How to Blanch Almonds

While you can make almond flour using almonds with skin on (that version is called almond meal), most almond flour sold at the supermarkets are made with blanched almond flours. One of the reasons why it is expensive is for the labor that goes to the blanching process. The good news is that with just a little planning and time you can easily blanch your own almonds.

Here is a comprehensive guide with all your questions answered on how to blanch almonds at home, what they are, and different methods on blanching them:

What Are Blanched Almonds

Blanched almonds mean almonds without skins. Some markets sell and call them as “skinless almonds.” Here, blanching means removing the skins from the almond.

How To Blanch Almonds

When it comes to blanchings almonds you have 2 options:

Overnight Soaking Method

You can soak raw almonds (with the skin on) in a cup filled with cold water.

To do so, simply place almonds in a bowl and fill it with cold tap water until they are fully covered. Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap or a paper towel and let is sit overnight.

In the morning, drain almonds using a colander and gently squeeze the almonds to loosen their skin. It should come off easily.

Boiling Method

Alternatively, you can fill a small saucepan with 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, you can place the almonds into the saucepan and let them sit in there for 2 minutes.

Drain using a colander, rinse under cold water and start peeling off immediately. Here there are 2 important things:

1. Be sure to keep an eye on the almonds as if you let them sit longer they will start softening too much. You should drain them as soon as you see their skins start looking wrinkled. In my experiments, I found out that this happens between 1 or 2 minutes.
   Once you drain and rinse them, you need to start peeling the skins while they are still warm because as they sit in room temperature (and cool down) it becomes harder to remove the skins.
2. Depending on what recipe you plan on using them, it is important to make sure to dry them completely. This step is crucial especially if you are using blanched almonds to make almond flour at home.

How To Peel?

After they are soaked or boiled, the almonds will be slightly softer. To remove skins from almonds, gently squeeze between your index finger and thumb. It should easily slide off.

How To Dry?

To dry, line a sheet pan with a few sheets of paper towels, scatter the freshly blanched almonds on it, and let them dry for 4-6 hours or even overnight.

With that being said, I do not recommend letting them sit longer (than overnight) as they will start losing their freshness.

How To Store Skinless Almonds? & How Long Do They Last?

The best way to store blanched almonds is to place them in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and keep them in a dark, cool, and dry place. This way they will be fresh up to a month.

Alternatively, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 months or in the freezer for up to a year.

Are Blanched Almonds Healthier?

The following is from Healthline:

The powerful antioxidants and Vitamin E in almonds are largely concentrated in the brown layer of the skin. For this reason, blanched almonds — those with skin removed — are not the best choice from a health perspective.

Healthline: Benefits Of Almonds

What To Do With The Almond Skins (aka Almond Peel)

It is no secret that as you peel almonds you will be left with a lot of skins. I used to throw them away, but after learning that the outer layer is where all the goodness is at I no longer do that.

Instead, I dry them on a sheet pan, process them in a food processor to later add in my smoothies or oatmeal in the morning.

How To Roast?

If you are a fan of roasting almonds, you can easily roast whole blanched almonds. To do so simply:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees.
2. Place skinned and fully dried almonds on a small sheet pan.
3. Roast 10-15 minutes checking and turning them every 5 minutes.

The Uses of Blanched Almonds

While I am publishing this how to blanch almonds post in preparation to show you how to make almond flour at home, there are many other uses of blanched almond flours. Most people use to make almond milk or almond flour to use both in savory recipes and in gluten-free baking.

A good example of where I use blanched almonds is this Braised Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and Almond Puree dish. In this recipe, I pureed blanched almonds in my food processor to use as a thickener for the sauce. Though I published this recipe back in 2015, I make it often in my kitchen and love the nutty flavors that the almonds give to the overall dish.

Other Recipes To Using Skinless Almonds:

Here are a few simple ideas to put them to good use:

• Top off your steel-cut oatmeal with a handful of them.
• Use them in granola recipes as I did in my chunky granola recipe.
• Place them in a food processor or high-powered blender (such as Vitamix) and make almond flour at home and use it to make Almond Flour Banana Bread, Almond Flour Bread, or Almond Flour Cookies.