Sliced Almonds

Let's face it: making sliced almonds is very difficult indeed. However, you have to agree that the resulting effect is quite beautiful, whether you're adding texture to a cheesecake, sprinkling them in a salad, or adding them to a gourmet dish. Here are a few suggestions on how to make slicing almonds a bit easier.

Many decide to blanch their almonds first. This is the act of peeling off the skin. Blanching your almonds doesn't take very long at all; all you need to do is immerse them in boiling water for thirty seconds, pat dry, and pull the skins away. Microwaving them for around ten seconds (just enough to warm them) will help you keep a better grip while cutting.

However, when making sliced almonds, it isn't mandatory that you remove the skins. In fact, many prefer not to, as the dark skin creates an aesthetically pleasing border around the slice, which is useful for adding a decorative touch to desserts and other foods. Making sliced almonds, however, is tedious, painstaking work, involving hours spent with a paring knife carefully slicing.

This is why most people only make sliced almonds if they only plan on using a small amount. Otherwise, the time spent on it is impractical for preparing a dish. If you plan on making sliced almonds, slow and steady is typically the best. Never rush your slicing, or you may find yourself with a cut finger.

For recipes requiring fast amounts of sliced almonds, most cooks head to the bakery section of their nearest grocery store to buy a bag. Unfortunately, factory sliced almonds tend to be a bit more expensive than normal almonds due to the effort that goes into slicing them. Once you've used them in your recipes, however, you'll find them worth the price. You can also purchase slivered almonds, which are useful for creating unique textures in food.

Once you've created an adequate amount of sliced almonds, it's important to store the rest away in a safe spot. Since almond slices are so thin and small, it's easy for them to soften or go rancid. An airtight jar or container is a good place to keep them fresh for much longer, thus saving you time and money in the long run.

In using sliced almonds in your recipes, you are providing your guests with a beautiful, healthy garnish that will completely change how you view and taste the meal.

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