How To Toast Almonds | The Best Way

Toasted almonds are an excellent snack packed with protein, healthy fats, and other nutrients your body needs. This article will explain the best way to toast almonds and provide a step-by-step guide on how to toast them.

The best way to toast almonds is in the oven with an oven-safe pan or dish. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (176.6 °C) and spread the almonds on the baking pan evenly, so they aren’t touching. Toast them in the oven for 8 minutes, check them often, and remove them when they’re golden brown. 

Let’s dive into the details!

What Is the Best Way to Toast Almonds?

The best way to toast almonds is in the oven. It takes 5 to 10 minutes to toast almonds in the oven at 350 °F (176.6 °C), depending on the nut quality and how many you’re roasting. The toasting process creates a reaction in the nut that enhances the nutty flavor and gives the crunchy effect.

Almonds are delicious, and you can enjoy them in many different ways. 

Toasting almonds in the oven has been the most reliable method and the most common way to enhance the flavors for snacking, putting them on salads, and adding them to baked goods. 

However, you can also toast almonds in a skillet or microwave, though if you’re toasting large batches of almonds, the oven method is definitely the way to go. 

Let’s dive into the steps on how to toast almonds in the oven.

1. Preheat the Oven Before Toasting

Before toasting almonds, set your oven to preheat at 350 °F (176.6 °C) and wait for it to reach this temperature. Preheating the oven ensures that you expose the almonds to a consistent temperature during the toasting process. 

If you choose not to preheat the oven, it could potentially add more time to the toasting process. It can also cause uneven toasting or alter the flavor and texture of your almonds. Generally, food quality is better when the oven is fully preheated to the ideal temperature. 

2. Prepare the Almonds on a Baking Sheet

Use two cups (400 g) of almonds (slivered, sliced, or whole) and arrange them on an oven-safe baking sheet or pan. When placing the almonds, you should spread them out in a single layer without touching each other to ensure even toasting and prevents over- or under-toasting the almonds.

You can use parchment paper to line the baking sheet before adding the almonds to help clean up and prevent the almonds from sticking to the pan. 

3. Put the Almonds in the Oven

Put the almonds in the oven once you’ve preheated the oven to the ideal temperature, and remember to change the setting from “Preheat” to “Bake” when you begin the toasting process. You should also position the almonds in the center of the middle rack for even toasting.

Toasting chopped, slivered, and sliced almonds can take less time than whole almonds, so stay close, as they can go from perfect to scorched very rapidly. You can also set a timer to check on them and move them around every few minutes, so they toast evenly and don’t burn.

4. Toast the Almonds Until Golden With a Nutty Aroma

If you notice the almonds turn golden brown, you can remove them before they burn to a crisp.

You can also toast almonds in the oven at a temperature of 325 °F (163 °C) for about 10 to 15 minutes. However, keep an eye on the almonds during the toasting process because they may be done in less than 8 minutes and will quickly burn if you aren’t paying attention.

The critical factor to remember is the toasting process is complete even if the timer hasn’t alerted you when the almonds are golden brown with a rich aroma.

5. Allow the Almonds to Cool

When the toasting process is complete, remove them from the oven and place them on a separate plate or dish to allow them to cool. After several minutes of cooling, you can enjoy the rich flavor of the toasted almonds. 

Aside from a stand-alone snack, there are many other excellent ways to use toasted almonds, including the following:

• Smoothies
• Almond butter
• Salad topping
• Baked treats
• Oatmeal
• Cereal
• Fruit bowl mix
• Cheese roll

What Temperature Do You Toast Sliced Almonds?

You can toast sliced almonds at 350 °F (176.6 °C), which is the same temperature as whole almonds. Toast them for 7 to 8 minutes, stirring them around every couple or few minutes to allow for even toasting. To prevent burnt almonds, remove them once they appear golden brown and are fragrant.

Make sure to monitor the almonds continuously during the toasting process.

What Is the Difference Between Toasted Almonds and Roasted Almonds?

