11 Best Nutcrackers We’ve Tested

Tested and approved: After thorough testing and cracking countless walnuts, pecans, almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, and more, I recommend Hiware Nutcracker Tool which offers best-in-class performance with its premium stainless steel nutcracker. However, if portability is a concern, and you need the simplest solution then you can go for Chef Craft 21629-2PK. And if you want a seafood cracker, the Good Cook Touch lobster cracker is the best pick you can have to open lobsters or crabs.

Nuts are full of nutrients and health benefits. From No-bake cookies to potluck dinners, or easy and nutritious desserts, these nuts blend well in sweet and savory dishes.

But the delicious taste of these nuts only comes out when you crack the nutshell, and an old saying, “It’s a hard nut to crack,” is right here if you don’t have proper tools. Most nuts are hard to crack, and nutcrackers exist for them. That’s why, we’ve created a list of the best nutcrackers after testing their quality, material, ease of use, and durability. Let’s have a look at these nut openers.

Hiware Good Pecan Nutcracker Tool

Hiware Good Pecan Nutcracker is a heavy-duty nut opener for nut lovers. Its heavy-duty build quality makes it perfect for nuts such as Almonds, Brazil nuts, Pecans, Hazelnuts, or Walnuts. In my experience, it shortened the time and effort by half, and no sore hands, which I often experienced using a handheld cracker, making it the best option for carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis sufferers.

Hiware Nutcracker features a stainless steel construction that is sturdy enough to crack the hardest hickory nuts that are impossible to crack with a standard handheld nutcracker. The best thing about this nutcracker tool is its sturdy wooden base that sits safely on the kitchen top and keeps your nut opener in place while using it. Moreover, its smooth wooden handle makes it easy to grip.

The best part is its replaceable parts where I was able to adjust its threaded cone of different sizes including large, medium, and small. This feature allowed me to cut nuts of every size.

The major concern is its large size, making it unsuitable for outdoor parties, picnics, and camping. For this purpose, I usually the Froiny Mini Nutcracker. Secondly, it requires

Overall, it is a great nutcracking tool and a reliable addition to your kitchen gadgets due to its premium build quality and dynamic sizing options.

Chef Craft 21629-2PK Stainless Steel Set

Chef Craft Nutcracker is a good choice if you are looking for a straightforward nut opener for regular use. Its stainless steel body is built to last. I use these nutcrackers for cracking pecans, walnuts, and, sometimes, lobster. Using straight sides of these nutcrackers, you can even crack lobster shells of different diameters.

Although these nutcrackers are durable with sturdy stainless steel, it is recommended to avoid dishwashing them. Rather, I would recommend handwashing to prevent the chances of rust and to keep their shine and smoothness.

The grooved walls with machine teeth on the inner side are helpful to keep nuts in place without slipping. Moreover, the handles are very ergonomic, providing an easy grip with full control while cracking the nuts. It also comes with four picks with flat and pointed tips to help you release and scrape the nut from the shell.

Overall, these are a great option for cracking up fresh pecans right from the tree. Like any nutcracker, you do have to get the hang of it. Just enough pressure at first, but not so much to avoid crushing the nut.

You can also buy it at: Kmart – eBay

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Tablecraft Nutcracker and Pick Set

Tablecraft Nutcracker and Pick Set is a traditional kitchen gadget that allows you to crack different nuts for regular meals. It features a great build due to its lightweight zinc material, making it easy to handle with a gentle squeeze without feeling any strain on your hands.

Although it’s lightweight, the material doesn’t compromise the design and durability. Its shiny silver coating with a textured surface and sleek look makes this nutcracker timeless and appealing.

In addition, it comes with four nut pickers that help you pick the nuts from the shell effortlessly. You can scrape and pick the nuts without leaving anything behind. However, the only drawback is that it may not crack the hard nuts.

Overall, if you are looking for a simple nutcracker tool for pistachios, Tablecraft is what you’re looking for.

