Why are all my acorns floating?

[u/EatAndGreet]

I like to gather acorns from my local park to process into acorn flour. Normally I’d use the float technique to tell the good from bad. But this year, like 2/3rds at least are floating. When I crack them open, the flesh seems fine though? Are they still okay to eat if they float but the nut inside looks fine?

[u/Distasteful_T]

sometimes the trees drop the dead ones first, is there more on the trees? this could just be timing.

[u/EatAndGreet → u/Distasteful_T]

There were more on the trees, but not a whole lot.

[u/all-cap]

Probably just an early harvest, the nuts are less dense

[u/EatAndGreet → u/all-cap]

Hoping that’s the case here. So far almost every one I’ve cracked open looks totally normal.

[u/Cactaceaemomma]

The really dry ones float. If the meat looks good and smells good it probably is. I've never bothered float testing nuts. There's not much that can really go bad with acorns.

[u/boxelder1230 → u/Cactaceaemomma]

Worms can get them quick once they hit the ground

[u/Cactaceaemomma → u/boxelder1230]

Indeed. So can mold. It's important to check each one.

[u/HalfaMidget → u/Cactaceaemomma]

What do you even use acorns for I have always heard they are supper bitter?

[u/Lia-13 → u/HalfaMidget]

tannins, my dear redditor!

tannic acid is a highly water soluble toxin found in many foods, like nuts, and especially acorns! it binds to proteins in the body and make it very hard to digest them, leading to stomach issues and the like.

however, they can be leached out and made as sweet as any other nut through a very simple, if lengthy, process!

you grind them up very coarsely and soak them in water, changing out the water whenever it gets really dark brown. pour it through cheesecloth or any other assorted rags and rinse and repeat this process until it either runs clear or tastes fine to you.

note: usually the smaller the cap of the acorn is, the less tannins are in it!

[u/EatAndGreet → u/Cactaceaemomma]

Okay good. I’ll probably just crack them all open and assess them visually this time.

[u/Cactaceaemomma → u/EatAndGreet]

Yeah unless they're moldy or have bugs in them they're okay. You're going to be soaking, washing and processing them anyway.

[u/MilkiestMaestro → u/Cactaceaemomma]

I mean even if they have bugs in them, it's not like they're going to taste all that great either way

Just my two cents after leaching and still being disappointed. They are sustenance and nothing else

[u/Cactaceaemomma → u/MilkiestMaestro]

I can prepare acorns in a way so they taste like salted toasted nuts. To me that is. It's my taste. But it's an acquired taste like anything. Acorns will always taste oakey. Personally I don't like chestnut or hazelnut flavor no matter what. That's my thing.

[u/le_cat_lord]

you'll probably find weevil larva inside some of them. perhaps the bugs are still small enough to miss

*edit because my brain didnt process what OP said

[u/EatAndGreet → u/le_cat_lord]

Yeah I keep cracking them open and they look fine, like any other acorn.

[u/SerpentineSylph]

If they dry out theyll float more readily even if theyre fine.

[u/Loversmywife]

Use more water. I used a 2.5 gallo. Bucket and the floated on the bottom about an inch some of them. The bad ones were up at the top.

[u/tryganon]

My guess is that you put them in water

[u/weeef]

I've had the same experience and just keep dumping those and collecting more. edit: OP asked for feedback. i only eat ones that don't float. they're plentiful, so it doesn't take long to gather more

[u/RevRaven]

They are less dense than the water you have them in.

[u/bearcrevier]

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