Toasted almonds are a result of being exposed to higher heat to brown the outside, like a skillet or an oven on a higher temperature. Roasted almonds are cooked thoroughly at a lower temperature over a longer period. Toasting and roasting almonds enhance the flavor, but they’re richer when toasted.

What Happens When You Toast or Roast Almonds in the Oven?

Almonds and other nuts undergo changes when you toast or roast them. As mentioned, a chemical reaction takes place that reduces the nut moisture, resulting in a crispy, crunchy texture. It also enhances the flavor and provides a richer nutty flavor. 

Even though toasting or roasting the nuts changes their structure and temperature, not a lot of nutrients are lost. The nut nutrients such as vitamin E and antioxidants may not be completely lost, though they may be slightly reduced. The amount of nutrients lost will depend on the almond quality and how long you toast or roast them. 

And the process toasted and roasted almonds go through can kill any bacteria that have contaminated the almonds from handling or packaging. However, always look over the nuts while preparing them, so you can toss any that appear unhealthy or moldy.

How Long Can You Store Toasted Almonds?

You can store toasted almonds for up to two months in an air-tight container at room temperature. When you place them in the refrigerator, they can stay fresh for up to six months, sometimes longer. Putting them in the freezer will extend the shelf-life to over two years or more.

Almonds have a long shelf life, and you can store them for several months without any spoilage in ideal conditions. While the healthy fat content of almonds helps extend their shelf life, the storage conditions will significantly affect how long you can store them before they begin to spoil or become stale. 

The following factors can significantly affect the storage life of almonds and other food:

• Moisture
• Temperature
• Light
• Oxygen
• Food quality

Keeping your almonds in an area that fluctuates in temperature and humidity will reduce their shelf-life. The fats in almonds can start to go rancid when exposed to oxygen, creating staleness with an awful taste in your mouth. 

So, ensure your almonds are stored in an air-tight container or vacuum-sealed package if you aren’t going to consume them promptly.

Can You Toast Almonds in the Microwave?

You can toast whole, chopped, or sliced almonds in the microwave. Place the desired amount on a microwavable dish and put them in the microwave for 1-minute intervals. Move them around after each minute until they’re sizzling and golden brown, which can take about 2 to 5 minutes.

The time it takes for almonds to toast in the microwave can vary due to the number of almonds you’re toasting and the microwave settings. It’s best to toast them in 1-minute intervals to prevent overcooking and burning them.

Can You Toast Almonds in the Skillet?

Aside from using the oven or stove to achieve tasty and toasted crunchy almonds, you can also toast almonds in the skillet. It takes about 4 to 5 minutes to complete the toasting process, and you’ll have to frequently shake the pan and stir the nuts to toast evenly.

To toast almonds in the skillet, follow these simple steps:

1. Evenly spread the almonds in a skillet or large frying pan. In this case, it doesn’t matter if they are touching because you’ll be moving them around frequently while they’re being toasted.
2. Set the stove burner to medium heat. Remember that burners may work differently depending on appliance age, make, and if it’s electric or gas. Always keep an eye on your almonds because they toast quickly. 
3. Shake the pan to move the almonds around for even toasting. You can use a wooden spoon to stir them around. Doing this helps the almond obtain a more even toast and prevents burning to one side. 
4. Cook until the almonds are fragrant and golden. This should take about 5 minutes.
5. Remove the almonds immediately from the skillet or pan. Place them on a plate to stop them from cooking longer, and let them cool for several minutes.

Final Bite

Toasting almonds is an excellent way to bring out the rich flavor of the almonds and enhance the nutty and natural flavors while decreasing the moisture for crunchiness. The toasting process will also eliminate any bacteria contamination in the process.

You can toast almonds at 350°F (176.6°C) for about 8 minutes while checking on them and stirring them around every few minutes. Depending on the oven and the nut quality, it may not take as long, so make sure to monitor them while toasting. 

You’ll know the almonds are done when their color has changed to a golden brown.

For more, don’t miss Do Nuts Expire? (And How to Extend Their Shelflife).