How to cook pecan nut



Information for pecan nut in our free cooking ingredients collection.

Pecan nut

Belonging to the same family as walnuts, pecan trees can be found growing wild from Illinois to Texas and Maryland to Florida. In fact, more than 100 varieties of pecans are cultivated in the United States. Commercial cultivation of pecans, however, is limited to warm states. Georgia produces more than a third of the total U.S. production, which totals about 200,000 tons of unshelled pecans annually.

Pecans are one of the most widely cultivated nuts in the world. The nut itself is elongated and wrinkled, resembling a walnut, and has a buttery flavor. The shell surrounding pecans is shiny, brown, and easily cracked. Most of the fat in pecans is unsaturated. In addition, pecans are an excellent source of many nutrients, including phosphorus, thiamin, copper, and zinc, and a good source of iron and potassium. More than half of the fat in pecans is monounsaturated fat.

How to cook pecan nut

Unshelled pecans are most widely available during the autumn months, although packaged, shelled nuts can be found in grocery stores year-round. Tightly wrapped, unshelled nuts can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months; shelled nuts can be kept in an airtight container in a freezer for up to 2 years.

Serving suggestions

Most people know and love pecan pie, a sugary treat popular in the South. Pecans can be eaten raw or roasted as a snack. They add a rich flavor to breads, muffins, cakes, and other baked goods or can be sprinkled on cereal or many other types of food. A candy with Southern roots is pecan praline, made from sugared pecans. Oil pressed from pecans may be used for cooking or for salads, but it is expensive.

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