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The Best Nut Cracker Tool of 2024
Instead of cracking nuts open with a hammer, use a nut cracker tool instead to save you time, energy, and frustration. Specifically designed to crack open hard nutshell, the tool squeezes the nutshell by pressing down on the handles. The tool contains the shell fragments and preserves the inner core, letting you enjoy delicious nuts. If you're ready to make your life easier with a nut cracker tool, we’ve gathered the best nut cracker tools of 2024, with the Anwenk Heavy Duty Nutcracker Tool leading the list as our top pick. What’s more, we’ve answered all of your nut cracker questions so you can be sure to choose the perfect tool for you!
View all ContentsThe Best Nut Cracker Tools
Best Overall
Anwenk’s Heavy Duty Nutcracker Tool is our best overall pick for its ability to crack different types of soft to medium-hard shelled nuts like pecans, Brazilian nuts, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and more. Manufactured in the shape of a plier with a deep cup-shaped design, which keeps the nut in place and prevents the shells from flying out when pressed. Its inner wall has a groove-like design to firmly grip the nut. What’s more, this unique design allows you to crack different nuts in no time. Made from an enameled die-cast aluminum material that can withstand wear and tear, this product is long-lasting. Plus, its handle is made out of smooth, comfortable wood, giving it an ergonomic grip that reduces the stress on your palm and fingers.
Pros
- Cracks nuts easily with minimal effort
- Features a comfortable wooden handle
Cons
- Not suitable for cracking macadamia nuts
Best Design
The Fani Nutcracker Hand Tool is designed to ease the shell cracking process without requiring extra pressure on the handle, making this our top design pick. Its stainless steel blades effortlessly crack open the toughest nuts. Plus, the material is durable, rust-proof, and long-lasting. Featuring two sawtooth holders of different sizes, you can crack both small and large nuts at the same time. What’s more, these holders feature serrated inner surfaces to ensure that the nuts won’t slip out. This worry-free tool also has smooth, anti-slip handles making it a breeze to use. A versatile, well-designed nutcracker that can open up to 180 degrees, it also has smoothly designed edges to keep your palm and hand safe from injury.
Pros
- Features two different-sized holders
- Ergonomic design is easy on the hand
Cons
- Cannot crack pistachio nuts
Best Value
If you’re looking for an affordable nutcracker, Hiware’s Nutcracker Hand Tool is the perfect pick. Coming with two cracking holes of different diameters, the larger cracker opens nuts like walnuts, macadamia nuts, and Brazilian nuts, while the smaller cracker is ideal for almonds and pine nuts. Reinforced with a spring, you can easily open the cracker wide to fit any sized nut. Plus, its inner walls feature a groove design to ensure the nut doesn’t slip.
The larger cracker’s cup-shaped holder prevents the cracked shells from flying out. This nut-cracking tool is made from enameled die-cast aluminum, making it highly durable, sturdy, and wear-resistant. What’s more, its handle’s anti-slip design offers an excellent grip and helps you crack the shells without putting in too much effort. As an added bonus, this nutcracker comes with two picks to easily detach the nut from its shell.
Pros
- Features an ergonomic design
- Features two cracking holes
- Can crack a variety of nutshell sizes
Cons
- It may cause injury if not handled carefully
Best Performance
The Chef Craft Nutcracker Set contains two nut-cracking tools that perform exceptionally well due to their traditional design. These nutcrackers feature grooved walls with machined teeth on the inner side so that the nut stays in place. With a well-designed handle allowing you to exercise full control while cracking nuts, these nutcrackers will let you open most nuts without exerting too much pressure. Made from stainless steel, these tools are durable and strong. What’s more, this nutcracker set comes with four picks, which feature both a pointed and flat tip, allowing you to easily scrape or release the nut from its shell.
Pros
- The traditional design keeps your hands safe
- Can crack nuts without much pressure
Cons
- Can open only one nutshell at a time
Most Durable
Tablecraft’s Nutcracker Hand Tool Set, which includes a traditional nutcracker and four picks, is made from zinc for reduced weight and improved durability. Coated in shiny silver with a textured surface, this nutcracker is timeless and appealing. Featuring an easy-to-use design that allows you to crack open most nuts with a simple squeeze of the handle, this nutcracker tool also has an improved grip to help you break the shells without suffering from any injury. The four picks also allow you to effortlessly release the nut’s softcore from its shell.
Pros
- Securely keeps the nut in place
- Dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning
Cons
- May not be able to crack hard nutshells
Buyer’s Guide for Finding a Nut Cracker Tool
With so many different types of nutcracker tools on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or confused when choosing the right one for you. We’ve put together this detailed buyer’s guide to help you with your selection while also providing some helpful tips and suggestions. The last thing we want is for you to end up with a product that damages the nut’s softcore leaving you with no nut to enjoy! Below, we’ll go over some important factors to consider — like material, design, and even how to properly use a nutcracker tool. So, read on if you’re curious to learn more about what factors to pay attention to while shopping for a top nutcracker tool!
