How to choose the right Brazil nut?

Brazil nuts are among the largest varieties in their category. The size of the nut can reach 15-20 cm in diameter, and its kernels can be round, oval or elongated. The shape depends on the variety of bertoletii (the tree on which they grow). One nut can contain from 7-8 to 20-25 kernels.

Brazil nuts can be sold in several forms:

• unpeeled nuts (there will be several kernels in one shell);
• shelled nuts (kernels are sold separately from the shell).

There are different rules for checking the quality of peeled and unpeeled Brazil nuts. The visual assessment must be carried out with particular care. Eating spoiled or low-quality nuts is likely to cause an eating disorder, and the taste of such kernels will spoil the impression of the traditional characteristics of the kernels.

How to choose a Brazil nut

The structure of the Brazil nut has its own characteristics. The fruit plucked from the tree is a layer of shell, in which the kernels are located, which in turn also have a separate shell. If the nut is bought in the shell, then you need to prepare for its step-by-step cleaning.

It is recommended to buy shelled Brazil nut kernels… There are several reasons in this case. Firstly, it takes a long time to clean the nut (you will have to saw off the main shell first and then clean each kernel). Secondly, in the shell, these nuts cannot be stored for a long time, because toxic substances are formed in them. The situation is different with kernels, they can be stored for a long time and remain absolutely safe for health.

The nuances of choosing a Brazil nut:

• if you shake a Brazil nut, then no sounds should arise;
• ripe and fresh nut will never be easy;
• if the nut is lightweight, then inside it is either spoiled, or dried up, or damaged by parasites;
• the surface of the shell of a Brazilian nut should be even (even the slightest damage should not be on it, bacteria and parasites easily penetrate through the cracks to the kernel of the nut);
• Brazil nut kernels should be firm and crunchy at the same time;
• the surface of the kernel must be smooth and free from wrinkles (wrinkled nuts have dried out as a result of improper storage conditions);
• Brazil nut kernels should have a rich color (if the nuts are dull and it seems that there is a bloom on them, then you should refuse to buy them);
• if Brazil nut kernels are bought in packaging, then it is better to give preference to packages with transparent areas (if the kernels are not visible, then such a factor should alert the buyer, and the manufacturer can purposefully hide the appearance of the product);
• the package should not be opened, there should be no accumulation of condensation, and the labels should not be double;
• the information on the packaging should be studied carefully, it is especially recommended to compare the packaging dates and expiration dates.

When should you refuse to buy a Brazilian nut?:

• if the nut is light (meaning an unpeeled nut);
• if, when shaken, the contents of the nut rattle (the kernels have dried up);
• if the shell is damaged, there are spots or depressions on it (the nut is infected with diseases or damaged by parasites);
• if the kernels are light and dry (such nuts are stored for too long and improperly);
• if the kernels are broken (a sign of improper transportation, bacteria will accumulate in the places where the kernels are chipped);
• if the kernels are wet (the nuts were washed to hide signs of mold or stored improperly);
• if there is plaque on the nuclei (plaque can be the result of the vital activity of rodents or mold);
• if the Brazil nut kernels are packed, and the packages have information about the expired date;
• if there is debris in the mixture of kernels (this is a sign of improper handling, transportation, production or storage technologies).

When buying Brazil nuts, you need to additionally evaluate the point of sale. The kernels, even in the shell, easily absorb foreign odors. This is why nuts should be placed on the counter separately from other food items.