The nut processing market uses various methods and recipes to produce countless flavors and give you a premium nut collection. Whether you like dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or crunchy toffee-coated almonds, you're sure to find many delicious and savory nuts that will help you satisfy your cravings.
The top options for nut processing include:
Oil Roasting or Frying
Oil roasting is where the nuts are covered in hot oil and submerged to be fried. It accomplishes many things, such as shelf stability, flavor enhancement, and killing bacteria.
The basic frying principles apply to most things, such as sunflower seeds, brazil nuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, almonds, and peanuts. However, macadamia nuts require special handling because they're more fragile and expensive.
Frying temperatures are crucial here because you don't want to burn them. Overall, you crave mouthwatering and delicious nuts that can then be turned into cinnamon toffee almonds or coated with milk or dark chocolate.
Product feed is crucial because you need a uniform depth and production rate. The goal is to have a premium nut collection that you can easily churn out as required.
Oil blend and type are also important for flavor, and most brands have a secret recipe when they create a gift box. Often you'll see safflower, canola, peanut, sunflower, or hydrogenated blends.
Overall, the various process that takes place before roasting will impact the taste, mouthfeel, and flavor experience. Therefore, your gift box might emphasize stylings, such as a golden deluxe glass jar or something else, to make it feel fancier before you take that delicious bite.
Dry Roasting
The dry roast process means using hot air. Most processors use the method because it cuts down on the oil content for the premium nut collection. Usually, semi-industrial or forced air machines paired with convection ovens will roast the nuts without burning them.
Rotary dryers/roasters are often used because they can handle large volumes, meaning people will get the gift box on time.
Seasoning and Coating
The seasoning and coating process is where the uniqueness of a premium nut collection comes into play. The product is now considered a luxury snack.
Seasoning lets the processors add savory or sweet dry ingredients or an emulsion to the nut products. Exotic flavors can up the price and meet specific taste profiles globally.
It's possible to add texture and flavor to the base formulation with varying temperatures. Likewise, color is often added to improve the customer's visual appeal.
Dry Seasoning
Dry seasoning for nuts is complex because you have to get the solution to stick. Many times, you'll need a water-based or oil-based solution, such as maltodextrin or gum Arabic applications.
If you want roasted almonds covered in delicious chocolate or other concoctions for your gift basket, you probably won't need dry seasoning. However, many times, a premium nut collection includes dry seasonings and wet coatings, as well.
Batter Coating
Many tree nuts get a batter coating of either chocolate or something else. Then, they go into an oil roaster. While some people still do this by hand, machines make it easier to crank out a premium nut collection in less time.
Honey Coating
If you're someone who has salty and savory cravings, you'll find that honey coatings can be beneficial. Sometimes, the premium nut collection features one nut type with honey and salt added at the same time.
Brine/Starch Coating
The Middle East is known for the brine/starch coating. It's water-based and done after the dry roasting and before cooling. The heat from the nut will evaporate the water, giving a bitter and savory touch. This might not be ideal if you want Christmas morning cinnamon toast flavors in your premium nut collection!
Creamy Milk Chocolate for Chocolate Covered Nuts
Many people like milk chocolate or dark chocolate, which all starts from powdered cocoa butter. Sometimes, the premium nut collection will use skim milk or soy lecithin, along with corn syrup and other ingredients!
Blending
Blending nuts, fruits, and candy together offers another innovative product similar to trail mix. You need an accurate system that will mix various products proportionately. In most cases, a gift box holds more than one product, and that's akin to blending.
The Beauty of Purchasing a Premium Nut Collection
Whether you want rich toffee or cocoa butter nuts, it's possible to find a premium nut collection that meets all your needs. It might show up at your door in a classy golden jar, but it might be a simple gift box that has plenty of delicious options available.
