Cracking pistachios

[JAZ]

I've been eating a lot of pistachios lately and once again have come up against the ubiquitous problem of how to crack open that handful of nuts that aren't opened. I ignore them as long as possible, tossing them back in the bag as I come across them, but the point comes when that's all that's left in the bag. When I was a kid, I cracked them open with my teeth, but now that I'm older, I value my dental work too much for that solution. A regular nutcracker (at least the one I have) is too big for these little guys -- they just slide out.

Any great ideas out there? Am I doomed to just throw them away?

[therippa]

If there is a little sliver of an opening I can use my thumbs/fingernails to eventually get them open, but if the shell is completely fused shut I treat them like mussels that never opened in the pot and throw them away.

Other than an xmas-themed toy solider nutcracker, I imagine you would have to use a hammer.

edit: grammar

Edited January 13, 2011 by therippa (log)

[heidih]

I had a major pistachio habit years ago and would occasionally use my molars but most often just pitched them. Too much force I thought would splinter them and I like mine whole. Luckily the "duds" were rare. My pistachios of choice were the Trader Joe ones.

[KD1191]

A sturdy set of pliers always does the trick.

[andiesenji]

You guys are more ambitious than me. I buy the shelled ones at my local middle eastern market or order them online.

My main reason is that the raw pistachios have NO salt and all the ones in the shell have been salted.

[dhardy123]

If there is a small opening use a shell from an already opened pistachio. Insert the pointy end into the opening and twist. It should pry it open.

[rarerollingobject]

I usually put them on a chopping board and bash them with the bottom side of my mortar (not the pestle, the actual underside of the mortar bowl), which, with practice, I can generally wield with enough force to crack them but not enough to shatter them to smithereens. Have also used pliers with great effect.

[Dave the Cook]

If there is a small opening use a shell from an already opened pistachio. Insert the pointy end into the opening and twist. It should pry it open.

This works well. During an extended pistachio session the other night, it was successful five out of six times.