American Akhrot (Walnut)

A kilo of in-shell walnuts yields roughly 450 to 500 grams of kernels once cracked. So while Rs 2,300 a kilo looks cheaper than akhrot giri at Rs 3,000, the kernels you actually eat cost more from the shell than from the giri pack. I tell customers this at the counter and I will tell you here: if you eat a lot of walnut, buy giri. Buy this one if you eat a little at a time over a long season, if the stock must wait months in a store room, or if your household simply enjoys cracking walnuts at the table. Freshness per month, not price per kilo, is its real advantage.

American shells are thinner than the old hard desi shells. A standard cracker on the seam, or the flat of a heavy knife handle, opens them without shattering the kernel. Keep the nuts in their shells, in a dry place away from heat, and crack only what the week needs; once cracked, the kernels belong in an airtight jar. The full comparison of types and prices is in our akhrot guide.

How long do in-shell walnuts keep? Months, in a cool dry place. That keeping quality is the entire case for buying in shell.

Are American walnuts milder than desi? Generally yes. The kernels are paler and milder, less bitter than desi akhrot, which is why children usually take to them faster.

How do I know a nut is full inside? Pick it up. A full walnut feels heavy for its size; a light, hollow feeling one has a shrivelled kernel. Shake it: a loud rattle is not a good sign.

WD Foods is the online store of Wahid Nimco, working from Quetta since 1990. We deliver across Pakistan in 3 to 5 business days. Shelled kernels and the rest of the range sit in our walnut collection, and the season's rates are in the dry fruits price list.