Do you usually purchase ground nutmeg because you are not sure how to grind whole nutmeg? One of the advantages of purchasing and using whole nutmeg is that if stored correctly, the whole nutmeg seed can stay fresh for many years. A fresh, ground version from your whole nutmeg also has a stronger fragrance and a more potent flavor than ground nutmeg.
Here are some tips on how to grind whole nutmeg
- Take your whole nutmeg and crack the shell open by smashing it. I find that pressing the nutmeg on a wood cutting board with the flat edge of a knife the best way to crack the shell.
- Peel away the shell completely from the nutmeg.
- Hold your grater at about a forty-five degree angle.
- Slide the nutmeg seed down along the grater in a smooth motion.
- Grate only what you need for the freshest, ground nutmeg.
- The best kind of grater to use is a Microplane grater because it has sharper edges than a standard grater.
- Freshly ground nutmeg is stronger so you might consider using a little less than your recipe calls for.
- To keep your whole nutmeg fresh for years, make sure to store this seed in an airtight container in a cool, dry and dark location.
