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Pecans nutrition facts

Delicious, buttery yet rich-flavored pecans are one of the popular edible dry fruits known to American aborigines since centuries ago. The nuts are enriched with many health benefiting nutrients, minerals, vitamins that are essential for optimum health.

Pecan is a very large sized, deciduous tree belongs to the member of hickory family, Juglandaceae; and scientifically named as Carya illinoinensis. They are native to central and southern parts of the United States of America, however, now being cultivated in many regions of the world including USA as an important commercial crop.

Raw pecans. Note oblong shaped gray-brown color thin shelled nuts.	Inside-pecan kernel. (Photo: jetheriot)

Several cultivars exist; some of the highly recommended species include Cape fear, Elliott and Moreland.

During each spring season, the tree bears catkins, consisting of cluster of monoecious flowers arranged closely along a central stem that ultimately become fruits by autumn.

Pecan nut enveloped by involucres. (Photo courtesy by cleopold).	Pecan tree- Large sized deciduous tree, recognised as "Texas state tree."

Pecan nuts, like the fruit of all other members of the hickory genus, are not true nuts, but are botanically a drupe.

Each fruit feature oval to oblong shape, 1 to 3 inch long and 0.5–1 inch broad, and dark brown color with rough 3-4 mm thick husk or involucres, which splits off in to four sections at maturity to release a thin-shelled nut. Nuts are generally harvested from October through December. Raw nuts are then subjected to dehydration; the process which is essential to remove moisture and to improve the keeping quality of pecans.

Health benefits of Pecans

• Pecan nuts are rich source of energy, provide 690 cal/100 g and contain many health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins that are essential for wellbeing. 

• These nuts are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid and an excellent source of antioxidants. Regular intake of pistachios in the diet help to lower total as well as LDL or “bad cholesterol” and increase HDL or “good cholesterol” levels in the blood. Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet which is rich in dietary fiber,  mono-unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants help to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.

• Pecan nuts are rich source of many phyto-chemical substances that may contribute to their overall antioxidant activity, including polyphenolic antioxidant ellagic acid, vitamin E, beta-carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin. Research studies have been suggestive of that these compounds help body remove toxic oxygen free radicals and thus, protect body from diseases, cancers as well as infections.

• Anti-proliferative properties of ellagic acid are due to its ability to directly inhibit the DNA binding of certain carcinogens such as nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, thus protecting body from cancers.

• Pecans are an excellent source of vitamin-E, especially rich in gama tocopherol; provides about 25g per100 g. Vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant, required for maintaining the integrity of cell membrane of mucus membranes and skin by protecting it from harmful oxygen free radicals.

• The nuts are packed with many important B-complex group of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates. These vitamins functions as co-factors for enzymes during cellular substrate metabolism.

• The nuts are also rich source of minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium.

Add hand full of pecan nuts every day in the diet to keep your diet meter comlpete with sufficient levels of minerals, vitamins and protein.

Selection and storage

Pecans are available in the markets year around. In the store, however, many forms are available like shelled, unshelled, salted, sweetened etc. Try to buy whole “in shell” or “with shell” nuts instead of processed ones. They generally available in the airtight packs as well as in bulk bins.  

Look for the nuts that feature off white color, healthy looking shell, compact, uniform in size and feel heavy in hand. They should be free from cracks (other than the natural split), molds, and spots and free from rancid smell.

Raw whole pecan nuts are generally cut open at procesing units using large sheller machines. Smaller nut sheller machine or hand held pliers usually are being used for domestic purposes.

Unshelled or with shell pecans can be placed in cool dry place for many months, whereas shelled (without the shell) kernels (nuts) should be placed inside airtight container and kept in the refrigerator to avoid them turn rancid.

Culinary use

• Raw pecans, like walnuts, can be eaten on their own or salted or sweetened.


• Pecan nuts are buttery in consistency yet pleasantly sweet in taste.  High fat content in them make them wonderful additions to prepare delicious recipes like pecan caramel puddles, pie, fudge, balkava and muffins.


• The nuts are often sprinkled over desserts, particularly sundaes and bourbon ice creams.


• They are widely used in confectionery, as an addition to biscuits, sweets and cakes.


• The nuts are also used to make pecan nut-butter, which is popular spread over bread, toast etc.

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