enthäuten

Enthäuten is a German verb meaning to remove the husk, shell, or outer coating from seeds, grains, nuts, or other plant-based materials. The term is used in agriculture, food processing, and seed technology to describe the step that exposes the edible kernel and facilitates further processing, cooking, or storage. The word combines ent- (removal) with Häute, connected to Haut (skin), conveying the idea of stripping away the outer layer.

Anwendungsbereiche include the dehusking of cereals and seeds prior to milling or malting, the removal of skins from nuts such as almonds or hazelnuts to improve texture and flavor, and preprocessing of seeds where the seed coat is removed to enable splitting or grinding. In some technical contexts, enthäuten also refers to preparing materials for analysis or cooking by eliminating protective coverings that hinder subsequent steps.

Vorgehensweisen vary by material and scale. Common methods are blanching or steaming in hot water to loosen the covering, followed by mechanical actions such as brushing, rolling, or abrasion to strip the husk. The choice of method depends on product quality, yield, and energy considerations.

Es gibt verwandte Begriffe wie Schälen (peeling), Dekortation (dehusking in cereal processing) und Häuten (to skin). Enthäuten ist überwiegend fachsprachlich und tritt vor allem in technischen Beschreibungen von Verarbeitungsschritten auf.