CHAPTER 16: NUTS AND SEEDS Flashcards
Botanists differentiate nuts from ______, ______, and ________.
seeds, legumes, kernels
To a botanist, a nut is what?
A dry, one-seeded fruit that does not split open at a seam when mature.
While botanists classify ______, ______, and sometimes ______ as true nuts, other “nuts are ______.
chestnuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, not
Name three “nuts” that are actually seeds within the fruit’s pit, or stone.
Almonds, coconuts, macadamias.
What are peanuts?
Seeds of a legume.
What are pine nuts?
Seeds of a pinecone.
In most bakeshops, and for our purposes, all are considered what?
Nuts
All nuts are, or contain, what?
The seed of a plant.
Seeds consist of three main parts.
An embryo that sprouts into seedling, and endosperm that provides adequate food for the young seedling, and a seed coat that protects the seed.
Where do most nuts grow?
On trees
Tree nuts include what?
Almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pine nuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts.
Where do peanuts grow?
Underground on the peanut plant.
Nuts are added to baked goods primarily for what?
Flavor, texture, and visual appeal.
Can nuts be used interchangeably in a formula? Will anything change?
Yes, but taste will change.
What’s the exception to nuts performing similarly in baking?
Chestnuts are very different from other nuts and generally cannot be used in place of them.
Nuts are a good source of what?
Protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
While nuts are high in fat, the fatty acids in nuts (except for ______) are mostly _______.
coconut, unsaturated
Do nuts contain a significant amount of polyphenolic compounds?
Yes
Are most nuts close to the fat content of butter? How much?
Yes, usually around 50-65% oil. Chestnuts and coconuts fall below this range.
Why should most nuts be used sparingly in low-fat baked goods?
Because of their high fat content.
What nuts are closest to butter in fat content?
Macadamia nuts at 75% oil.
What nuts are between 50 and 65% oil?
Pecan, hazelnut, walnut, pine nut, almond, peanut, pistachio, sunflower.
How much oil is in chestnuts and coconuts?
Chestnuts about 5%, coconuts about 32%.
Walnuts are particularly rich in what?
ALA (alpha linolenic acid), an omega-3 that may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Are omega-3 fatty acids low in the North American diet? What other common foods are high in ALA?
Yes, especially locations where oily fish, like salmon, are not regularly consumed. Besides walnuts and fatty fish, the only other common food that is high in ALA is flaxseed.
What is anaphylactic shock?
Severe and sometimes fatal allergic reaction that some individuals have to certain proteins, including those in tree nuts and peanuts.
How does the body react to the proteins in tree nuts and peanuts during anaphylactic shock?
Body releases massive doses of chemicals, which cause shock, the swelling of air passages, and sometimes death.
How much protein is needed to cause anaphylactic shock?
Often, only very small amounts are needed to trigger anaphylactic shock in hypertensive individuals.
How quick can death occur during anaphylactic shock?
Within minutes, which is why hypertensive individuals should carry an adrenaline kit.
One easy and attractive way to remind customers about the presence of nuts.
Garnish with whatever you’re using.
Are nuts expensive?
Yes, they can range in price from several dollars to ten or more dollars per pound.
What factors contribute to the price of nuts?
Type of nut, added processing or difficulty in processing, crop year, packaging, amount purchased at one time.
Why are pine nuts and macadamia nuts so expensive?
Certain nuts, like pine nuts and macadamia nuts, are significantly more expensive than peanuts or almonds, mainly because of difficulties handling.
Why are walnut half more expensive than broken pieces?
They are fragile and difficult to remove from their shells intact.
How could pecans become overly expensive?
They’re a agricultural product from Georgia. One year of heavy rains could wipe out an entire pecan crop.
Do walnuts packages in vacuum-packed cans cost more?
Yes
The two main types of almonds are what?
Bitter and sweet.
What are bitter almonds used for? Example.
Flavoring. Almond extract and amaretto liqueur can be made from the oil of bitter almonds.
What are sweet almonds used for?
Baking
Largest producer of sweet almonds in the world?
California
Number one nut in America?
Sweet almonds.
Name 5 traditional uses for sweet almonds in the bakeshop.
Meringues, marzipan, biscotti, macaroons, and pastry doughs.
Why are sweet almonds best toasted before use?
They are mild flavored.
What two ways do almonds come?
Natural (brown skin still intact) or blanched.
The brown skin of natural almonds provides what?
Visual contrast. For example, it highlights the presence of almonds in biscotti. The skin also provides a slight astringency that contributes to overall flavor.
Do blanched almonds have a sweeter, more mild flavor than natural?
Yes
What is astringency?
A taste characteristic that results in a drying sensation from the presence of tannins.
What type of almond is more common in the bakeshop?
Blanched, they have a more refined, premium-quality image.
How do you blanch nuts?
Pour boiling water over the nuts, let them sit for several minutes, and remove the skin.
What forms can almonds be purchased in?
Whole, slivered, sliced, chopped, or ground into butter, flour, or paste. Almonds are thought of as a highly versatile nut.
What is almond paste?
Blanched almonds finely ground to a paste with sugar. It often contain binding and flavoring agents.
What is marzipan?
Almond paste and sugar mixed into pliable dough. Think of it as edible molding clay.
What is traditionally done with marzipan?
Colored and shaped into small fruits and whimsical animals. It can be rolled and used for covering cakes.
Cashews are native to where?
Central and South America.
Cashew flavor profile and appearance.
Sweet, mild flavor and an ivory white appearance.
How are cashews used?
Brittle and other confectionary, as well as cookies and other baked goods.
Do nut butters contain butter? Explain.
No, they are pastes made by finely grinding nuts. Any nut can be used.
Most common nut butters.
Peanut, almond, and hazelnut.
How do you make nut butter?
Grind roasted nuts in a food processor until smooth. If necessary, add a small amount of oil to help achieve a smooth consistency. Salt, honey, or syrup can be added for flavor.
How do you make nut flours?
Nuts and granulated sugar are combined in the food processor and pulsed repeatedly. The pulsing and presence of the sugar help keep the nuts from forming an oily paste.
Where are nut flours used?
Pastry doughs and cake batters.
How are cashews sometimes used as “dairy?”
Because of their bland flavor and pale color, cashews are sometimes soaked in water and blended into a smooth cream, which is used to replace dairy cream in frozen desserts and cheese in cheesecakes.
Why can cashews be expensive?
They are difficult to remove from their shells.
Why is removing a cashew shell so tough? How is the shell removed.
Part of the reason is the presence of a skin irritant in the shell that is similar to the irritant in poison ivy and poison oak. To remove the shell without contaminating the cashew meat with this irritant, the nuts are steamed, roasted, or cooked in oil. This opens the shell so the nutmeat can more easily be removed, which is often done manually by skilled workers.
