Did you know there is a secret to cracking pecans out of the shell whole? I know the secret and I want to share it with you. They actually come out whole almost every time, without breaking into tiny pieces.
No matter how you say the word “PECAN”, they are one of the best nuts you can eat. When I was growing up my grandparents had 4 very large pecan trees in their yard. Needless to say, there was a lot of pecan cracking going on in the fall months.
My grandparents sat on an “S” curve and the driveway circled around the back of the house passing by all 4 of those pecan trees. Every fall as cars drove around their house you could hear the sound of the car tires popping the pecans that had fallen into the driveway. I remember my granddaddy putting two big heavy metal outdoor lawn chairs in the driveway, spaced out with a string connecting them. This was to ward off anyone from driving behind the house and cracking pecans that fell in the driveway.
Sadly, there is now only one lonesome pecan tree left in my grandparents’ yard. The other pecan trees either died or taken out by the hurricanes that past through in the last 20 years. I’m almost appalled that I even have to buy pecans at the store now.
The Secret to Cracking Pecans
Here’s a trick my grandmama taught me:
Put the pecans in a pot and cover them with water. Bring them to a boil; boil for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, drain pecans in a colander and allow them to cool so they can be handled. Crack them open and you’ll find out just how easy it is to get a whole pecan out of the shell.
The boiling technique also cuts down on the mess that cracking the shells can make.
If you are fortunate enough to get your hands on some whole pecans, I hope this tip makes cracking pecans a little easier!
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"Cheffie Cooks" says
Hi Debbie, it won’t turn out soggy like boiled peanuts in a shell will it? Cheryl Psssst. Boiled peanuts are a big thing in Georgia! I do not care for them personally (no pun intended to any Georgian!).
Debbie Spivey says
No. They just get warm. The heat somehow makes the shell expand enough to get the pecans out whole. As they cool they will become hard to remove again. Pssst… My late father used to grow peanuts for living. He love them boiled. GROSS! I love them green fresh out of the dirt, but not boiled. My brother-in-law dug some up today in his fields here in VA.
linda68 says
This is a great idea. Thank you. I can’t believe I’m learning so much more. I’m 68, and loving you young kids.
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Linda! This old trick sure comes in handy. My grandparents house was surrounded by pecan trees, so this tip was fairly common. I’m glad you were able to take something away from The Mountain Kitchen that will make things easier for you in your kitchen. You’re never to old to learn! 🙂
Jamie stokes says
What if pecans have already been put thru a cracker? Tips of my fingers are already eaw and jyst started
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Jamie! Boiling them a little bit won’t hurt them. I would definitely give it try with a small batch to see if it will help. Good luck, I know it is no fun!
Espirational says
That brings back memories of everyone sitting in the living room shelling pecans and watching TV. My mom had a friend with a pecan grove. She would buy a very large amount and freeze them.
The Mountain Kitchen says
I used to crack them sitting underneath the pecan trees at my grandparents house. There were once 5 trees, but over the years the storms have taken all but one. I miss those days!
Ellie says
Love this! In Texas, they grow by the hundreds! Glad I can finally get the actual pecan out!
The Mountain Kitchen says
Thanks, Ellie. Enjoy all of those pecans!
Beatriz Trevino says
We have a pecan tree. We usually harvest the nuts with the outer shell since we do t sant to be left with nine from the birds. My questions is : if we roast them to dry, should we still boli them to shelled them?
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Beatriz! You are so lucky to have a producing pecan tree. Boiling helps to get them out of the shell whole. We always did it once the pecans were out of the outer shell. You could always try a small batch to see if it helps. I’d be interested to know the results. Thanks for stopping by!
Jenny Bannister says
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
We have 8 pecan trees and I’m simply exhausted from gathering and shelling the pecans!! As we speak I have cracked around 15 pounds of pecans so far and they’re still falling! My hands are stained too! Any trick to removing the stain from my fingers??
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Jenny! How lucky are you to have so many producing pecan trees? I sure wish the ones at my grandparents’ house were still alive and producing. There is only 1 out of 4 trees left. I’m glad this tip helps you. From what I read, a lemon juice and salt scrub helps to remove the stains from your fingers. Although, it will hurt if you have any cuts, so be careful. Thanks for commenting!
Carolyn B says
We’ve found this is the best method for shelling pecans…thanks
The Mountain Kitchen says
So glad you found this helpful. Thanks for stopping to comment!
Matt Weaver says
Thanks for the tip! My mom has a 35-40 yr old pecan producing tree, We use to hand crack them all the time and mom would make pecan pie. Hopefully we can get some good whole ones now. We loved to eat the scraps, but is there a good glaze or coating that you can recommended to make them taste even better?
