Pine Nuts

1. Seal pine nuts in a plastic sipper bag. Eliminate all air from the bag prior to sealing.

2. Place the bag on a counter or table. Push a rolling pin from the bottom of the bag up towards the top of the bag, pushing firmly against the nuts.

3. Roll the pin back down the bag and repeat back and forth until all of the shells are cracked. Remove the pine nuts from the bag and peel off the broken shell pieces.

Pistachios

1. Use your fingers to pry back the shell from a partially opened pistachio nut.

2. Grasp the pistachio nut with your fingers and gently remove from the shell.

3. Avoid forcing open pistachio shells that have not split open on their own, as they contain immature pistachio kernels that should be discarded.

Brazil Nuts

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place brazil nuts on a baking sheet and place on center rack in oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

2. Use a nutcracker to crack the softened shell and peel away the pieces. Remove the brazil nut.

3. Alternatively, boil 3 cups of water and place a handful of brazil nuts in the water. Boil for 4 minutes to shrink the nut and soften the shell.

4. Remove the nuts from the water and set aside to cool and dry completely.

5. Use a nutcracker to crack the softened shell and peel away the pieces. Remove the brazil nut.

Almonds

1. Boil 4 cups of water. Place 1 cup of almonds in the boiling water.

2. Stir once and remove the pot from the heat. Set aside and let sit for 3 minutes.

3. Drain the almonds in a strainer and allow to cool. Gently rub the almonds with a clean dry cloth to remove the shell skins.

Peanuts

1. Find the split that exists in the peanut shell. Gently squeeze peanuts that don't have a split between your fingers until a split forms.

2. Position your thumbs on both sides of the shell and apply some gentle pressure.

3. Continue applying light pressure while the shell begins to open and the peanut is visible. Carefully pry the peanut from the shell with your fingers.

Chestnuts

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut an X with a knife into each chestnut shell.

2. Place nuts on baking sheet. Place baking sheet on center rack of oven for 20 minutes.

3. Remove from oven and peel off the warm shell.