A Healthy Way to Roast Almonds

Roasting brings out the flavor of the nuts, and develops their sweetness. It is safe to roast nuts if done at a low temperature-typically a 160-170 degree Fahrenheit oven (at higher temperatures than this, research clearly shows damage to nuts' delicate fats) for 15-20 minutes will do the trick. Place nuts on a cookie sheet in a single layer. To enhance the "roasted" flavor, try putting a little Bragg's Liquid Aminos or soy sauce into a spray bottle and misting the nuts before roasting.

Avoid Commercially Roasted Nuts

Roasting nuts at a temperature higher than 170F will cause a breakdown of their fats and the production of free radicals. When nuts roasted at the high temperatures used commercially are consumed, the free radicals they contain can cause lipid peroxidation-the oxidizing of fats in your bloodstream that can trigger tiny injuries in artery walls-a first step in the build up of plaque and cardiovascular disease.

Check the Accuracy of Your Oven's Temperature Gauge

To ensure you are actually cooking at the temperature you have chosen, we suggest you check the accuracy of the gauge on your oven, which can easily be done with an inexpensive oven thermometer. You can find an oven thermometer at any hardware or kitchen store, or even the kitchen equipment aisle of your grocery store. Look for a stainless steel, spring-operated dial type that has both a flat bottom for standing and a hook for hanging on the rung of an oven shelf. The cost is typically $5 to $12.

To test your oven, place the thermometer on a center rack, preheat the oven for 15 minutes, then compare the reading on the thermometer to your oven gauge. If it is higher or lower than what your oven gauge indicates, then you know your oven runs either hot or cold and can compensate. For instance, if your gauge reads 170F, but the thermometer reads 200F, you know your oven runs 30 degrees hot, and you can adjust temperatures accordingly.

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