Rules to Crack Your Macadamia By

There are a number of ways of cracking macadamias.

The recommended method, according to Frieda Caplan of Frieda’s Finest, is to spread the nuts over a baking sheet and bake at 200 degrees for 30 minutes. After the nuts cool, wrap them in a towel, place on a hard surface and crack with a hammer. Be careful not to hit the macadamias too hard to avoid shattering the nut meat.

Frieda’s Finest distributes the nuts, in the shell, nationwide. In areas where they are unavailable, California macadamias can be purchased by mail from Gold Crown. The group also offers a specially designed macadamia nutcracker.

The minimum order for nuts in the shell, the only way they are sold, is 5 pounds. Larger orders, up to a maximum of 48 pounds, are also accepted. The price, including handling and shipping to anywhere in the United States, is $4 per pound.

The price for the “Mac” reversible cracker, which also works for other nuts, is $9.12, including tax, shipping and handling.

For more information write the Gold Crown Macadamia Assn., P.O. Box 235, Fallbrook, Calif. 92028 or telephone (619) 728-4900.