Is there anything more annoying than trying to remove hazelnut skins? I have tried the blanching method and the roasting method and neither of them really did a great job. I adore hazelnuts but having to fight to use them was too annoying.
As a result I stopped using hazelnuts for a long time but no more! I came up with my own technique that makes this foodie task so much easier.
Tutorial
Put hazelnuts on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 425F. Put in oven for 7-9 minutes.
This is a hot oven so keep an eye on your hazelnuts. You want the heat to expand the nuts and break the skins but not scorch the hazelnuts.
Immediately put in a heat-proof dish and then tuck away in your freezer. Make sure to give it a lot of space. This will force the nuts to contract. Keep in the freezer for half an hour.
Get out a mesh strainer and give the nuts a good press against it to help loosen the skins.
Look at that! Very little effort for maximum results.
Success!
I could not believe it. The fast roast and then freeze method worked like a charm. Most of the skins came off with minimal effort.
Gotta love foodie science!
Neat trick about the freezer!