To cook with whole nutmeg, use a nutmeg grater, pepper mill, or microplane to grate off a small amount of the seed into your dish. Nutmeg also pairs well with creamy sauces and cheesy dishes, such as bechamel, alfredo sauce, and soufflés, which benefit from the spice’s subtle heat.
How do you prepare a whole nutmeg?
Here are some tips on how to grind whole nutmeg
Peel away the shell completely from the nutmeg. Hold your grater at about a forty-five degree angle. Slide the nutmeg seed down along the grater in a smooth motion. Grate only what you need for the freshest, ground nutmeg.
Do you have to shell whole nutmeg?
Grating Whole Nutmeg
You do not need to peel, cut or toast whole nutmeg seeds before preparing them. Grate the nutmeg with a microplaner, the smallest holes of a standard cheese grater or a specialized nutmeg grinder. For maximum potency, grate only as much nutmeg as you need to use immediately.
Do you just grate whole nutmeg?
Peel away the shell and then finely grate the whole nutmeg seed at a forty-five-degree angle.
What part of the nutmeg do you use?
The pulp of the fruit is eaten locally. After collection the aril-enveloped nutmegs are conveyed to curing areas where the mace is removed, flattened out, and dried. The nutmegs are dried gradually in the sun and turned twice daily over a period of six to eight weeks.
Can you use the entire nutmeg?
Cooking With Nutmeg
It can be used whole and grated directly into a recipe or measured or shaken from a canister of pre-ground nutmeg. To use whole nutmeg, you will need a microplane or nutmeg grater to shave off a small portion of the seed.
Do you have to crack open a nutmeg?
Hey! The nutmeg comes in an outer pod which keeps it super fresh, and needs to be removed before use. Crack it open with a nutcracker or with the flat side of knife, and proceed to grate the inner nutmeg as usual.
Is whole nutmeg better?
Unlike ground nutmeg, this variety, lasts indefinitely as long as its stored properly. What really distinguishes whole nutmeg from its ground counterpart is the potent flavor. Whole nutmeg is stronger tasting and has considerably more flavor.
Is whole nutmeg healthy?
Nutmeg is a rich source of antioxidants, which help protect against the signs of aging and serious conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and liver disease.
Should whole nutmeg be refrigerated?
Don’t refrigerate or freeze nutmeg:
Some might believe that storing nutmeg in the refrigerator might increase its shelf life. But, when it comes to nutmeg, the humidity inside of the refrigerator might further degrade its quality.
Should nutmeg be cooked?
Freshly-grated nutmeg should ideally be added at the end of the cooking process since heat diminishes the flavor.
Should I buy whole or ground nutmeg?
It is best to buy nutmeg whole and grate it as needed, as ground nutmeg loses its flavor very quickly. Despite its hard surface, whole nutmeg is easy to grate by hand.
What precautions should be followed in the use of nutmeg?
Precautions. Though nutmeg is unlikely to cause harm when consumed in small quantities, taking it in high doses may cause adverse side effects. It contains the compounds myristicin and safrole. When ingested in large amounts, they can cause symptoms like hallucinations and loss of muscle coordination.
How long does whole nutmeg last?
about 4 years
Generally, you can assume that well stored whole nutmeg seeds will keep freshness for about 4 years, while ground nutmeg for about two years. That’s, of course, for the best quality. Provided that water won’t get to the spice, it should last well beyond that period, and in reasonably good shape.
Which parts of the nutmeg have medicinal importance?
The nutmeg tree is also valued for its medicinal properties. The leaves and other parts of the tree are used in extracting essential oil as well as nutmeg butter, which are used for the purpose of beauty and have other health benefits.
Can you eat the shell of nutmeg?
the shell is mace, the inside is nutmeg. go easy on it mind, it’s poisonous in any quantity (like if you tipped a whole jar in something by mistake).
What does too much nutmeg do to your brain?
The reason why nutmeg has such a profound effect on the brain is to do with myristicin, which targets your body’s central nervous system and floods it with norepinephrine, a hormone responsible for increasing heart rate in blood pressure. Similar to peyote, intoxication from nutmeg can cause: Hallucinations. Drowsiness.
Is nutmeg healthier than cinnamon?
Nutmeg is the winner when you compare the copper, magnesium, and phosphorus content. Cinnamon is also rich in potassium, calcium, fiber, and iron source. The folate content in nutmeg is 10 times more than that in cinnamon. Both saturated fat and monounsaturated fat in cinnamon are much lower than nutmeg.
What does eating loads of nutmeg do?
Nutmeg is a popular spice that can give a person a “high” similar to that of some hallucinogenic drugs if they consume too much. The name for this is nutmeg intoxication. Nutmeg comes from the seeds of a tree called Myristica fragrans.
Does nutmeg raise your blood pressure?
Nutmeg is packed with antioxidants and has a slew of anti-inflammatory properties, which have been shown to help reduce blood pressure and improve heart health.
What does nutmeg do for a woman?
Even according to Ayurveda, this spice helps in calming the nervous system and improves blood circulation to the reproductive organs. This is the reason why it has been deemed as women’s viagra.