Black walnuts can be used in a variety of ways, from food to crafts. Here are some things you can do with black walnuts:
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Curing: Spread the black walnuts out in a single layer somewhere with plenty of ventilation and let them dry for several weeks. Store the walnuts in their shell until you’re ready to crack and eat the nuts.
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Cracking: Black walnuts have an extremely hard shell, so a classic nutcracker will not work. Some people swear by wire cutters, while others use nutcrackers that were specifically made for black walnut shells.
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Eating: Once removed from their shell, black walnuts are a healthy snack that you can eat with or without cooking. You can use them in any recipe that calls for walnuts or any other type of nut, but the flavor of wild foraged black walnuts is much bolder.
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Bait: If you like to eat squirrels, black walnut shells also make great bait for traps.
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Crafts: Black walnuts can be used to make a natural dye for fabric or yarn. The hulls of black walnuts were also used to make ink, medicine, and as a dye for hides and fiber.
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Stain: The juice from black walnut hulls can be used as a natural wood stain.
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Recipes: Black walnuts can be used in a variety of recipes, from salads to desserts. Some examples include fancy black walnut cake, black walnut cheese ball, and Ozarks pasta with black walnuts, spinach, and blue goat cheese.
When handling black walnuts, its important to wear gloves and old clothing, as the juice from the hulls can stain everything it touches. Additionally, be mindful of your footing when gathering the nuts, as they can be easy to miss among leaves and other debris on the ground.
