55 Sweet and Savory Pecan Recipes - You Should Grow (2024)

FAQs

What is the best tasting variety of pecan? ›

You want a richer flavored pecan? This is typically due to a very high oil content – Elliott, Lipan or a seedling (native) pecan may be best for you.

Rich and buttery pecans add crunch and depth of flavor to many dishes. They pair wonderfully with our favorite autumnal flavors—like maple syrup, bourbon, chocolate, and even sweet potatoes—and are the perfect snack regardless of whether they're raw or toasted.

Georgia pecan orchards may range in size from just a few trees to several thousand acres. The state continues to be regarded as the top pecan producing state in the U.S., with over 170,000 acres planted.

When complemented with pecan spread, a ripe nectarine or peach weaves a flavor profile that's both sophisticated and comforting. These combinations cater to the palate and offer a nutritious blend of vitamins and healthy fats.

To make things a little more confusing, pecan trees come in type 1 and type 2 varieties, where their pollinating and receptivity are reversed from one another. Type 1 trees produce pollen and then have receptive female flowers. Type 2 trees are going to have receptive flowers first and then produce pollen.

Type I (protandrous) pecans have male flowers that release their pollen before their female flowers are receptive to pollen shed. Type II (protogynous) pecans release their pollen after their female flowers were receptive.

For pecan trees to bare nuts you will need two or more different cultivars, as they require cross pollination for maximum productivity. Pecan trees do not bear fruit until they are between the ages of four and 12 years old and that is determined by the cultivar.

Among the states mentioned above, Texas, New Mexico, and Georgia harvest most of the pecans in the US. Georgia is the largest pecan producing state. Among fifteen pecan producing state, Georgia accounts for one-third of pecan harvest in the US which is nearly 88 million pounds of pecan.

Pecan shell mulch is slightly acidic and is especially good around acid-loving plants such as azaleas. Pecan shells will eventually decompose and are therefore, good candidates for your compost bin. And why not replace the mesquite and hickory chips you use to flavor your barbecue with pecan shells?

San Saba Texas | Welcome to the Pecan Capital of the World.

Who is the largest pecan grower in the United States? ›

In October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast New Mexico would lead the nation for the second consecutive year in pecan production in 2019, with an estimated 97 million pounds of pecans to be harvested. Arnold said it's likely the state fell short of that estimate but still led the nation.

Pecan production in the United States is a vital part of the country's agriculture sector, with several states contributing significantly to the overall output. The leading pecan-producing states include Georgia, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.

Improves Digestion

Since Pecan nuts are fiber -packed, and 1 ounce provides 11% DV of fiber they promote good colon health and facilitate regular bowel movements. Pecan nuts can prevent constipation and reduce the risk of hemorrhoids and colitis by cleaning out the gastrointestinal system.

The birds most likely to dine on pecans are woodpeckers (red-bellied, downy, red-headed), Carolina chickadees, blue jays, nuthatches (brown-headed, white-breasted), cardinals, American goldfinches, sparrows (chipping, song, white-throated), warblers (pine, yellow-rumped), eastern towhees, northern mockingbirds, eastern ...

They also work well in trail mix or chopped up in baked goods like muffins, pancakes, or banana bread. Alternatively, enjoy raw pecans on their own for a quick, convenient, and nutritious on-the-go snack. Pecans are highly nutritious and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Northern varieties have been selected or bred to ripen their nuts by or before the first hard freeze each year. Southern varieties have been selected or bred to fit the conditions of a longer season with more heat and humidity.

Georgia's pecans are highly desirable due to their size, meatiness and flavor. Delicious right out of the shell, Georgia pecans can be smoked, toasted or roasted, but more and more companies are thinking beyond pecans as nibbles.

Store pecans in cool, dry places away from heat: Because pecans contain such a high amount of healthy, plant-based oils, they are prone to going rancid if they spend too long in warm temperatures.

Native northern pecans have a higher oil content and more flavor than the southern, easier to crack pecans. But southern pecans won't grow too far north and northern pecans won't grow too far south. If you are in a pecan growing region you can probably find a farm store that will crack them for you.