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing a Nut Cracker Tool
Nutcracker operation
Based on how it’s operated, nutcrackers can be divided into two categories: Spring-loaded and hinged. Spring-loaded crackers are best suited for opening soft to medium-hard-shelled nuts, while hinged tools can easily open most nuts, regardless of the shell’s hardness.
Handle
Most nutcracker tools have a V-shaped handle design with smooth edges. Because it might be difficult to crack open hard-shelled nuts, make sure to choose a product reinforced with an ergonomic handle. This will reduce stress on your hands and prevent fatigue. Plus, you won’t have to deal with sharp pain in your palm and fingers while cracking.
Grip
The grip is essential for having proper control over the nutcracker handle and for keeping the nuts in the right position, preventing them from slipping while you’re trying to open the shell. We recommend choosing a tool with an anti-slip handle, which will give you full control. Also, look for a nutcracker tool with a groove design on the inner walls; these grooves will securely grip the nutshell and keep the nut in place all while improving your overall handling of the tool.
Cracker design and shape
Some nut-cracking tools have a cup-shaped head where you place the nut. These deep bowl-like holders make it easier to break open the shells. Plus, the broken shell pieces will remain inside the cup-shaped head, rather than flying off in different directions. On the other hand, some crackers feature a plier design with sawtooth or machined teeth on the inner walls where you place the nut. This unique design helps you establish a better grip over the nut and prevents the nut from slipping.
Number and size of crackers
In some nutcracker sets, you’ll receive two different-sized crackers — a big one and a small one. These versatile products allow you to crack a large nut (such as a walnut or macadamia nut) and a small nut (like pecans and almonds). However, most nutcracker tools feature only a single cracking bowl or sawtooth section with a fixed size. Keep in mind that these products won’t be able to crack nuts of different shapes and sizes.
Picks
Some nutcracker tools come with two or four picks. These are slim, long tools with a tapered or pointed tip that help you release the nut’s softcore from the shell.
Nut Cracker Tool Material
Nutcrackers are made from a variety of materials, each having its own pros and cons that affect the tool’s overall performance. Below, we go through these materials and tell you what you need to know when making your decision.
Aluminum
Most nutcrackers have an enameled die-cast aluminum body. This material is not only hard and tough but has the ability to withstand wear and tear. Plus, aluminum is a lightweight material, allowing you to use the tool easily without tiring out your hand.
Zinc and brass
Nutcracker tools shaped in the form of an inverted V and having a hinged fulcrum are usually made from zinc or brass. These types of crackers are extremely lightweight and are strong enough to withstand pressure when cracking hard-shelled nuts. They are also resistant to rust and other types of corrosion.
Wood and plastic
Some nutcrackers have a wooden handle, which is great for cracking nuts in the winter because it won’t become cold (like metal handles). Other nutcracker tools are made with handles that have a plastic cover over an aluminum frame. This combination of materials offers you a better grip on the tool and helps you effortlessly crack open any nut.
Stainless steel
A few nutcracker products are designed with teeth made out of stainless steel. Stainless steel is one of the hardest materials and allows the cracker to break hard shells without forcing you to apply extra pressure on the handles. What’s more, this material makes the tool wear-resistant, durable, and sturdy.
How To Use a Nut Cracker Tool
To use a nutcracker tool, follow these simple steps:
- Open the nutcracker wide enough to fit the nut in between the teeth. If your nutcracker tool has a cup-shaped holder, place the nut securely within this cup and make sure not to accidentally squeeze the handle.
- Once the nut is in its place, slowly press the handle. Usually, the nut’s shell will crack.
- If the shell doesn’t form an initial crack, apply a little more pressure until you can see the softcore.
- Use a pick to release the softcore from the shell’s wall if it’s not easy coming out.
Average Cost of a Nut Cracker Tool
A nutcracker tool usually costs between $6 and $12, based on a number of different factors. For instance, a plier-shaped tool will cost less than a spring-loaded nutcracker. Similarly, zinc nutcrackers tend to be pricier than aluminum options.
People Also Asked
What type of nuts can I crack open with a nutcracker tool?
You can crack open a wide range of nuts with a nutcracker tool based on the shell’s hardness and size. For instance, Brazilian nuts, pecans, walnuts, and almonds are a few common options.
Do I need to clean my nutcracker tool?
If the nutcracker tool has become sticky or small bits of shell are stuck in between the spring or hinge, you need to wash the product to remove the stickiness or any shell pieces.
Why do I need to use a pick with a nutcracker tool?
A pick helps you release the nut’s core from the shell after breaking it open with the nutcracker tool. While you can remove the nut’s core with your hand, a pick makes this task easier.
