We answer the most frequent questions that our customers have when planning walnut processing.
1. What is the weight of the walnut kernel compared to the shell?
From 3 kg of walnuts in shell, on average, you can get 1 kg of kernel and 2 kg of shells and partitions. With a good varietal walnut, the ratio can be 1.5 kg of kernel to 1.5 kg of shell.
2. Which nutcracker to buy to get a whole kernel?
First of all, the quality of the walnut itself affects the yield of the whole kernel: if the walnut is moderately dry of good quality, it is important to choose a nutcracker with a gentle cracking. These include all nutcrackers with a conical principle, they cracked the shell of the walnut and do not damage the kernel.
If the walnut with a thick shell and a kernel that has grown into the septum, the nutcracker will not be able to affect the yield of the kernel. The very structure of such a walnut does not allow obtaining a whole kernel. When processing such a nut, you need to select a high-quality steel nutcracker, and on an industrial scale, a walnut breaker after cracking machine is used.
3. The kernel crumbles / breaks during processing. Why and what to do?
The kernel can crumble for several reasons:
1. The nutcracker squeezes and crushes the kernel too much. In this case, it is necessary to adjust the nutcracker to the size of the walnut, if possible, or replace the nutcracker with a more gentle one.
2. The walnut is overdried. This happens when the walnut is not properly dried or stored in a too dry and hot room, or the walnut is old from last year. For small volumes, the elasticity of the walnut can be restored by placing it in a humid environment or wetting it. However, it is important to understand that after cracking, the kernel must be dried, otherwise mold may appear. With industrial volumes, this method will not work, so the walnut just needs to be processed into 1/4, 1/8 and crumb.
3. You have received a thick-shelled walnut. In fact, it does not crumble, but because of its structure it simply does not give a whole kernel.
4. How to separate the kernel from the shell?
Any nutcracker, both domestic and industrial, only cracks a walnut. After cracking, the kernel must be separated from the shell and partitions. In home processing, this is done manually. If you want to automate the process, you can use a machine for separating kernel from the shell (an aspiration column). Aspiration with a stream of air blows out lighter particles – shells and partitions, and the kernel is sent to a separate container. The aspiration column can be used both in home business and in industries. At the same time, to automate and increase the processing volume, it is more efficient to use a vibrating sieve with an aspiration system – it simultaneously sorts the walnut into fractions and separately blows shells and partitions from each fraction.
5. Does the machine for separating kernel from the shell free you from manual busting?
The principle of operation of aspiration is that it blows out light particles (shells and partitions) from heavy ones (kernel). Accordingly, there are inaccuracies and large pieces of shells that are heavy can get into the compartment for the kernel. Aspiration significantly reduces the amount of manual labor, but it will not be possible to completely abandon it.
There is also a dependence on the quality of the walnut:
– wet walnut has high elasticity and heavy weight, after cracking it retains its integrity. Therefore, before using the equipment, the walnut must be dried to the optimum moisture content;
– a walnut with thick shell that has not been cracked enough is difficult to sort automatically. Therefore, it must first be cracking in a walnut breaker.