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Can You Eat Pistachio Shells?
You can definitely not eat pistachio shells under any circumstances. These shells don’t just have a hard surface, they are actually completely hard and will for sure crack or chip your teeth if you try to bite or chew. They are also said to cause horrible gastrointestinal issues if consumed.
Apart from the nutty and sweet part that is consumed, pistachios have one more thing in common – the outer shell. Most unshelled pistachios end up being used in cooking and for making products such as pistachio ice cream.
More often than not, the pistachios you buy from the store are still in their shells, making them difficult to open. Although pistachios are healthy and nutritious, their shells should not be eaten, as they are fibrous, difficult to chew, and indigestible.
What are the benefits of pistachio shells?
One of the benefits of pistachio shells is that they are biodegradable, so you won’t have to remove them when it’s time to report, and it will also keep your plant from waterlogging. Pistachio shells can also be used as drainage pebbles at the base of potted plants. Salted pistachio shells can also be placed around the base of plants to repel snails and slugs. If you prefer salted pistachios, rinse them well and let them dry before using them near plants and soil.
Oh, and for the record, other nuts and nutshells can be used in the compost bin, but again, avoid salted nuts and nutshells. The shells of pecans, almonds, Brazil nuts, acorns, and most other nuts are good for composting. Therefore, just in case, use unsalted pistachio shells in the compost. If you’re sharing a pistachio with your furry friend, make sure it’s unshelled to avoid choking or intestinal blockage.
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Good pistachios will crack on the tree, although some won’t. The shells of most pistachios naturally split during the ripening process, so they are easy to open by hand to expose the inner nut. Hard-to-open pistachios tend to be the tastiest, so they are worth opening. For pistachios with small slits that fit neither the thumb nor the tooth, use a spare shell to open the nut.
Is it safe to crunch nuts with our teeth?
Teeth are not for crunching nuts. Many nuts, like pistachios, are in the shell, and we end up crunching the nut with our teeth in order to get to the edible centre.
Due to the semi-open shell, the pistachio fruit is the only nut that does not need to be shelled for roasting and pickling. The pistachio fruit differs from all other nuts in its green colour and semi-open shell.
This type of pistachio is called a “naturally open pistachio”, which typically has a kernel-to-shell ratio of up to 55%. After ripening, the pistachio kernels reach their maximum size and open naturally, facilitating peeling at low temperatures.
Once nuts such as walnuts or cashews have been shaken from trees by harvesters, they can be salted and roasted while still in their shells as this natural gap allows heat and salt to penetrate the nut, eliminating an industrial process step and saving converters some money.
According to Healthline and other sources, pistachios basically don’t change in terms of health benefits, whether they’re roasted or raw. You’ve read about the health benefits of pistachios, but this tasty, unshelled green nut contains dangerous ingredients that wreak havoc on a dog’s digestive system.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Pistachios are an excellent source of nutrients rich in antioxidants and high in protein. | Eating them in excess can cause bloating, nausea, or abdominal pain. |
| They are high in energy and also keeps your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol in check. | They are not safe for your dog’s health, they are naturally toxic to dogs. |
| Pistachio shells can make good compost, perfect for vegetable garden or flower beds | Pistachio shells can also cause gastrointestinal problems if it is swallowed by mistake. |
Are pistachios safe for dogs?
While pistachios have some health benefits and are ultimately non-toxic to dogs, their high-fat content can make them sick if consumed in large amounts. According to the ASPCA, the high-fat content of nuts such as pistachios, pecans, and macadamia nuts can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs. Pistachios are not naturally toxic to dogs, but walnuts are not a recommended treat for our furry friends.
No, feeding pistachios to your dog is not recommended as they are not safe for your dog’s health.
Health benefits of pistachios
Pistachios have many health benefits and are an excellent source of nutrients rich in antioxidants and high in protein. Pistachios are weight loss foods like other nuts, although they are high in energy. Because pistachios contain fructans, eating them in excess can cause bloating, nausea, or abdominal pain.
The shell of pistachios is hard and slowly breaks down, but you can greatly speed up this process by crushing it before tossing it inside. Collect pistachio shells in large quantities and let them decompose;
You can also combine them with other compost heaps. Compost can’t be used to sow small seeds or grow tender plants, but the shells can make good compost, perfect for your vegetable garden or flower beds.
Crushed shells gradually break down and provide your soil with valuable nutrients, improving the health of your plants. Walnut shells can be used for cleaning and polishing, as a filler for explosives, and as a paint thickener.
For example, pistachio shells can be used as a lighter with crumpled paper because they are rich in grease and can be used without a lighter.
Pistachio shell composting reduces methane emissions from landfills, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and stimulates the production of beneficial fungi and bacteria that break down organic matter to form humus.
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Pistachios must be processed within 24 hours of harvest to avoid moisture getting into the skin, which can stain the pistachio’s hard shell. After the pistachios are harvested, the skin must be removed and the pistachios dried immediately to reduce their moisture content from 40-50% to 4-7%, values considered optimal for preventing fungal growth.
If the compost is well prepared, well aerated, properly hydrated, and turned regularly, and the pistachio shells are crushed before being added to the mix, the process can take eight to twelve months. When you’re shelling and chewing nuts—yes, that’s the real name—you’re grabbing a pistachio with a thin crack, or worse, a tightly closed one.
What happens if you eat the shell of a pistachio?
Pistachio shells, especially the firm ones, are practically impossible to eat. It’s so hard that it could break or chip your teeth, or at the very least injure them. It might also cause major gastrointestinal problems if it swelled by mistake.
Should I throw away pistachio shells?
Although the pistachio shells make a contribution heft to the compost, they may take a few years to break down, making them lighter. Water retention is also aided by pistachio shells. Make care to smash them first before dumping them in your compost container.