What To Do With Excess Walnuts

What to do with excess walnuts is simple: eat them, store them, bake with them, or turn them into something useful around the house.
 
If you’ve got a tree dropping more walnuts than you know what to do with, you’re in good company — and you’re actually sitting on a pretty valuable stash.
 
In this post, we’ll look at what to do with excess walnuts, from the kitchen to the garden, so nothing goes to waste.
 
Let’s get cracking.
 

What to Do With Excess Walnuts: Best Ways to Use Them

 
What to do with excess walnuts really comes down to a few categories: eat them, store them, cook with them, or put them to work elsewhere.
 
Here are the best ways to handle an overflowing walnut harvest.
 

1. Eat Them Fresh (The Easiest Answer)

 
The simplest thing to do with excess walnuts is to eat them.
 
Fresh walnuts taste amazing on their own, and a small handful makes a filling, nutritious snack.
 
They’re rich in healthy fats, protein, and omega-3s, so they’re a snack you can feel good about.
 
If you’ve been wondering what to do with excess walnuts before they go stale, snacking is a great place to start.
 

2. Store Them So They Last

 
If you can’t eat them all right away, storing your excess walnuts properly keeps them fresh for months.
 
Here’s what to do with excess walnuts you plan to keep long-term.
 
Start by drying them completely if you harvested them yourself.
 
Then store shelled walnuts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to six months or the freezer for up to a year.
 
Whole walnuts in the shell last even longer when kept cool and dry.
 
Label your containers with the date so you know what to use first.
 

3. Bake and Cook With Them

 
Baking is one of the most rewarding answers to what to do with excess walnuts.
 
You can fold them into banana bread, brownies, cookies, or muffins.
 
Toast them first in a dry pan to bring out their flavor — it makes a huge difference.
 
You can also chop walnuts into salads, stir them into oatmeal, or blend them into pesto.
 
For a savory twist, try using excess walnuts in a walnut-crusted chicken or as a topping for pasta.
 

Creative Ways to Use Excess Walnuts

 
Once you’ve eaten and stored your fill, there are plenty of other clever ways to use excess walnuts.
 
Here are some ideas you might not have thought of.
 

1. Make Walnut Butter or Milk

 
Homemade walnut butter is a delicious way to use up a big batch.
 
Just blend roasted walnuts in a food processor until smooth, adding a pinch of salt and a little honey if you like.
 
Walnut milk works similarly — soak the nuts, blend with water, and strain.
 
This is a great answer to what to do with excess walnuts when you’re tired of eating them plain.
 

2. Turn Them Into Gifts

 
If you’re still stuck on what to do with excess walnuts, share the wealth.
 
Pack them into pretty jars and give them to friends, family, or neighbors.
 
You can also make spiced or candied walnuts for a fancier gift.
 
A simple ribbon and a handwritten tag turn a plain jar into something special.
 

3. Use Walnut Shells Around the House

 
Don’t toss the shells — they’re useful too.
 
Crushed walnut shells make a great abrasive for polishing metal or cleaning tough spots.
 
They can also be used as a natural craft material or as filler in homemade fire starters.
 
So even what to do with excess walnuts includes the shells, not just the nut itself.
 

Using Excess Walnuts in the Garden

 
The garden is one of the most overlooked places when it comes to what to do with excess walnuts.
 
There are a few smart ways to put them to work outside.
 

1. Compost the Shells

 
Walnut shells break down slowly, but they can go into your compost pile in small amounts.
 
They add texture and help aerate the compost.
 
Just crush them first to speed up decomposition.
 

2. Use Them as Mulch

 
Crushed walnut shells make an attractive, long-lasting mulch for garden beds.
 
They help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
 
One caution: walnut hulls and roots contain juglone, which can harm some plants, so keep mulch away from sensitive species like tomatoes.
 
Shells alone are generally fine, but it’s worth knowing before you spread them.
 

3. Keep Them Away From Certain Plants

 
This is a big part of what to do with excess walnuts responsibly.
 
If you’re using walnut material in the garden, avoid putting it near plants that are sensitive to juglone.
 
That includes tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and some ornamental shrubs.
 
Used wisely, though, walnuts can still be a helpful garden resource.
 

So, What to Do With Excess Walnuts?

 
What to do with excess walnuts comes down to this: eat them fresh, store them right, bake with them, or get creative.
 
You can make walnut butter, gift them to friends, or even use the shells in the garden.
 
The point is, an overflowing walnut harvest is a good problem to have.
 
With a little planning, you’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy every last one — and nothing has to go to waste.