How to Soak the 11 Most Popular Raw Nuts (Recipe + Video)

Raw nuts are one food that everyone seems to agree are very healthy to eat!

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, Paleo or someone who eats the standard American diet of burgers and fries, raw nuts are one food that all acknowledge is a good addition to the diet. Here’s where the agreement about raw nuts ends.

The problem is that most people don’t know that soaking raw nuts first before eating them is very important. Soaked raw nuts are far more digestible than plain raw nuts. The soaking process eliminates anti-nutrients and improves nutrition while still maintaining rawness. Note that soaking does not eliminate the high amount of oxalates in nuts, however.

Raw Nuts are Seeds

While raw nuts are an extremely nutritious food, preparation is key in order to unlock maximum nutrient potential. Careful soaking deactivates any substances that could be irritating to the gut. The soaking process followed is in accordance with the wisdom of Traditional Cultures.

This is because raw nuts are a type of seed. Seeds require soaking before eating. The reason is because they contain anti-nutrients such as phytic acid and lectins that can prevent all that wonderful nutrition from being digested thoroughly.

These inhibitors can also cause digestive distress if many raw nuts are consumed. For some people, even a few raw nuts cause digestive distress. Sometimes, eating plain raw nuts can cause a rash around the mouth.

Benefits of Soaking Nuts

Deactivation of the anti-nutrients in all nuts is accomplished through sprouting or soaking. Soaking raw nuts in saltwater for a few hours and then drying in a warm (not hot) oven or dehydrator is all that is required.

According to Nourishing Traditions Cookbook, soaking and drying of raw nuts mimic the wise practice of the Aztecs. This culture soaked pumpkin seeds in brine and then dried them in the sun before grinding into flour or eating them whole.

Soaking nuts is a particularly helpful practice if you find raw nuts irritating to your stomach or mouth. My husband can eat soaked raw nuts with no problem. If he eats unsoaked raw nuts, however, he frequently experiences digestive issues and sometimes irritation around the mouth.

The anti-nutrients in raw nuts really bother some people. Even if you have no symptoms, you are likely not absorbing their wonderful nutrition as well as you could.

How Many per Day to Eat?

While extremely nutritious, it is best to keep the amount of soaked raw nuts consumed each day to a closed handful at most. This is in keeping with the recommendation of Dr. Kellyann Petrucci ND, author of the Bone Broth Diet. The reason is that most nuts contain an abundance of polyunsaturated fats, which are easily overconsumed. Too many polyunsaturates in the diet can contribute to inflammation and weight issues.

The one exception to this is macadamias. These nuts that are native to Australia contain mostly saturated and monounsaturated fats and an extremely small amount of polyunsaturated fats per serving.

By the way, if you’ve ever wondered how nuts rank nutritionally, the linked article provides the breakdown of the healthiest to unhealthiest types of nuts.

Where to Buy Quality Soaked Raw Nuts and Nut Butters

Don’t have time to soak and dry raw nuts yourself?

Yes, it is a bit time-consuming!

Check out my shopping guide for quality suppliers of soaked nuts and nut butter. We use 4-5 jars of soaked nut butter in our home every single month. Our family favorites are soaked pecan butter, soaked macadamia nut butter, soaked hazelnut butter, soaked almond butter, and soaked 4 nut blend.

How to Soak Raw Nuts

If you like to eat raw nuts whole, soaking them yourself first is very easy! Below is a recipe on how to soak the 10 most popular raw nuts followed by a video demonstrating the basic process.

Note that the process described below does not apply to a foraged superfood such as acorns. This type of nut requires an extended soaking of up to a week as practiced by Native Americans to properly remove the bitter tannins before drying and eating.

In the video below, I demonstrate how to soak raw almonds and dry them in your oven to greatly improve nutrient absorption, reduce gastric distress. You will be amazed at how soaked raw nuts taste far better than unsoaked raw nuts!

The same process can be followed for macadamia nuts, pecans, brazil nuts, peanuts, etc. The video on soaking raw nuts included with the recipe below shows how easy the process is!

Soaking Cashews

Note that soaking cashews is a bit different. This is because raw cashews from the store are not really raw.

They are heat-treated twice by manufacturers to release and remove a toxic oil between the inner and outer shell.

What to Do with Soaked Almonds?

When you make your first batch of soaked almonds, try this easy recipe for blueberry almond milk!

Blend 1 cup soaked almonds, 3 cups filtered water, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/4 cup blueberries.  Serve and enjoy!