# Unshelled Walnuts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 10, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unshelled-walnuts/399411 "2007-04-10T00:55:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jakeline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@jakeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeline)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unshelled-walnuts/399411/1 "2007-04-10T00:55:43Z")
For Christmas, someone gave me and my husband a 3-pound bag of in-the-shell walnuts. I stashed the bag away in a cool, dark, dry place, and immediately forgot about them. I was doing some cleaning yesterday and ran across them. So, a couple of questions: 1. I’m assuming they’re still good (they don’t smell off or anything), but how much longer will they be good for? I’m assuming I’ll be able to tell if they’re rancid. I checked on the [Nut FAQs](http://www.diamondnuts.com/nuts_faq.htm#1) (an excellent band name, as well as a phrase I can’t repeat with a straight face), and it suggested they would be good for about 7 months. Does this sound about right? Should I put them in the fridge? I was assuming it would be better in a drier environment, but I’m not a nut expert. Hee! 2. What the heck should I do with them? My husband doesn’t really like walnuts, and 3 lbs of walnuts is a hell of a lot to try to work into my daily diet. I was thinking of making some walnut butter, but I don’t even know if that would be good. Any other thoughts/recipes? 3. What’s a good way to shell them en masse? I was thinking of bribing the neighborhood children, but those pesky labor laws might get in the way. Your suggestions, recipes, and nut jokes are greatly appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unshelled-walnuts/399411/2 "2007-04-10T01:22:34Z")
There’s this dish that I order every once in a while at Chinese restaurants that I always thought was made with chicken, but I can’t find a recipe. This is the closest thing that I can find, but it’s made with shrimp. Basically, it’s candied walnuts with shrimp and mayonnaise. I know it sounds icky, but it’s really pretty killer. Here’s a [recipe](http://www.recipezaar.com/31581) that seems pretty close. I’ve never made it, but I’d give it a try if I had a bunch of walnuts. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unshelled-walnuts/399411/3 "2007-04-10T02:05:30Z")
As to your questions: I have no idea (sorry!). On the other hand, I share your entertainment with the term “nut FAQS.” It brings to mind “butt XEROX” and the attendant office humor. Other than that, I got nuttin’. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unshelled-walnuts/399411/4 "2007-04-10T02:13:50Z")
Waldorf salad. It is delicious and healthy. I made some last week (with pre-shelled walnuts). ---
**Author:** ![jakeline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@jakeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeline)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unshelled-walnuts/399411/5 "2007-04-10T02:45:33Z")
Candied walnuts! Brilliant! The idea of candied walnuts, mayo, and shrimp makes me do this :dubious:, but it seems odd enough to be interesting. I also love the idea of waldorf salad. Easy, tasty, and chock full of fiber. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unshelled-walnuts/399411/6 "2007-04-10T21:56:23Z")
Shelling: hammer. Obviously, just hard enough to break the shell. Uses: chocolate chip cookies. Or eat the nutmeats after toasting them very lightly for a different taste. 350 degrees 5-10 minutes, but watch them so they don’t burn. 6 walnuts yields about 1/4 cup of nutmeats, about 200 calories. A nice-sized snack. And walnuts are the only common nut that has any significant amount of omega-3 oils. If they’ve gone bad, it will be obvious. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unshelled-walnuts/399411/7 "2007-04-10T22:02:08Z")
[QUOTE=jakeline] Candied walnuts! Brilliant! The idea of candied walnuts, mayo, and shrimp makes me do this :dubious:, but it seems odd enough to be interesting. I also love the idea of waldorf salad. Easy, tasty, and chock full of fiber. [/QUOTE] Well, Waldorf salad is basically mayo, walnuts, sugar and sweet apples and celery, usually with chicken. Other additions may apply in person. The Chinese dish isn’t so far off of that - sweet, creamy and light white meaty. I’d freeze 'em 'til you figure out what to do with 'em. Your cool and dry instinct is right on. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unshelled-walnuts/399411/8 "2007-04-10T22:35:27Z")
If you really don’t feel like eating them, feed 'em to the squirrels. They love 'em and they’re fun to watch.