The Best Pecan Halves

Buying Guide

Pecans happen to be native to America and have many health benefits: they are packed with multiple vitamins, minerals and plant-based proteins. They are also high in beneficial fiber and heart-healthy fats and are low in carbs. 

These benefits don’t mean that you should eat them out of the bag like potato chips, though. One cup of chips has around 150 calories, and the same amount of pecans has about 680. Grab a handful of pecans to snack on, but watch those portions!

Pecans can be sold in or out of the shell, but unless you want to spend time cracking them open, you’ll want shelled ones. You can find pecans that are salted and roasted, as well as ones that are sugar-coated, covered in chocolate and more.

Fresh pecans should have a crisp, buttery taste. Look for ones that are sold in sealable bags; otherwise, they will quickly get stale after you open them. You can store them in airtight containers, keep them in the refrigerator and even freeze them.

Pecans are more expensive than peanuts and other nuts, and the main reasons are low supply and high demand. They can take 10 years to grow and be ready to eat, which slows things down considerably. Poor weather conditions such as very wet springs and summers also complicate things because this leads to plant diseases.

Add to this the fact that people in certain parts of the world consume significant numbers of pecans, and you end up with premium prices. Keep in mind that buying them in bulk is usually cheaper.

Most everyone has tasted pecan pies and pecan cookies, but you can use these nuts in many other recipes as well. You can make homemade candied pecans with caramel or sea salt or use them in chocolate turtle cookies.

They are also delicious in entrees, like pecan-crusted salmon (add a lemon glaze), cranberry apple pecan salad (that crunch sends it over the top) and pecan cream cheese spread (decadent for sure).

• Pecans should be plump and uniform in size and color.
• Almonds are the only nuts required by law to be pasteurized, but most companies do this to other nuts to prevent foodborne illnesses.
• You can freeze pecans in sealed plastic freezer bags. When ready to use them, you don’t need to thaw them unless you want to eat them right away. Allow them to sit until they are room temperature; do not microwave.
• If you have a premade crust, pecan pie is one of the easiest homemade desserts to make. You’ll find recipes across the web that can be whipped up from pecans and pantry staples.