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You should soak black walnuts in water for about 10 to 14 days to soften the hulls enough for easy removal, though some people soak them for up to 3 weeks depending on the hull thickness and water temperature.
If you’ve been wondering how long to soak black walnuts in water before hulling, the short answer is until the hulls turn mushy and dark, which usually takes one to two weeks of daily water changes.
Soaking black walnuts in water is a classic trick that softens the tough outer husk so you can peel it away without staining your hands or damaging the nut inside.
In this post, we’ll cover exactly how long to soak black walnuts in water, why soaking works, and how to tell when they’re ready for hulling.
Let’s get to it.
How Long to Soak Black Walnuts in Water
The answer depends on a few factors, but most folks find that soaking black walnuts in water for 10 to 14 days does the job nicely.
Here’s what influences the timing:
1. Hull Thickness and Ripeness
Black walnuts with thick, green hulls that haven’t fully ripened take longer to soften in water.
If you harvest them early when the hulls are still firm, you might need to soak black walnuts in water for up to 3 weeks.
Riper walnuts with dark, mushy hulls break down faster, sometimes in just 7 to 10 days.
2. Water Temperature
Cold water slows the process, so soaking black walnuts in water during fall when temperatures drop means waiting a bit longer.
If you use warm water (not hot, just warm to the touch), the hulls soften more quickly, and you can cut the soak time down to about a week.
Change the water daily to keep it from getting stagnant and smelly.
3. How Often You Change the Water
Fresh water matters more than you might think.
When you soak black walnuts in water, tannins and pigments leach out, turning the water dark brown.
If you leave that murky water sitting, it slows softening and encourages mold.
Dump the old water and add fresh water every single day for the best results.
4. The Float Test
After about a week of soaking black walnuts in water, do a quick check.
Give a walnut a squeeze.
If the hull feels squishy and slides off easily, it’s ready.
If it’s still tough and stuck tight, keep soaking and check again in a few days.
Why Soaking Black Walnuts in Water Works
Soaking black walnuts in water isn’t just an old-timer’s trick, it’s science.
The water penetrates the fibrous hull and breaks down the pectin that holds it to the shell.
Once that pectin softens, the hull practically falls away, saving you hours of scraping and scrubbing.
It also reduces the staining power of black walnut hulls, which are notorious for turning your hands yellow-brown for weeks.
Plus, soaking black walnuts in water helps loosen dirt and debris stuck in the husk.
Tips for Soaking Black Walnuts in Water
Want to make the process smoother?
Keep these tips in mind:
1. Use a Large Container
Black walnuts need room to float and move around.
A five-gallon bucket works great for a small batch.
Just make sure the walnuts are fully submerged, and weigh them down with a plate if they float too much.
2. Wear Gloves
Even after soaking black walnuts in water, the hulls still stain.
Put on rubber gloves before you handle them, or you’ll be walking around with brown hands for a week.
3. Keep the Bucket Outside
Soaking black walnuts in water gets stinky fast.
The fermenting hulls smell earthy and sour, so keep the bucket in the garage, on the porch, or somewhere ventilated.
Your kitchen will thank you.
4. Don’t Soak Too Long
There’s a limit to how long to soak black walnuts in water.
Past 3 weeks, the nuts inside can start absorbing water and losing flavor.
Once the hulls are soft, pull them out and get to hulling.
So, How Long to Soak Black Walnuts in Water?
You should soak black walnuts in water for 10 to 14 days, or up to 3 weeks for stubborn hulls, changing the water daily until the husks turn soft and easy to remove.
Soaking black walnuts in water softens the hulls, reduces staining, and makes hulling a breeze.
Just keep an eye on them, swap the water every day, and you’ll know they’re ready when the hulls feel mushy and slide right off.
Happy harvesting.