How do you blanch hazelnuts?

To remove the skins from hazelnuts, the blanching method requires boiling the nuts in water and baking soda. The next step is to remove the skins under cold running water.

1. Gather the ingredients

   Gather 1 cup of hazelnuts, 3 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda, which are needed for the initial boil followed by a cold water rinse.

2. Boil the hazelnuts

   Bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 cup of nuts to the water, and allow it to boil for three minutes. The water may boil over if not watched, and it is natural for the water to turn black. After three minutes, as a test, run one nut under cold water to see if the nut's skin easily peels off. If it does not, continue to boil longer.

3. Remove skins from the hazelnuts

   After boiling the hazelnuts, place them under running cold water while slipping off the skins at the same time. Next, pat the nuts dry, and place them on a baking sheet for toasting is desired. To further toast, place the hazelnuts in an oven heated at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, until the nuts are fragrant and have turned a golden brown hue.