Pecans are indigenous trees that grow in North America; the nuts that grow on them are called pecan nuts. Pecan in the native language means nuts require a stone to crack. Though they are extensively used in many recipes and as toppings, it is being looked upon as a health helper as well. Pecans were preferred to other nuts because of three reasons, firstly they are easy to shell than the other nuts, secondly they can be easily accessed through waterways and thirdly because they taste much better than other commonly grown nuts of this region.
Different methods are used to grow pecans in the Southern regions of the United States – pollination being one of the methods. However this is not considered a fundamental factor because many a times already get pollinated due to strong wind.
Roasted pecans were utilized by Native Americans as part of their ritual before hunting. The nuts are convenient to carry as they can be carried in a small snack bag and does not rot easily. The Native American also made milk from it because of its nutritional properties.
The wonder of pecans lies not just in its nut but in its shell as well. There is more to it than just extraordinary flavor of its nuts. Many researches and clinical and studies have concluded that pecans contain polyunsaturated fats which reduce the level of LDL cholesterol, they are low in carbohydrates and rich in vitamin B6, zinc, pyridoxine, thiamin, minerals, iron, vitamin E and minerals. In brief pecans are very nutritious for our body.
Additionally, pecan shells which are thrown away as trash make good composts, they are an excellent source of nutrition to the soil – a very eco friendly way to fill up land.
The secret of baking a yummy pecan pie lies in its process of roasting the nuts. The nuts have to be roasted to perfection to get that perfect aroma and crunchy taste. Pecan is also extracted for its oil which is commonly used in salad dressings, but it is a little pricey. For same great prices on Pecan products one only has to visit Tannerspecan.com
The most popular dishes made from pecans are pecan pralines and pecan pie. Pecan remained the predominant food of Native Americans must before white American settled here. Shelled pecans can be refrigerated for nearly nine months and when placed in the freezer for two years. In this two year period they can be thawed and refrozen repeatedly, this process does not affect its flavor and color. Buy pecans which are plump and uniform in color and size.
Paper thin shell and large kernel are considered as superior quality. To produce high quality pecan nuts the seedling is grafted with anti disease substance. The method of cultivation also guarantees the quality of nuts and the market value of the pecans is determined by the thickness of its shell – the nut must crack easily with the fist. If the shells are very thin and rain water seeps in they will crack easily and become susceptible to plant diseases. These diseases in turn will harm the crops causing big loss to the farmers