You can also buy it at: Walmart – Wayfair

RSVP International Nuts Nutty Squirrel Nutcracker

RSVP International Squirrel Nutcracker is on the list because it is a unique nutcracker to open all nuts, especially larger ones. The squirrel shape makes it an innovative nutcracker tool with a cute shape that will give an appealing appearance. You can place it anywhere to improve your kitchen decor.

Material-wise, it features a stainless steel hopper and a manual hand crank with a 1-1/4 cup clear jar. It is easy to clean this nutcracker due to its sliding door and being dishwasher safe.

Although you can use this model to crack every type of nut, I would recommend using it for larger nuts because it may turn small nuts into chunks. Overall, it is a great choice if you want a decorative addition to your kitchen to crack larger nuts.

You can also buy it at: Wayfair, eBay, Walmart

Froiny Mini Nut Crackers

Froiny Mini Nut Cracker is one of the best portable nutcrackers for camping due to its simple yet purposeful design. I like this nutcracker tool due to its compact size that fits into my pocket and I carry it during picnic or outdoor activities.

It is easy to insert the key opener into the nut and open it by putting a little pressure to open the nut. The build quality is appreciable due to the durable stainless steel, making it perfect for opening almonds, walnuts, pecans, filberts, and other soft nutshells.

Although the design is pretty simple, it may slip from your hands due to its small size, if you don’t hold it properly. Besides, it takes a lot of effort to open even soft nuts. So make sure you have enough strength to open nuts with this tiny companion.

Rösle Stainless Steel Nut Cracker

Rose Stainless Steel is an ideal nutcracker that works like pliers and lets you open nuts of every type. Put the nuts between both edges and press the grippers. You will get the desired result and the nuts to enjoy. Make sure to apply force depending on the type of nut, or the shell as well as nuts will break and create a mess.

The grooved openings securely grip the nut to prevent slipping. These strong meta teeth can even crush and split the hard nuts provided that you apply the desired force to those hard hickory nuts.

The comfortable grips of this nutcracker distribute the pressure evenly while cracking the nuts. Its sleek and compact design makes it appealing and easy to store in your kitchen drawer. In addition, the minimalist design allows you to pack it in your backpack for camping.

However, due to the lack of a cover, it can be messy while cracking the nuts. Overall, the design and build quality of this inexpensive nutcracker work great in your kitchen and outdoor parties.

You can also buy it at: Walmart, Rosle

Ayrsjcl Plastic Nutcracker Multifunction

Ayrsjcl Plastic multipurpose nutcracker is another tool on the list due to its efficient and multipurpose design. The non-toxic ABS plastic build is quite sturdy, safe, and hygienic.

Its small and compact build makes it convenient to use and carry for outdoor parties, camping, and picnics. It is ideal for cracking nuts of pistachio, melon, sunflowers, and other soft nutshells.

You may only need to put these soft nuts between the pliers and put a slight pressure on the gripers to crack them. The handles are also very smooth and give you a comfortable grip while cracking. Although its plastic build may seem less sturdy, the overall quality makes it an adaptable nut cracker tool for pistachios.

You Can also buy on:

Good Cook Touch Lobster Cracker / Nutcracker

Good Cook Touch is one of the best nutcrackers for lobsters and delivers perfect results to crack all nuts. It makes it easy to handle my various kitchen problems while cooking.

I tried this tool for different nuts, from hard to soft. It works great and helps me to enjoy the nuts while watching movies and scrolling social media. It also reduces my cooking time in the kitchen when dealing with the hard shell of a lobster.

It is one of the amazing nutcrackers with grippers that help me hold the nut in place. Moreover, with this tool, you can apply controlled pressure on the nuts to avoid damage. The rubber padding on the handle may slip from its place with time, and the nutcracker will not return to its position until you close it. However, these issues are not a big deal as you enjoy its multiple uses in your kitchen.

You can also buy it at: Walmart

Nantucket Seafood Cracker

Nantucket is a must-have tool for seafood lovers. It comes with an eight-piece utensil set that contains everything you can expect from an ideal nutcracker set for seafood. The set has 6 picks or scoops and two shellfish crackers, offering two crushing areas.

