How to Toast Nuts in the Microwave

If you’ve ever wondered how to toast nuts in the microwave perfectly every time, you are not alone! It’s so easy and only takes a few minutes! Prepare for your life to be forever changed.

Toasting nuts, any kind of nuts, well, it stresses me out.

Not because it’s that hard, but I cannot tell you how many times I’ve tossed almonds or pine nuts in a warm skillet or in a preheated oven only to walk away and somehow COMPLETELY FORGET that I’m trying to toast nuts.

Hello, burned almonds. You and I are friends.

Consider my life forever changed when a reader, Ashley, told me that toasting nuts in the microwave was not only doable but pretty much foolproof.

Did you know this could be done?

Am I, like always, the last to know about this?

Because honestly, I don’t think I will ever put pecans in a skillet or oven again to roast and toast their life away. Microwave toasted nuts forever.

And here’s the kicker, it’s literally as simple as spreading about 1/2 cup nuts in an even layer on a microwave-safe plate or dish and microwaving in 1-minute intervals until lightly golden and toasted.

In a side by side test of unsuspecting kids, they couldn’t tell the difference between nuts toasted in a skillet compare with nuts toasted in the microwave.

No weird tastes. No strange textures.

Just plain old delicious toasted nuts.

If you’ve been wondering how to toast nuts in the microwave OR if you’ve never even had the thought but are now super curious, I think you should drop what you’re doing and go try it.

Seriously, just grab some nuts – any kind! – out of the pantry and give it a whirl. If, after toasted nut success, you squeal in a high pitched manner and spin around in excitement knocking the trash can over…you and I can be BFFs forever.

A couple helpful reminders to keep in mind: 

-don’t pile the nuts on the dish or plate…you just want them in an even layer that’s not too thick

-a large microwave-safe plate works great as does a glass pie plate

-that plate/dish is going to get hot so make sure you use oven mitts or pot holders to take it in and out of the microwave!

-every microwave, depending on age, power, size, color (haha, just kidding on that one), will cook a bit differently so the exact time may vary; watch closely the first time or two and you’ll quickly be able to gauge about how long it will take in your particular beloved microwave

I have a Kenmore microwave (1550/1000W) – no bells, no whistles – and it takes about 6-7 1-minute intervals to get slivered almonds roasty toasty and perfect. About the same for pecan pieces but slightly less time for sliced almonds.

If you want to live life on the edge, you can try doing a 2-minute spin in the microwave to get things started and then back off to 1-minute intervals, tossing in between.

But I’m only recommending that for people who won’t get mad at me if they end up with over-toasted nuts (that sounds better than “nuts that have been burned to smithereens and a house that will now smell like burned nuts for 2 1/2 weeks”).

I can honestly say that as a recovering nut burner (hmmm, that sounds alarming on so many levels), I have not burned a single almond, pecan, pine nut, or walnut since learning of this method.

I know I tend to throw around “life changing” with the wind, but I can assure you that learning how to toast nuts in the microwave cements itself as life changing tip of the year.

Also, rumor has it that you can toast coconut THE SAME WAY. Excuse me while I go weep in the name of progress.

Yield: 1/2 cup

How to Toast Nuts in the Microwave

Prep Time:5 mins

Cook Time:8 mins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shelled nuts, chopped or whole

 

 

 

 

Directions:

1. Place the nuts in an even layer on a microwave-safe plate or dish (a glass pie plate works well).
2. Microwave for 1-minute intervals, removing the plate and tossing in between (plate will be hot so take care!), until the nuts are sizzling, golden, and toasted. The exact time will depend on microwave power/watts as well as the type/size of the nuts.

Notes:

In my microwave, it takes about 6-7 1-minute intervals to toast slivered almonds and pecan pieces and slightly less time for sliced almonds. Watch the time carefully as each microwave may vary! 

Rumor has it you can toast coconut this same way.

All images and text ©Mel’s Kitchen Cafe.

Recipe Source: idea sent to me by a reader, Ashley!