Apart from fiber and proteins, pistachio nuts contain diverse nutrients like carbohydrates, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin B-6, and thiamin, which help boost metabolism in the body. Thus, regular intake of pistachio nuts can benefit you in numerous ways. However, it is not fair to have an excess of any nutritious food. Therefore, it has to be taken care of that you do not consume more than one ounce of pistachio nuts in a day.
The color and shape of the pistachios
There are specific indications of the freshness of the pistachios through color and shape. In the case of shelled pistachios, the ivory-colored shells split open at one end are most suitable for consumption. The pistachio nuts cracked beyond their natural opening are mostly tasteless, while the ones with unopened shells would make it impossible for you to peel open the nuts. The pistachios with greener nutmeat evince a refined taste to your taste buds. Avoid dyed pistachios as the nuts are dyed either green or red to cover the blemishes and stain the hands when used for cooking.
Which are better? Shelled or unshelled pistachio nuts?
When you want to do away with the task of cracking open the shells of the pistachios and finding empty kernels without nutmeat, you may find the unshelled pistachios a better choice. The shelled pistachios stand the risk of getting rotten quickly, and you won't even get to know it until the nut is cracked open. However, the price of unshelled nuts is nearly double that of shelled pistachios.
What sort of pistachio nuts to go for?
The pistachios come in multiple variants like raw, roasted, salted, unsalted, and seasoned. Raw pistachios are particularly preferred for cooking purposes, while roasted and salted ones form an excellent snack choice. As a snack food, you can have a mixture of pistachios, almonds, and cashew to retain a still higher protein content.
Where to store the pistachios?
The pistachios have a shallow shelf life, making it a must to check the manufacturing date in case of packaged pistachio bags. It is better to keep the pistachios in resealable containers to avoid losing their crunch. In case the nuts are to be stored for a more extended period, they are to be put in an airtight box in the freezer. To make the pistachios crunchy again, you can toast them in a 200 F oven for 10 minutes.
What can you make with pistachio nuts?
Pistachio is one of the most versatile members of the nut family. It forms a significant component in the food cuisine of different countries. In Europe, you will find pistachios added in pasta dishes, while almost all sweets of South-Asia use pistachio in various forms to make them crunchy. In addition to using pistachios to crust a chicken and top a salad, they can also be used in cakes as a flavoring ingredient.
Categories Simillar to Pistachio Nuts includes Sesame Seeds, Soy Nuts