The Nantucket seafood cracker features two tined forks with one end to fit into a small part of the crab and a spoon on the other side to scrape, scoop, or pull the meat. It is one of the best options if you are looking for a nutcracker for multitasking. Although you can also use it for cracking soft nuts, it is most recommended set for shellfish, crab legs, and other seafood. The grippers, however, may become slippery due to their extra smooth surface while using it for your crab salad.

The stainless steel body makes it easy to use and durable enough to last for years. Otherwise, it is a great pick for your kitchen to enjoy the meal as it has more options than the Tablecraft nutcracker.

You Can also buy it at: Walmart – Bell&Brass

VTOSEN Premium Aluminum Nutcracker

The VTOSEN Premium Nutcracker tool has a strong aluminum build with a polished finish. One of my colleagues used it for cracking different nuts, and she was quite happy with this gadget due to its strong reinforcement and long grips that require slight force to crack hard nuts. Its sturdy design will not deform even after several years.

This cup-shaped nut cracker tool holds nuts tightly and prevents breaking them into pieces. The best part, every cracked nut stays inside the cup without creating a mess, which was a real issue with almost all the above-reviewed nutcrackers. It keeps the nutshells inside that you can remove easily. The saw tooth design and lever provide excellent power for cracking nutshells.

One of the best things I experienced is that it has two cups to crack large and small nuts. Moreover, though it is not recommended for those suffering from carpel syndrome, the comfortable grip still provides easy handling and protects your palm from strain. It is more than a traditional nutcracker that provides you with options to crack different nuts.

Farberware Seafood Nutcracker

Farberware seafood nutcracker is the best choice for cracking lobsters and crabs. The inner grip of this sharp and ridge nutcracker gives you the ease of use with its premium stainless steel finish.

The cast metal provides enough weight to crack the hard nutshells easily. Its larger jaws can hold the large crab legs to come out of the meat from the shell. In addition, the long handles provide a comfortable grip to keep your hand safe from pinch or damage.

The only downside about this nutcracker is that it doesn’t have a lock for handles, making storage and portability difficult. Besides, the cast metal is not durable enough and prone to break if not handled properly. Overall, the material quality and other features are great and built to last.

You Can also buy it at: Walmart

How We Tested These Nutcrackers?

Our team researched the market and found the best kitchen gadgets so that you can get what you are looking for. After the market research and arranging a list of top trending nutcrackers, our team narrowed down the list of the nutcrackers based on their features, usage, and price.

Finally, these nutcrackers were thoroughly tested by cracking countless walnuts, pecans, almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, and more, to find the results based on the nut-cracking options. They also tested these gadgets based on durability, ease of use, variations of uses, and performance. All the results were compiled with detailed insight into this article so that you get the best nutcracker that you are looking for.

Why Trust AHealthyBowl?

Our priority is to provide the users with the right information about the different kitchen products that help you reduce your kitchen efforts while preparing dishes for your family. We review the products after research and testing so that we will deliver you the trusted things.

We held the testing process under the supervision of our experts. From research to testing, our professionals keep an eye on everything; nothing remains unturned from our analysts. After filtring the products, we finalize the list of 11 best nutcrackers so you can enjoy the nuts with your family during your quality time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best nutcracker to buy?

Various nutcrackers are available in the market, and the best nutcracker to buy depends on your preference. Whether you want to buy a nutcracker or a multipurpose tool to handle your seafood, it is all about your needs. But a heavy-duty nutcracker like a new mechanical walnut opener is a good choice.

What is the best German nutcracker brand?

The best German nutcracker brand is Steinbach. It is one of the oldest industries known for its best-quality nutcrackers. They provide the best products, maintaining tradition, creativity, and passion for details with the finest material.

What are some famous Nutcracker brands?

The list of famous Nutcracker brands is huge, but some well-known brands are:

• OXO
• KitchenAid
• OXO Good Grips
• RSVP International
• Swissmar
• Chef’n

What is the best nutcracker in the UK?

The best nutcrackers in the UK are:

• Hiware Nutcracker
• Pgirgyq Nutcracker
• YMHPRID Nutcracker
• Plastic Nutcracker
• NINVVS Nutcracker