Is soaking almonds a must?

artzyfartzy

I soak almonds for milk etc.. but if I want to snack on them or make a trail mix..is it ok not to soak them?

chicory

if they are already not raw, I suppose it shouldn’t matter

Annabelle77

My understanding is this:

Nuts and seeds have an enzyme-inhibiting coating on them. This is obvioulsy to protect them from decay until they are burrowed in damp earth so they can propagate the species.

If you soak them, thus removing the enzyme inhibitors, they are readily digestable for us… and we get more out of them. I usually soak a bunch at night, drain them in the morning and eat them that day. I have made the mistake of soaking lots of them… but they will start to rot in a few days since they are no longer protected.

Zanzibarrr

yup :) from the third to the sixth day, more or less, when they sprout, they contain high levels of alkaloids, against animals munching them away, so they’re high in Vit B etc… super high in nutrients and enzymes because they’re growing, but they’re also a bit toxic…