desCascar

Descascar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese that means to remove the outer layer from a fruit, vegetable, nut, or seed—effectively to peel, shell, or husk. The action covers removing shells, husks, or thick outer skins so the interior becomes ready for consumption or further processing. While the core idea is the same across languages, the exact usage can vary by region and context.

Etymology and usage notes: the term derives from the prefix des- (indicating removal) and cascar (to shell or crack), with casca meaning shell or husk. In Spanish, descascar often emphasizes stripping away an outer covering that is not part of the edible portion, whereas pelar is commonly used for removing edible skins in many dialects. In Portuguese, descascar carries the same general sense and is widely used in everyday speech and culinary contexts. Adjectives describing the result include descascarado or descascado (peeled or husked).

Contexts and examples: in cooking, descascar can refer to preparing nuts, seeds, legumes, or fruits by removing their protective layers before cooking or eating. In agricultural or industrial settings, the term may describe dehulling or de-skinning processes in food production. The concept contrasts with pelar in situations where the emphasis is on removing a shell or husk rather than a thin skin.

See also: pelar, descascado/descascada. The distinction between descascar and pelar is subtle and varies by dialect, but both denote removing an outer covering to expose the edible interior.