Toast Sliced Almonds

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Almonds, like many other nuts, have a wonderfully rich, earthy flavor when toasted. However, store-bought toasted almonds can have a stale taste (along with added fat and salt content), as the nuts are not freshly roasted. There are several methods for toasting almonds at home, and each of them can be accomplished quickly and with great results. Learning how to toast sliced almonds is primarily a matter of paying careful attention to the nuts to ensure that they don't burn. See Step 1 below to get started.

Steps

Toasting in the Oven

  1. Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175C).
  2. Prepare the almonds for toasting. Spread the sliced almonds evenly across an ungreased, rimmed baking sheet.
    • The almonds will toast evenly if there is minimal overlap between the nuts.
    • Use a rimmed baking sheet to prevent the sliced almonds from spilling over the edges.
  3. Place the almonds on the middle rack in the oven. The almonds will need to be flipped or stirred every few minutes, so try not to get distracted by something else or leave them unattended.
    • After about 5 minutes, open the oven door and stir the almonds around on the baking sheet with a wooden spoon. Alternatively, you could shake the baking sheet to redistribute the nuts.
    • Close the oven door and continue to stir the nuts every 5 minutes or so.
  4. Remove the almonds when they are done toasting. The almonds will take between 10 and 15 minutes to toast completely, but you will have to pay careful attention to avoid burning them.
    • Wait until the nuts are fragrant and turning golden brown around the edges before you remove them.
    • Don't wait until they turn dark brown, however, because the almonds will continue to cook for a short time after leaving the oven, and will likely end up burnt.
  5. Cool and store the sliced almonds. Allow the nuts to cool completely before using -- this will make them extra crunchy.
    • If you left the almonds in the oven for slightly too long, transfer them to a cold tray while they're still hot to prevent further toasting.
    • If you're not using the almonds immediately, you can store them in a sealable plastic bag (once cooled), to preserve their flavor and texture.
  6. Use the sliced almonds. Toasted sliced almonds are very tasty and versatile and can be used in a wide variety of dishes.
    • Eat them on their own as a quick and healthy snack -- you can drizzle them in a little olive oil and sprinkle them with salt first, if you like.
    • Use them to add color, texture and flavor on top of salads, desserts and even pizza.
    • Use them in cake, bread and muffin batters (toasted almonds are less likely to sink to the bottom).

Toasting on the Stove Top

  1. Heat a sauté pan over medium-low to medium heat. Use a heavy-bottomed pan for best results. Although it is not necessary to grease the pan, some cooks prefer to add a tiny amount of butter, to increase flavor.
  2. Pour the almonds into the pan. When the pan is preheated, spread the almonds across the pan in an even layer.
    • Stir or shake the pan very frequently (about once every 30 seconds) to prevent the nuts from burning.
    • Although this stove top method is very quick and easy, the almond slices tend to roast a little unevenly, so it's important to keep the almonds moving.
  3. Remove the almonds from the pan when they are done toasting. The almonds should take between 3 and 5 minutes to toast on the stove top.
    • Remove the almonds from the heat just before they begin to develop browned edges and a fragrant smell, otherwise they will start to burn.
    • Immediately pour the toasted almond slices into another dish to cool.

Toasting in the Microwave

  1. Place the almonds onto a microwave-safe plate. Do not grease the plate, and try to spread the almonds out evenly so that they overlap minimally. Place the plate into the microwave.
  2. Microwave the almonds for 1 minute. Set the microwave to its highest power setting, and cook the sliced almonds for 1 minute.
    • After 1 minute, stir the almonds to redistribute them and ensure they toast evenly.
    • Continue cooking the almonds in 30 second intervals, stirring after each time.
  3. Remove the almonds from the microwave. Aim to remove the almonds from the microwave just before they start to brown and become fragrant. This should take between 3 and 5 minutes, depending on your microwave's power.

Toasting in a Toaster Oven

  1. Lay the almonds in single layer on a baking sheet.
  2. Place in the toaster oven. Toast.
  3. Remove from the toaster oven. Let sit for at least 15 minutes.
  4. Eat or use as required.

Tips

  • Consider buying more almonds than you need in case you burn a batch and have to start over again.

Things You'll Need

  • Sliced almonds
  • Baking sheet
  • Wooden spoon
  • Tea towel or oven mitt
  • sauté pan
  • Microwave-safe plate

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Sources and Citations

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