Turn tender, raw pistachios into a wonderfully healthy snack when you learn How to Roast Pistachios! The process really couldn’t be more straightforward. Below, you’ll find three methods to roast pistachios to add crunch and flavor to any salad, trail mix, and more.
If you love the flavor of pistachios, you’ll fall in love with my pistachio recipes! Try these chewy green pistachio cookies or this delectable pistachio muffin recipe for a sweet treat.
Have you ever had raw pistachios? Like all raw nuts, they don’t have the crunchy, nutty flavor of roasted nuts from the store. They only take on that delicious pistachio flavor and crunch when heated and seasoned.
Fortunately, it’s so easy to roast pistachios! Whether you’re lucky enough to grow them yourself or have a lot of raw pistachios on hand, save this recipe!
Why You Should Learn How to Roast Pistachios
Learning how to roast nuts is such a valuable skill! Once you know how to roast pistachios, you can apply this technique to almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, and more.
Roasting naturally draws out the flavor of the pistachio nut, and you can add your favorite seasonings, like garlic powder or chili powder, to create a custom flavor blend.
Warm, toasted nuts can be blended into homemade pistachio butter, added to salads for a satisfying crunch, or baked into your favorite recipes like this light & fluffy Watergate Cake.
Recipe Ingredients
- Raw pistachios: You’ll want to use shelled, raw (unroasted), unsalted pistachios. If you can’t find them shelled, it’s worth it to crack them yourself.
- Cooking spray: Choose any non-stick cooking spray or some olive oil. I like to use a non-aerosol oil sprayer. This spray is only needed to if you want salted pistachios. It is needed to make the salt stick to them.
- Salt: Only needed if you want salt on your pistachios. Salt will draw out the natural flavor in pistachios for extra flavor.
How to Roast Pistachios
Below you’ll find three different tried-and-true methods to roast pistachios. Feel free to try whichever one makes the most sense with the equipment in your kitchen.
Roasting in the oven
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Spread out the raw pistachios on a baking sheet in a single layer. If salting the nuts, spray lightly with non-aerosol cooking spray and sprinkle on salt.
- Bake in the oven for 7-10 minutes, shaking the nuts halfway through cooking time. You can also flip your tray to cook the pistachios evenly.
- Lay baked nuts on a lint-free clean towel. If you need the skins removed, gently rub the pistachios with the towel.
Roasting in the air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 330°F.
- Pour the raw pistachios into the air fryer, making sure they are in a single layer. If you are salting the pistachios, lightly spray the pistachios in the air fryer basket if you are using a non-aerosol oil sprayer. If you only have aerosol oil, spray the nuts on a baking sheet before adding them to the air fryer (the aerosol spray will break down the air fryer coating). Then sprinkle on salt.
- Air fry pistachios for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking time.
- Pour the hot pistachios onto a spare baking sheet or bowl to cool down. Use a clean lint-free towel to rub off the skins if needed.
Roasting on the stove (Best for smaller amounts of pistachios, ½ cup)
- Put a small cast iron skillet or saute pan on medium heat.
- Add in ½ cup of pistachios. If salting pistachios, spray on a very light mist of oil and sprinkle in ⅛ teaspoon of salt. Make sure to stir the pistachios almost constantly to keep them from burning.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes until they are about 2 shades darker.
- Place cooked nuts on a cool baking sheet or bowl to cool. Remove the skins with a lint-free towel if needed.
Tips for Success
- Follow your nose. As soon as you smell the pistachios, they’re most likely done.
- Stay close. Nuts can be overcooked really quickly so stay nearby and check them oftne.
- Go slow. If you try to roast pistachios at too high of a temperature, they will burn quickly.
- Taste as you go. Although the flavor and texture won’t fully develop until the nuts cool, you can tell if you need to add additional salt or if the nuts are crispy enough.
Recipe Variations
- Candy pistachios by roasting them with a bit of maple syrup or agave syrup, coconut oil, and cinnamon.
- Make spicy pistachios by tossing them with spicy chili sauce before roasting.
- Coat sour lemon pistachios with lemon juice and a sprinkle of citric acid for a mouthwatering flavor.
- Make pistachio butter by blending your freshly roasted pistachios in your food processor for 5-10 minutes. Use like your favorite nut butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to roast pistachios?
