{"id":298,"date":"2022-04-16T08:54:36","date_gmt":"2022-04-16T08:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/local.brightercooking\/?p=298"},"modified":"2022-04-22T06:00:20","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T10:00:20","slug":"pecan-nuts-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/local.brightercooking\/pecan-nuts-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Delicious Pecan Nuts and More Culinary Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Pecan refers broadly to any nut that requires a stone to crack. In our case, we are referring to a nut of the hickory species that is native to Mexico and the southern United States. It is closely related to the walnut. It is not a true nut but rather it is a drupe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pecan tree is a deciduous tree that grows to about 20 to 40 meters tall with a trunk that can reach two meters in diameter. This makes the pecan tree a very large one. The wood of these trees is also used to make furniture and in buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The drupe contains a single seed or stone with a hard husk that reaches about one to two and a half inches long. It is usually oblong in shape. The fruit is usually harvested from October to December. The world\u2019s biggest producers of the Pecan are the United States with about 90% of the world\u2019s produce. Others are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pecan is available all year round in the marketplaces. They can be purchased shelled or unshelled. When shelled they can be bought sweetened or salted. The preference is to buy unshelled or unprocessed fruit<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The nuts should be free from bruises, cracks, or mold. The inside should be off-white and feel heavy in hand. They can be cracked open using hand pliers or nutcrackers or using commercial machines. The unshelled nuts can keep for several months in a cool dry and dark place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n