Cracking open a pistachio

Cracking open a pistachio - Faceless person demonstrating recycling bag with pistachios

Is there a special tool available just for cracking open pistachio nuts? I'm asking because as I have gotten older, I have developed severe arthritis and joint pains, making opening them with my fingers very painful. I've always loved pistachios and hate having to ask my wife to crack them open for me.

I have tried using regular nut crackers, but the pistachio either slips out without cracking or the nut inside gets crushed.

nuts


Best Answer

i usually use half of a previously-opened pistachio shell! use the tip of it as a bit of lever: slip it into the opening of the one you're working on, and rotate it, and it will open it as easy as pie. the downside is that you will be able to eat many, many more pistachios this way. i usually end up with a mouth raw from all the salt, haha.



Pictures about "Cracking open a pistachio"

Cracking open a pistachio - From above glass jar with colorful rotini placed on table near fusilli in container and pistachios and bread in bags
Cracking open a pistachio - A Coconut Fruit Cracked Open
Cracking open a pistachio - From above of open crystal glass jug with alcoholic beverage placed on white table with cracks


What is the easiest way to open pistachio nuts?

If you're dealing with already-cracked pistachios, insert something pointed into the crack in the shell, like the tip of a knife or the end of another pistachio shell, and pry the shell open. For uncracked pistachios, place a towel over the nuts and gently hit them with the bottom of a jar or can.

Why does pistachio crack open?

The facts. Pistachios (Pistacia vera), which are part of the cashew family, along with mango, sumac, and poison oak, grow in grape-like clusters, each nut encased inside its own hull. When ripe, in late summer and early fall, pistachios naturally split open. The drying process opens the shells further.

Are closed pistachios poisonous?

Harvested Poorly, Pistachios Can Be Deadly. On a darker note, pistachios that are not processed or harvested properly are not suitable for human consumption. Aflatoxin, a chemical which can cause cancerous mold, has been found in some mistreated pistachios and has led to breakouts of disease in some parts of the world.

Is there a tool for opening pistachios?

The PistachiOpener is an elegantly simple device that uses a unique "splitting wedge" action to instantly open every pistachio that has even the slightest crack in the shell.


Food Hack - How To Open Pistachios



More answers regarding cracking open a pistachio

Answer 2

If you spread out a bunch of pistachios on your counter and use a large oven sheet on top, you can apply a light pressure and roll the sheet in a circular motion. It will split the shells right off. I learned this trick when I was in Turkey.

Answer 3

I use the pliers on my multi-tool for especially resistant pistachios, but I don't know if that is a really an answer for you because it requires fine positioning of the nut (so that the jaws come down on the seam near the base of the nut) and coordination between the hands--if you're in pain this may be nearly as difficult as other methods.

Answer 4

How about a butter knife of a clamming knife

The suggestion of a small screwdriver seems a bit awkward to me for the job. A butter or clamming knife should fit in the hand much better.

Answer 5

Position the unopened nut in the side cutter slot of your electrical pliers with the ridges against the sides. The pliers will close enough to open the nut but not enough to crush it. Don't have that kind of pliers? You're out of luck.

Answer 6

I use a table spoon and twist it to bust them open

Answer 7

Well the best general answer is the one about opening with a pistachio shell half - with average strength and dexterity, that works really well.

But that doesn't address your question - what is feasible with arthritic hands?

There are pistachio cracking machines, but they are pretty expensive. They work by squeezing the nuts between two rollers. The user turns a crank.

Here are some other simpler things that wouldn't hurt to try:

And long shots:

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Sarah Chai, Sarah Chai, Polina Kovaleva, Charlotte May

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