sour Cream PancakesorFluffy Gluten Free Waffles.
• Oatmeal:Toasted walnuts & bananas on Best OatmealorInstant Pot Oatmeal? Yes please.
• Desserts:They’re great over ice cream or with berries andwhipped cream.

Storage info

Once you’ve got those toasted walnuts (and your kitchen smells amazing), you can use them immediately! Here’s how to store leftovers, if you have them:

• Cool fully and place in a sealed container.We use a small glass container with lid.
• Store at room tempfor 1 week OR
• Store refrigeratedfor 2 months.
• Freeze to extend the lifeeven further, up to 6 months or more.

Another use for leftover toasted nuts? Make Homemade Nut Butter!

Walnuts nutrition

Eating walnuts is not just delicious: it’s good for you too! Walnuts are (source):

• Good source of protein and fiber.Walnuts have lots ofplant based proteinand fiber (good for staying full). One handful (1 ounce) has 4 grams protein and 2 grams fiber.
• High in omega-3s. They’re also a great source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid (2.5 grams).

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More toasted recipes!

Nuts and seeds taste better toasted! Here are all our our methods on how to toast nuts and seeds (and even bread):

• How to Toast Pine Nuts
• How to Toast Almonds
• How to Toast Pecans
• How to Toast Sesame Seeds
• How to Toast Coconut
• How to Toast a Baguette (or Garlic Toast, or Cheese Toast, or Crostini…)