Cracking Ultra-Hard Hican Nuts: The Brick-and-Hammer Method

Prep

1. Remove green hulls (use as mulch).
2. Dry nuts 2–3 weeks in cool, dry place. Essential: fully dry shells crack cleanly.

Tools

• Brick (on concrete)
• Pan (to catch kernels)
• Hammer (weight/force matters most)
• Nut pick

Technique

1. Place brick narrow-edge down.
2. Hold nut stem-end right, balance on brick.
3. Strike sharply ⅓ down from stem.
4. Pick out meats; shells go to bird feeder or grill smoke.

Key

Dry thoroughly first. No shortcut works on rock-hard hican/hickory shells.