Useful and tasty pine nuts are used in different cuisines of the world. Often lovers of this delicacy are faced with a situation where the product is bitter. In this case, you need to be careful, because eating such fruits in food is fraught with serious consequences. About why pine nuts are bitter, and what to do to remove an unpleasant taste, read below.

Is it possible to eat rancid pine nuts

It is not worth risking and consuming a bitter product. Eating such nuts is at least unpleasant, while the body begins to intensify the production of bile. The mouth becomes bitter, and this sensation does not go away until two weeks. After eating, the bitter aftertaste intensifies. Abdominal cramps and nausea may also occur.

Why bitter

The cause of bitterness of pine nuts is the oxidation process. The product contains approximately 60% vegetable oil, which consists of glycerides of unsaturated fatty acids:

• linolenic;
• linoleic;
• oleic.

Important! From a few nuts, the reaction may be negligible. In extreme cases, after consuming a large number of nuclei, intoxication of the body occurs.

At the molecular level, there is a double bond with carbon atoms. Because of this, substances are rapidly oxidized when interacting with air. There are no external signs of change. The chemical reaction only affects the taste: as a result, the nuts become rancid. Changes occur only with a purified product; in the shell, it does not change the properties.

How to remove bitterness

Fruits with an unpleasant taste, of course, are better not to eat. But if there are no options, or really want, you can get rid of bitterness. You can remove the rancid taste with the help of heat treatment. There are two cleaning methods that are equally effective.

Did you know? Recent studies show that regular consumption of pine nuts reduces the likelihood of tuberculosis.

Ways to handle nuts

To clean the nuts of bitterness, you can:

• scald with boiling water;
• boil it.

In the first case, after processing the kernels need to be fried in a pan. You can also bake them in the oven or microwave. In the second, it is enough to hold the raw kernels in boiling water. Processing technology depends on the method.

When scalding, proceed as follows:

1. Pour the cores into the container.
2. Boil water and pour boiling water over them.
3. Drain the liquid.
4. Fry the nuts in a hot skillet for 10 minutes, or lay them on a baking sheet and bake at a maximum temperature of 10-15 minutes.

After that, the nuts may darken a little, but cease to be bitter.

If you chose cooking, the algorithm is as follows:

1. Pour water at a rate of 2 liters per glass of fruit into the pan.
2. Fill the kernels and place the dishes on the stove.
3. When the water boils, mix the mixture, turn off the heat and drain the water.

Did you know? When examining the remains of burnt Pompeii, archaeologists discovered cedar nuts in the kitchens of former residents.

How to get rid of bitterness in your mouth

To get rid of the unpleasant aftertaste, drink plenty of clean water. This should help, as the fluid removes bile and reduces its amount. After 2-3 days, the symptoms will disappear. In this case, choleretic drugs should not be used - from them the bitterness will become stronger.

The main problem is that an accurate diagnosis cannot be made without a doctor. It is difficult to independently distinguish a normal reaction of an organism to an irritant from poisoning. If the bitter taste intensifies or remains the same for more than a week, go to the doctor. An abdominal ultrasound scan will be done at the facility, tests will be taken and a diagnosis will be made.

How to store nuts

Peeled nuts are stored in a dark, dry place. It is best to keep the product in a refrigerator or freezer. It is advisable to place the kernels in a container and tightly close the lid. The most successful way is to keep the product in the shell. In this case, the walnut core is protected from air, which prevents oxidation.

The shell must be holistic. With cracks, air enters, causing rancidity.

Shelf life and condition of nuts affect shelf life. The maximum time is indicated in the table:

Try not to eat rancid pine nuts. Maybe the gall bladder can withstand the load, but no one is safe from poisoning. If necessary, process the product at high temperature. So you can remove the bitter aftertaste and eat several kernels without fear.