Your Cool Home is supported by its readers. Please assume all links are affiliate links. If you purchase something from one of our links, we make a small commission from Amazon. Thank you!
Yes, you can soak almonds and walnuts together.
Both nuts are happy to share a bowl of water, and soaking them together saves you time and fridge space.
If you’ve been wondering whether it’s safe to soak almonds and walnuts together, the short answer is absolutely.
They need roughly the same soaking window, and neither one will ruin the other’s texture or flavor.
In this post, we’ll look at why you can soak almonds and walnuts together, how to do it properly, and the little mistakes to avoid.
Let’s dive in.
Why You Can Soak Almonds and Walnuts Together
You can soak almonds and walnuts together because they’re both nuts that people commonly soak for the same reasons.
Here’s why it works so well:
1. They Soak in a Similar Timeframe
The main reason you can soak almonds and walnuts together is timing.
Almonds usually need about 8 to 12 hours to soften nicely.
Walnuts soak much faster, often being ready in as little as 4 hours.
But that overlap doesn’t cause a problem.
Walnuts sitting in water a bit longer won’t turn mushy when you soak almonds and walnuts together, as long as you keep everything refrigerated.
You can even soak almonds and walnuts overnight and wake up to both being ready to eat.
2. Both Gently Shed Their Tannins
Soaking helps remove some of the tannins and bitter compounds that sit on the surface of both nuts.
This is why soaked almonds taste a little milder and walnuts lose some of that sharp bite.
When you soak almonds and walnuts together, the water does this job for both of them at the same time.
The soaking water will darken a bit, especially with walnuts, and that’s completely normal.
Just dump it out and give them a good rinse.
3. Neither Nut Releases Anything Harmful
Some people worry that walnuts might somehow “contaminate” almonds or change their taste.
They won’t.
Both are just nuts soaking in plain water, so nothing harmful passes between them.
The worst you’ll get is a bit of walnut color in the water, which rinses away easily.
So if you want a simple answer: yes, you can soak almonds and walnuts together without worrying about any weird side effects.
4. It Saves You Time and Space
Let’s be real, the biggest win is convenience.
Instead of two jars hogging fridge space, you use one bowl and one soaking session.
If your mornings are busy, being able to soak almonds and walnuts together the night before is a small but real time-saver.
You prep once, rinse once, and you’ve got both nuts ready for snacking, blending, or baking.
How to Soak Almonds and Walnuts Together the Right Way
Soaking almonds and walnuts together is easy, but a few habits keep everything fresh and tasty.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Rinse Both Nuts First
Give your almonds and walnuts a quick rinse under cool running water before soaking.
This removes dust and surface debris so the soaking water stays cleaner.
Then toss them into a glass or ceramic bowl together.
2. Cover With Filtered Water
Pour enough fresh filtered water over the nuts so they’re fully submerged with an inch or two to spare.
They’ll absorb some water and expand slightly, so give them room.
Avoid tap water with a strong chlorine smell if you can, since the nuts will soak up that flavor.
3. Refrigerate While Soaking
If you soak almonds and walnuts together overnight, stick the bowl in the fridge.
Cool temperatures slow bacterial growth and keep the walnuts from getting too soft.
If you only plan to soak walnuts for a few hours, the counter is fine, but the fridge is always the safer bet.
4. Rinse Thoroughly Before Eating
Once soaking is done, drain and rinse both nuts really well under cool water.
This washes away the released tannins and any lingering bitterness.
Pat them dry if you’re storing them or use them straight away in smoothies, oatmeal, or a homemade nut milk.
5. Store Soaked Nuts Properly
Soaked almonds and walnuts won’t last nearly as long as dry ones.
Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge and plan to use them within 2 to 3 days.
If you soaked too many, freeze them in a single layer, then bag them for later.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When You Soak Almonds and Walnuts Together
A few small errors can turn a good soak into a soggy mess.
Watch out for these:
1. Soaking at Room Temperature Too Long
Leaving nuts out on the counter for 10+ hours invites bacteria, especially in warm kitchens.
Once you soak almonds and walnuts together for more than a few hours, move them to the fridge.
2. Skipping the Rinse
Skipping the final rinse means you’re eating whatever the water pulled out, bitterness included.
Always rinse well before snacking.
3. Using the Same Water Twice
That cloudy soaking water is full of tannins, so don’t reuse it.
Fresh water for soaking, fresh rinse afterward, always.
So, Can You Soak Almonds and Walnuts Together?
You can soak almonds and walnuts together, and it’s a convenient way to prep both nuts in one go.
They soak in overlapping timeframes, release tannins safely into the same water, and save you fridge space and morning time.
Just rinse them well, keep them refrigerated, and use them within a few days.
Hope this post has helped you see why soaking almonds and walnuts together works and how to do it right.