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Matt! You’re so lucky to have access to fresh pecan trees. One of 4 trees survived the east coast hurricanes over the past 40 years. The one just doesn’t produce like it used to. I’ve not experimented with coatings for pecans because they are expensive. I’m sure there are some great recipes you can find out there on the internet. Thanks for stopping!
Samantha Carlson says
My pecans drop with a hard blackish outer shell . The pecan shell is inside the outer shell. How do I get rid of the outer shell?
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Samantha! The outer husk should have opened up and dropped the actual pecan out. Usually, this means there was a problem with ripening and they may not be worth eating. Not sure if boiling them with the outer shell will help them come off or not, but it would be worth a shot to find out whether they are worth eating or not. Might save you some work. Good luck!
heather stenson says
Thank you! So simple, so easy to remember! My friend was just gifted many, several pounds and is struggling with getting to their yumminess. He can’t wait to try this. One question, does he just crack them with his fingers, or use a nutcracker?
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Heather! They will be softer to crack by hand but if you have a lot I highly recommend a nut cracker so his hands won’t get sore. So glad I could help you crack them whole!
Deborah L Wright says
Hi Debbie my name is Debbie too! Anyways I have a question about boiling the pecans. After you boil them in the shell and let them dry for 24 hours can you store them still in the shell? Please let me know.
Thank You
Debbie
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Debbie! Nice to “meet” you! Boiling them will make them soft enough to release from the shell for only about 10 minutes after. If you have more than you need to shell, I think they would be ok cooled and stored again, though it may make them spoil faster. I’m not sure. My suggestion is to try hard and only boil what you need or want to shell. I hope this helps answer your question. Best, Debbie
Stacy L Wheeler says
Thank you so much!
The Mountain Kitchen says
My pleasure!
Irmen says
Thanks for teaching this German girl how to crack farm-bought whole pecans! We always take a big bag of pecans to Germany to prepare pecan pies for Thanksgiving dinners with family and German childhood friends.
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Irmen! This is a trick my grandmother used to do when cracking her pecans. Glad I can pass this technique around the world!
Sara says
OMGGGG..I am in disbelief of HOW WELL this worked. THANK YOU so much for sharing this!
The Mountain Kitchen says
So glad I could help you out, Sara. 🙂
Renee frost says
Wow, I never thought about boiling the pecans. It’s 2022 and our 10 trees are loaded. Ill try this and make another commet. Ill need a huge pot!
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Renee! It’s best to work in small batches. As the pecans cool, they tend to swell back up inside the shell. Enjoy all of those pecans. Super jealous! 🙂
Wendy says
Thanks so much! I’m very fortunate that my neighbor has a very large pecan tree and let’s me have whatever I want!
The Mountain Kitchen says
That’s great, Wendy! Enjoy the pecans!
Mary Fender says
Hi! I am an 82 year old widow who recently moved from lifelong California to be nearer my daughter in Texas. I was delighted my new home has two huge old pecan trees but am finding them pretty messy! Now they are dropping nuts altho there are MANY still on the trees. Are the ones on the ground any good? How can I get the husks off? Could you share any words of wisdom cuz I love pecans and have NO idea how to harvest them?
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi there! First, welcome to Texas and congratulations on those beautiful pecan trees. What a gift to have right in your own backyard. They can definitely be a little messy, but the reward of fresh pecans makes it all worth it.
The nuts that fall to the ground naturally are usually ready to harvest. A good pecan will have the green husk that turns black (called the shuck) split open, revealing the shell inside. You’ll want to remove that outer husk if it hasn’t already fallen off. It can usually be peeled away by hand or with a little twist. If the husk is stubborn and still green, that nut may not be fully mature yet.
Once you’ve gathered your pecans, it’s a good idea to let them dry (or “cure”) in a well-ventilated area for a couple of weeks. Spread them out in a single layer somewhere cool and dry, like in a garage or on a porch out of direct sun. This helps bring out the best flavor and makes them easier to crack.
After curing, you can test a few by cracking them open. Good pecans will have plump, golden kernels. If they look shriveled, dark, or have an off smell, those aren’t good for eating. Then simply use the method I spoke about in this article to help you crack the pecans. If you do a few without boiling them, you’ll understand why I recommend this method.
Wishing you lots of joy (and plenty of pecan pies!) in your new Texas home.
Debbie — The Mountain Kitchen
Marina Gonzales says
Thank you for this tip! I always struggle with pecans and end up smashing them. I was lucky to find a bag of whole pecans at the grocery store for 99 cents so that is how I found your post.
I have Spivey blood in me, too. My grandmother’s family were from western North Carolina and some are still in north Georgia (including a cousin named Debbie!)
I look forward to trying this boiling water method and seeing the rest of your site. Thanks!