There are few snacks more delicious than roasted macadamia nuts. While you’re enjoying munching on them, have you ever wondered what exactly the roasting process is like? Or how it might affect the macadamia nut’s nutrition? Keep reading to find out, plus learn where you can buy the best roasted macadamia nuts in Hawaii!
How Are Macadamia Nuts Usually Roasted?
While having raw macadamia nuts is great, roasting macadamias can greatly enhance their rich, buttery flavor. Unless you are adding raw macadamia nuts to a recipe, you probably want to buy roasted macadamia nuts.
Harvested nuts need to have the husk removed, and then need to be dried in a silo and cured to reduce the amount of moisture in them. The roasting is usually done by heating the nuts to a temperature of up to about 250°F. But how does this affect the macadamia nuts calories and nutrients?
Do Macadamias Lose Any Nutrition When Roasted?
The amount of nutrients that roasted macadamia nuts retain compared to raw macadamia nuts depends on the temperature at which they are roasted. A recent study showed that roasted nuts only had small changes in fatty acid content compared to raw macadamia nuts while offering great advantages in terms of flavor, stability, and texture.
We at Island Harvest are careful to roast our macadamia nuts at a low temperature so that you get the best of both worlds: rich, nutty flavor with all the goodness of the vitamins and minerals naturally present in raw macadamia nuts.
Roasted vs. Raw Macadamia Nutrition
As long as roasted macadamia nuts are cooked at a low temperature, they retain the same nutritional benefits as raw macadamia nuts. You just want to be sure not to overcook the nut so that all the macadamia’s nutrition such as vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats stay intact.
How To Roast Macadamias at Home
If you’ve got some raw macadamia nuts at home and you’d like to see how they taste when roasted, you can use your oven or stovetop. When baking in an oven, spread the nuts in a single layer over a baking tray and put them in a preheated oven at 350°F until golden.
Alternatively, you can heat a frying pan on the stove and add the nuts while shaking the pan every few minutes to ensure an even roasting. However, the easiest way to enjoy a variety of roasted macadamia nuts is to try the best macadamia nuts out there—our single-origin, organic macadamias from Island Harvest!
Where and When Can You Find the Best Macadamia Nuts To Buy in Hawaii?
If you’re looking for macadamia nuts in Hawaii, you can get them straight from the source, i.e. our macadamia nut farm on the Big Island. We offer three ways to eat our roasted macadamia. Try sea salt covered macadamias, chocolate covered macadamias, or simple, unsalted macadamias, available through our online shop and in select stores all year round.
About Our 100% Organic Macadamia Nut Farm in Hawaii
At Island Harvest, we aim to not only produce the best macadamia nuts but also act as stewards for Kohala’s agricultural lands by practicing sustainable agriculture and giving back to the local community. The 700 acres of completely rainfed macadamia nut trees thrive in the rich soil, favorable micro-climate, and care of our eco-conscious team. Read more about us via our about page, and get in touch if you have any questions!