Almonds - how to prepare

[little monkey]

When I soak almonds and either eat them whole, or put them in my nut milk maker to make almond milk, I almost never peel off the skins because it's so fiddly.

I was wondering what are the properties of the almond skins - are they helpful or harmful to health? Should I skin them?

Thanks

[The23rdman]

Hi Monkey,

If you soak them and wash them before eating the skins are harmless. Not sure if they have any benefit though.

[little monkey]

Thanks for that 23rd!

But browsing round I found this from Shelly saying they are toxic ...

http://www.askshelley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1046&highlight=almond+skins+toxic

guess i'll have to peel them after all (sigh)! They get up my fingernails grrr, and it takes AGES (moan moan moan i know )

if I submerge them in boiling water to help the skins off, i guess this would be bad for the live enzymes..

Anyone have any suggestions?

[chardy]

Oh damn and blast!

I never heard about the peeling skins thing.
It almost makes it not worth it, like you, they get under my fingernails, Ive had to dig them out with a pin before!

I have loads around here...*sigh*

[The23rdman]

I've always found that if I soak them overnight they're really easy to just pop out of the skin.

I did think of another good reason for removing the skins though - it's the only way to tell if you have a bad nut

I doubt 10-15 seconds in hot water will hurt them too badly either

[little monkey]

hmm I soak mine overnight, and i can't just pop them out

i have to pick at it with my fingernails, a few mornings of this and it gets sore under my nails from all that!

I agree about the bad nuts, there are always a few in every handful