The cost of electric nutcrackers varies from $200 to $6,000. In this case, there may be the same performance and approximately the same declared output of the whole core. What is the catch and what you need to know about nutcrackers so as not to face the “expectation-reality” situation.
Nutcrackers exist with two different cracking principles:
- Roller nutcrackers work by rotating one or two shafts that capture and crack the nuts. Nutcrackers with a roller principle of operation are small in size and have a
fairly high productivity.
Before cracking on roller nutcrackers, the nuts must be calibrated. Since the distance between the shafts / shaft and the metal plate is set depending on the size of the nut. Without pre-calibration, a nut with a small gap will fall past the shafts and remain intact, while large nuts will crack too much. Accordingly, the yield of the whole kernel will be minimal, and a second split will be required for a part of the nut.
Roller nutcrackers are used at home and when there is no need to obtain a whole kernel (for example, the kernel is rented to confectionery factories).
Also, roller nutcrackers are used and show excellent results in the processing of hazelnuts.
In industrial conditions or when the goal is to obtain a whole "butterfly" kernel, roller nutcrackers are not used.
- Cone nutcrackers work by compressing two plates arranged in a cone shape. Nutcrackers with a cone principle are larger and have medium and high productivity.
They can work without pre-calibrating the nut. Walnut getting into the cone plates remains at a height that corresponds to its size, and a small compression force does not allow the nut to be
crushed. When using a calibrated nut, the nutcracker can be fine-tuned to the size of the nut and provides an even more gentle crack.
Cone nutcrackers give a high yield of the whole kernel, comparable to manual processing - up to 80%.
Cone nutcrackers are used in industrial walnut processing plants.
A separate category is nutcrackers with a drum principle. In the processing of walnuts, they are used as crackers for low-quality nuts, since they are not at all designed to produce a whole kernel.
Drum nutcrackers show excellent results when processing hazelnuts and almonds.