Almond

The nut inside the fruit from an almond tree. There are 2 main types of almonds - sweet and bitter - with only sweet almonds sold in the United States. Raw bitter almonds contain traces of prussic acid which can be harmful except in small amounts, but whose toxicity is negated by heat processing.

Almonds are used in a wide spectrum of recipes, from desserts and pastries to accompanying savory vegetable and fish dishes. Toasting will enhance their flavor and give them a more pleasing crunch. Keep shelled almonds refrigerated in an airtight container for several months or in the freezer for up to 6 months.