20 Amazing Pecan Recipes - Traditional and Updated (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with too many pecans? ›

Pecan Pie History

Legend has it that the French people who settled in New Orleans made the first pecan pie after eating pecans given to them by Native American tribes. Some also claim that pecan pie originated in Alabama in the early 1800s but there is no written documentation to substantiate it.

The bottom line

Pecans are a type of tree nut that's rich in several key nutrients, including fiber, copper, thiamine, and zinc. They've been associated with many potential health benefits, including improved blood sugar control, heart health, and brain function.

Instead of snacking on foods that contain too many saturated fats and too few nutrients, reach for all-natural pecans. Swapping out empty calories for a handful of pecans each day can rev up your metabolism and keep your body processing foods consistently.

Native pecan trees – those over 150 years old – have trunks more than three feet in diameter. That's one heavy nut: it would take 5,640 pecan halves to equal the weight of a standard watermelon. Pecans come in a variety of sizes – mammoth, extra large, large, medium, small and extra small.

Like so many all-natural food sources, pecan trees started as a wild species. Found originally in the American South, the American southcentral areas and Mexico, the pecan is the only nut born and raised in the Americas.

It also is said that Native Americans first cultivated the pecan tree. Presidents Washington and Jefferson Loved Pecans, Too! One of the first known cultivated pecan tree plantings, by Spanish colonists and Franciscans in northern Mexico, appears to have taken place in the late 1600's or early 1700's.

Answer: Absolutely! Freezing your pecans is the best way to store them. You can extend the shelf life of shelled pecans up to 2 years by freezing them. Just make sure that you put them in an air-tight, heavy duty freezer bag.

Sealed plastic bags are best for storing pecans in the freezer. In-shell pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for 6 to 12 months. They can be refrigerated up to 18 months and frozen for about three years. After removal from the freezer, pecans will last for an additional two months.

Like many other nuts, pecans contain a high percentage of fat and can lead to diarrhea if too many are eaten in a short amount of time. Over-consumption may also lead to digestive issues like gas and bloating. Recommendation: One ounce (15-19) pecan halves per day.

How long can you freeze whole pecans? ›

Keep Cool. Shelled pecans can be kept in the refrigerator for about nine months and for up to two years in the freezer.