It's the little things that transform the merely good to great, and in the kitchen, it's those little things that make all the difference.

It's also the little things that cookbook authors sometimes assume that everyone already has a sure grasp of, and much to the frustration of novice cooks everywhere, the little things that they tend to omit explanations for.

But toasty nuts are where it's at. Seriously.

The difference between a complex golden roasted almond and a sorry looking blanched specimen is no small thing, and it's that 3 minute toasting step that can make your next nut recipe so much better.

So here are 4 very easy ways to toast nuts.

Stove Top

In a heavy bottomed skillet, spread your nuts out in an even layer and heat over medium, shaking often – don't overcrowd your nuts. Keep stirring or shaking for about 5 minutes, or until nuts are fragrant and browned.

Nuts toasted using the stove top method will not be uniformly browned, but more mottled in appearance.

Make sure to keep watching the nuts. Take your eyes off the progress at the wrong point for 30 seconds and you'll find yourself throwing out a pan full of burnt and bitter nuts.

Do not try to toast different kinds of nuts at the same time. Different nuts will toast at different rates.

Stove Top (with oil or butter)

If you want to toast on the stove-top, but also want that uniformly browned look, you can add a scant teaspoon of oil or butter to the pan and shake it to cover your nuts. This will result in a more evenly toasted nut – but a slightly oilier final product.

Oven

You can also toast any kind of nut in a hot oven. Pre heat an oven to 350-425 (honestly, it doesn’t matter very much). Place your nuts on a baking sheet and bake away for a few minutes, watching carefully and shaking occasionally. They are done when golden and fragrant - 5-10 minutes. Oven toasted nuts are a bit slower than stove top toasted nuts, but will be more uniformly browned without needing the use of oil.

Microwave

Spread out your nuts on a plate and microwave on high. A ½ cup of nuts will take 3-5 minutes, depending on the power of your microwave. Watch carefully, and take out when nuts are just slightly less browned than you want, as nuts will continue to brown for a moment after removal (from the heated oil inside the nut).

Once your nuts are toasty and warm, salt them generously and enjoy. If you have any leftovers, the best way to store is always in the freezer. The oils in nuts spoils quickly and nuts stored in the cupboard will become rancid and unpleasant.

All of the above techniques will work to toast seeds or coconut as well.