Does it need checking? Hazelnuts are rarely infested in Israel, or after long storage. They are not commonly infested in the USA (presumed clean). For Tu BiShvat, hazelnuts are listed among the fruits that are sometimes infested and need checking. (Rav Moshe Vaya)
Rav Vaya’s rating
| USA | ✓ | not commonly infested (muchzak k’naki) |
| Israel | [★] | rarely infested, or after long storage |
Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha, Degree of Infestation chart, p. 935 (Hazelnut)
Which bugs
- Signs of infestation in the shell or on the nut: “silk threads” (webbing), dark crumbs, or larvae. The nut may also look gnawed.
- Shelled hazelnuts: silk threads, gnaw marks or a hole. A worm may be inside the nut.
- Chopped nuts: small insects, worms, or silk threads between the pieces. (Rav Moshe Vaya)
How to check
- Hazelnuts in the shell: while cracking, look for silk threads, dark crumbs or larvae in the shell or on the nut. Check whether the nut looks gnawed.
- Shelled hazelnuts: check each nut on both sides.
- If a nut has silk threads, gnaw marks or a hole, cut it in half and check inside.
- If a worm is found, cut all the nuts in half and check inside.
- Even if nothing is found, it is good to cut about 10% in half and check inside.
- Chopped hazelnuts: shake them in a fine-mesh strainer (rice strainer) over a white surface. Check what falls out for small insects.
- Pour what is left in the strainer onto a white surface. Check between the pieces for worms, insects or silk threads. (Rav Moshe Vaya)
Sources
- Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha, Degree of Infestation chart, p. 935 (rating).
- Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha: summary sheet “Tu BiShvat Without Worms: All the Fruits and How to Check Them” (published by Machon Aliya).
Related
References: Rav Moshe Vaya — “Tu BiShvat Without Worms: All the Fruits and How to Check Them” (Machon Aliya, Hebrew)
Source: Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha, p. 935
