Where to buy hazelnuts?

With all the baking I do, this is pretty strange, but I've never bought hazelnuts here in Chicago. I'm in the near west 'burbs (Oak Park area) and need some for a cake I'm baking this weekend.

If anyone can suggest who would carry them, I'd be most greatful.

Thanks so much!

Someone probably has a better answer, but Whole Foods at Lake/Harlem carries them in bulk (or did within the past month).

Sometimes Trader Joe's has them. Also , not close to you though, The Home Economist in Skokie has them. They carry blanched (skinned) ones.

That'll work! I was just there last week, but didn't notice them (probably wasn't looking in the right place). Just reached a human being there on the phone and they confirmed they have them.

Thank you!

I bought skin on at Trader Joes in Northbrook last week and I was in Garden Fresh the next day and they had both skin on and blanched.
Paulette

Marketplace on Oakton always has a large selection of nuts and dried fruits, but it's waaay in the back in an unlikely corner between the meat department and the produce. I have seen both skin-on and skinless hazelnuts there.

Not certain but I'd be surprised if Lincolnwood Produce didn't carry them as well.

Lincolnwood Produce definitely carries them (unblanched). I've bought them there a number of times. Unfortunately not too close to the Western suburbs...

Where can I buy Spanish hazelnuts in Chicago, preferably Oak Park or the western suburbs?

I am not an ardent fan of anything hazelnut but recently wanted some for a recipe. I can not find them in any of the stores. I am looking for the baking nut kind, whole without a shell like you would buy pecans and walnuts. Could not find them at Whole Foods. Are they a seasonal item? Please advise.

I believe I saw some recently at Fresh Farms in Wheeling.

Last time I found them was at Fresh Market at Lake and Skokie Blvd in Wilmette.
You may also wish to look for "Filberts" -- same nut.

Trader Joe's always seems to have them.
Why not call a few stores and get a direct, accurate answer.

Thanks all.

They typically have them at the chain supermarkets too. Just note that the skin leaves a bitter aftertaste, so it's best to remove as much as possible. It's easier after they're toasted - rub them in a towel and most of the skin tends to come off pretty easily.

I hate trying to remove the skins. I mail order blanched ones and freeze them until needed, ever since the Home Economist store in Skokie (which used to sell blanched ones) closed.

I've never seen them, blanched or unblanched in a regular supermarket like Jewel. Trader Joes often has the unblanched ones, but not always. I've seen them at Whole Foods once in a while, usually in the bulk foods section.

Okay I recently had them in a shredded brussel sprout salad. It was whole toasted skin on hazlenuts that looked as if they had been toasted in the oven or in a pan. So if I buy them like at Trader Joes do I have to blanch them or can I just toast them in the oven or a dry frying pan? I have never worked with hazelnuts before.

Just toast/roast them.

Thanks D.

Yes, "blanching" hazelnuts usually means roasting them in an oven and then rubbing the skins off. Probably OK for a small amount like in a salad.

You need to be careful with the time/temp so they don't burn.

There another technique where you drop the nuts in boiling water with some baking soda for a few minutes. The skin slips right off, but I don't like the texture of the nut, which seems a bit waterlogged.

rickster wrote:Yes, "blanching" hazelnuts usually means roasting them in an oven and then rubbing the skins off. Probably OK for a small amount like in a salad.

You need to be careful with the time/temp so they don't burn.

There another technique where you drop the nuts in boiling water with some baking soda for a few minutes. The skin slips right off, but I don't like the texture of the nut, which seems a bit waterlogged.

Actually, blanching involves boiling water and not roasting, such that if you purchase blanched nuts, you will want to roast them if that's the flavor you're after. You can also remove the skins however by toasting in the oven, but that process itself is not blanching.

I have not seen them at the Trader Joes in Glen Ellyn lately.

I think I bought them at Caputos last time, though its been awhile.

Every time I've looked, I've found them at Fresh Farms in Niles. Trader Joe's seems much more sporadic/seasonal.