The easiest and most consistent way to roast pistachios is by baking them in the oven on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. You can roast many pistachios at once, and the parchment paper makes it easy to transfer them to a jar or bag when cooled.
How long does it take to toast pistachios?
Depending on your roasting method, pistachios typically take 6-10 minutes to roast. Since they cook so quickly, it’s easy to roast them as needed.
What is the serving size of pistachios?
One serving of pistachios is 1 ounce or about 50 nuts. In 2 cups of nuts, there are about 200 nuts, so that would be 4 servings.
How do you roast and salt raw shelled pistachios?
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Spread out the raw pistachios on a baking sheet in an even layer. Spray with non-aerosol cooking spray and sprinkle on sea salt or kosher salt.
- Bake in the oven for 7-10 minutes. Shake the nuts halfway through cooking time. Stir or flip the tray to cook the pistachios evenly.
- Lay baked nuts on a clean towel. If you need the skins removed, gently rub the pistachios with the towel.
How to Store & Reheat
How to refrigerate roasted pistachios? Once your pistachios are roasted, they don’t need to be refrigerated if you plan to eat them within a week or two. Store them in an airtight container, like a glass jar, and refrigerate them for 2-4 weeks to enjoy as needed.
How to keep at room temperature? Store your roasted nuts in a glass jar or container for 1-2 weeks.
How do you reheat toasted pistachios? If you prefer the flavor of warm roasted pistachios, you can reheat them on a baking sheet in the oven for 2-4 minutes at 350 degrees.
Can I Freeze Roasted Pistachios?
How to freeze roasted pistachios? Once the roasted pistachios cool to room temperature, store them in a freezer-safe bag. For long-term storage, use a vacuum sealer. Freezing is also a great way to keep raw pistachio nuts fresh until you roast them.
Try these other recipes!
- Pistachio Pudding Cookies
- Pistachio Muffins
- Watergate Cake
- Fluffernutter Cookies
- Nutella Truffles
- Peanut Blossom Cookies
If you’ve tried this roasted pistachio recipe, don’t forget to give me a star rating and leave me a comment below in the comment section. I love to hear from people who have made my recipes!
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How to Roast Pistachios {3 Ways}
Ingredients
- 2 cups pistachios raw and shelled
- non-aerosol spray optional
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
How to Roast Pistachios in the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Spread out the raw pistachios on a baking sheet in a single layer. If salting the nuts, spray lightly with non-aerosol cooking spray and sprinkle on salt.
- Bake in the oven for 7-10 minutes, shaking the nuts halfway through cooking time. You can also flip your tray to cook the pistachios evenly.
- Lay baked nuts on a lint-free clean towel. If you need the skins removed, gently rub the pistachios with the towel.
How to Roast Pistachios in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 330°F. Pour the raw pistachios into the air fryer, making sure they are in a single layer.
- If you are salting the pistachios, lightly spray the pistachios in the air fryer basket if you are using a non-aerosol oil sprayer. If you only have aerosol oil, spray the nuts on a baking sheet before adding them to the air fryer (the aerosol spray will break down the air fryer coating). Then sprinkle on salt.
- Air fry pistachios for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking time.
- Pour the hot pistachios onto a spare baking sheet or bowl to cool down. Use a clean lint-free towel to rub off the skins if needed.
How to Roast Pistachios on the Stove
- Put a small cast iron skillet or saute pan on medium heat. Add in ½ cup of pistachios. If salting pistachios, spray on a very light mist of oil and sprinkle in ⅛ teaspoon of salt.
- Make sure to stir the pistachios almost constantly to keep them from burning.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes until they are about 2 shades darker.
- Place cooked nuts on a cool baking sheet or bowl to cool. Remove the skins with a lint-free towel if needed.
Notes
- Follow your nose. As soon as you smell the pistachios, they’re most likely done.
- Stay close. Nuts can be overcooked really quickly so stay nearby and check them oftne.
- Go slow. If you try to roast pistachios at too high of a temperature, they will burn quickly.
- Taste as you go. Although the flavor and texture won’t fully develop until the nuts cool, you can tell if you need to add additional salt or if the nuts are crispy enough.
- Store pistachios in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 weeks or 1-2 weeks at room temperature.
Nutrition
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