Been reading about how useful and nutrutious acorn flour is. Naturally sweet, high protein, low fat, etc. The only issue seems to be leeching the tannins out, which (depending on the type of oak) can take a bit of work. Apparently, some oaks have acorns that can be eaten right off the tree. Aside from the tannins, acorns seem to be a great long term food source. Anyone tried acorn pancakes, bread, etc? If I had property with an oak tree I'd definitely give it a try.

From my understanding of reports that I've read, soak the acorns for at least a week (save the water), then roast them, and grind them to flour. Add water and bake. Most have a strong taste that takes some getting used to but jam on top of them helps a great deal. Read the book-"My Side of the Mountain".

About the water. Save it and use it to soak hides in before scraping the fat and meat off. Then flip them over and scrape the hair off. This I have done with squirrel hides as a boy and it works great!!!

I wonder if just soaking them is enough. I believe most natives would soak them in running water to better pull out the tanins. Changing the soak water every day would probably help.

Easiest thing would be just to try it.
1. whole nuts in still water 1 week
2. partially crushed acorns in still water 1 week
3. whole acorns, water changed every day for a week
4. crushed acorns, water changed every day for a week

At the end of the week taste them and see how they arre. The amount of tanins in the acorns varies from tree to tree so what works for your tree may not work for someone elses.

-Blast, trying to be scientificy

I ate one raw as a kid. Brings back painful memories.

My mothers mother was Lipan Apache and the acorn was a main stay for them and the following is from what she told me and from personal experience. Any of the ways stated by wildman800 and blast will work. However it is best not to crush the acorns before hand because it affects the taste IMHO in a bad way. If as wildman800 suggests and you use the water to tan your hides keep the water but if your not going to use it in that manner it is best to change the water better.

Someone recommended putting them in a mesh bag inside your toilet reservior. Every flush gives you a change of water.

That sounds like a good idea......

Yes it does sound good,,,,BUT, keep in mind that you are also flushing a lot of tannic acid down the toilet as well.

This doesn't matter unless you are planning to cure some hides along the way. If you use a bucket to soak the acorns, then let the water evaporate and scrape the tannic acid out and put it in an appropriate sized pill bottle.

I always heard that the Native Americans ran hot water through them.

And, I'd suggest against eating them raw, as I believe there's some sort of gastric problems associated.

But what do you do with them after they are soaked?
Grind them and make bread?