A handheld pistachio nut opener that is box-shaped comprising an upper and lower piece, each with one protrusion that are oriented vertically but aligned horizontally and inserted into an open or partially open pistachio nut, and through manual compression of the apparatus between the thumb and forefinger, the protrusions travelling in opposite directions through translational vertical motion while remaining engaged with the pistachio nut shell halves until the shell halves break apart into two disjoined pieces revealing the edible portion inside, the arcs of the protrusions protecting the edible portion from being damaged.