Pecans vs. Walnuts: Which One Is Superior For Blood Sugar Management?

The beauty of cooking is that there are no rules—let your taste and texture preferences guide you, Linares advises. “If you have a strong preference for one over the other, you can feel confident choosing that one because both pecans and walnuts offer fiber and healthy unsaturated fats,” she says. “Pecans go especially well in desserts or other sweet foods due to their flavor, whereas walnuts are a bit more versatile and do well in both sweet and savory contexts.”

If you’re seriously stuck, follow Larson-Meyer’s lead: “Pecans often go with chocolate, dried fruits, and cheeses; and walnuts might pair with salads, greens, certain cheeses, and go really well in roasted squash, with rice, quinoa, and cheese.” Her favorite trick is throwing pecans and walnuts in the oven for about 10 minutes and stirring about halfway in. Store them in a tight container, and you’ll be left with a slightly caramelized nut that’s super crunchy on the outside with a softer, melt-in-your-mouth interior.

Here are some other tasty ways to use pecans and walnuts: