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Can Hemp Hearts be Toasted?
If you love hemp hearts and love to cook you’ll want to know all the ways to cook them. But before you try it’s understandable that you hesitate because you don’t want to ruin the nutrients. When planning your recipes you might find yourself asking, can hemp hearts be toasted?
Hemp hearts can be toasted in different ways to bring out the nutty flavor. Toast hemp hearts dry or with your favorite cooking oil over low heat. Cooking hemp hearts low will ensure you don’t burn the small seed and keep as much of the nutrients intact as possible.
The advantage to toasting hemp hearts is gaining a stronger flavor and texture. You get the opportunity to change up your ordinary recipes with a new spice.
Keep reading to learn the difference between toasted and raw hemp seeds. If you learn how to toast them the right way you won’t have to worry about losing the nutrition you’ve come to love in hemp hearts.
Can hemp hearts be toasted?
Hemp hearts can be toasted. While the process of heating hemp hearts is delicate if you get the temperature right toasting hemp hearts can be fun and tasty. High heat will cook out the essential oils of hemp hearts, but you will still be left with plenty of nutrients and a stronger nutty flavor.
If you risk cooking out the oil you may wonder why you should toast hemp hearts. The truth is purely for taste and texture. Hemp hearts make a great topping and toasting them gives you more options for seasoning your food.
Toasting hemp hearts with your favorite spices give amazing flavor to other snacks that can benefit from the nutty flavor.
Toasted hemp seeds vs. raw
The difference between toasted hemp seeds and raw hemp seeds is the amount of omega fatty acids inside. As you cook hemp seeds you get a stronger flavor profile, but you may lose some nutrition. Raw hemp hearts are ready to eat as is and you’ll get all the nutrition you were looking for without any prep.
So, the real comparison of toasted hemp seeds vs raw comes down to what you are looking to get out of your hemp seeds. Some of the benefits of raw hemp hearts outweigh the need to toast them. When you heat hemp seeds you’ll find that it cooks away the omega fatty acids found inside.
The fatty acids are one of the most amazing benefits found in hemp hearts. In fact, they have the perfect ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. If you are looking to get your omegas from hemp hearts you should skip the toasting, but if you are looking for a fun and flavorful snack you should go for it.
Toasted hemp seeds still contain iron, vitamin B1, magnesium, copper, and manganese. Hemp hearts are such a nutrient-dense superfood that you won’t be giving up the essential amino acids found inside either.
However, if you want to toast them without losing the omega fatty acids in your final dish, try drizzling your snack with hemp oil in the end.
Here are some of the foods you can add raw hemp hearts to:
The beauty of hemp hearts is you can also use them toasted in the same ways. When you toast hemp hearts you will get a nuttier flavor.
If you’d rather skip the toasting, but still want flavor try Humming Hemp flavored hemp hearts instead. The spicy and honey aleppo hemp heart flavors can give you the new spice you may be looking for. Both flavors of hemp hearts taste amazing on top of popcorn, as do toasted hemp hearts.
How do I toast hemp hearts?
There are two options for cooking hemp hearts, in a heavy skillet on the stove or in the oven. To toast hemp hearts cook them slowly on low heat. High heat will quickly burn and cook out the fat faster.
If you want to toast hemp hearts on the stove place a heavy skillet on medium heat and spread them evenly in the pan. Allow them to darken just a bit for about two to three minutes. At this point, you can add in a cooking oil like olive oil and stir to coat. Season them with salt and stir for three to four more minutes before taking them out to cool.
To toast hemp hearts in the oven preheat to a low temperature of 175 degrees. Coat your hemp hearts with seasoning and a cooking oil, like olive oil. Place hemp hearts on a cookie sheet in one layer. Heat your hemp hearts until they begin to brown, this won’t take more than 15 minutes. Hemp oil shouldn’t be heated to high temperatures, so save that to drizzle at the end.
When you toast hemp hearts keep in mind they won’t take as long as toasting hemp seeds that still have their outer shell. Also, toasting isn’t the only way of cooking with hemp hearts. To get the benefits of this healthy low-carb treat, be sure to try baking with them as well.
How to use toasted hemp hearts
Use toasted hemp hearts to give your snacks and meals more flavor, texture, and protein. They work best on foods that could use a bit of nutty flavor and a slight crunchiness. The nuttiness becomes stronger after toasting, so use hemp hearts anywhere other toasted nuts or seeds are used.
If you’re used to using raw hemp hearts then toasted hemp hearts can be used in the same way. This method can literally just spice up your normal recipes.
For example, if you’ve used hemp hearts as a camping snack or on-the-go, use toasted hemp hearts in its place. Make a trail mix for the whole family to enjoy on the road.
Other ways to foods to sprinkle toasted hemp hearts on:
Toasted hemp hearts work well anywhere you would use seeds or roasted nuts. In fact, you can add hemp hearts to your mixed nuts for a boost in vitamins, minerals, and even more protein.
Summary: Toasted hemp hearts
As you can see, you have options for cooking with hemp hearts. If you choose to toast hemp hearts you will get a new flavor and texture to place on your favorite foods. Of course, you can eat your toasted hemp hearts on their own, just like you would raw hemp hearts.
Raw hemp hearts will offer you the most nutrition because cooking can deplete the omega fatty acids inside. But if you are looking for a fun treat that still gives you protein, vitamins, and minerals, toasted hemp hearts are for you.
As long as you toast your hemp hearts on low heat, on the stove, or in the oven, you’ll retain the benefits of this healthy treat. So, get toasting! Use your hemp hearts on popcorn, tacos, and in your trail mix. Grab yourself a bag of hemp hearts to toast, or simply take with you on your next adventure.