Written By Sam Henselijn
How To Store Nuts Correctly. Besides being incredibly versatile and absolutely delicious, nuts are also fantastic for your general health, and a great addition to your diet. Nuts are rich in healthy fats, great for long term heart health, and preventing certain diseases. On top of that, they are also low carb and packed with vital nutrients and vitamins.
You can enjoy them in cereal, baked goods, pasta sauces, as a salad topping, and so much more. This means having a variety of different nuts stockpiled at home is incredibly convenient… Unfortunately, unlike salt, sugar, and flour for example, nuts don’t have such a long-term shelf life. Learning how to store them correctly can ensure maximum freshness and taste.
Thankfully, there are ways to prevent them. As long as you follow these storage guidelines, you shouldn’t have problems. When properly stored, nuts can last for up to a year.
Do Nuts Go Bad?
Nuts can become rancid if not stored correctly.
Since they’re so fatty, heat exposure is one of the factors that can cause nuts to lose freshness quickly. Sadly, once the oils in nuts go bad and they become rancid, consuming them is no longer advised.
There are several reasons why nuts go bad
- Rancidity: Nuts become rancid when their fats break down. Nuts with higher fat content, like pecans, peanuts, and walnuts can also go rancid quickly when stored at too warm a temperature.
- Mold: Nuts are prone to molds, with high moisture being the leading cause of mold growth in nuts. If you encounter moldy nuts in your pantry, it’s safer to throw them out.
- Temperature: The temperature is probably the biggest factor influencing your nut’s shelf life. Even a slight increase in temperature can have a significant impact on how long they remain fresh.
- Bacteria: In addition to mold, nuts can sometimes grow dangerous bacteria. Nuts are very low in moisture, so they can become contaminated by bacterial pathogens when improperly stored.
How To Store Nuts Correctly
Nut Shelf Life
All nuts have a different shelf life, determined by the “best by” date. Generally, they will keep for around 3 months in the pantry. However, this varies depending on the type of nut, oil content, temperature, and whether it is shelled, roasted, or whole pieces. Also factored in is how these nuts are stored. Naturally, nuts will last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored correctly.
Roasted vs. Unroasted:
The process of roasting nuts breaks down their natural oils,
which makes them more prone to turning rancid, compared to non roasted nuts.
Whole Nuts vs. Pieces:
Whole nuts can last up to twice as long as pieces of nuts. This is mainly due to the fact that smaller pieces have a greater surface area and thus are exposed to more air.
Reviving Stale Nuts
Rancid nuts can’t be fixed, but stale nuts can! If you can’t immediately tell the difference, go by smell. Rancid nuts smell sour and unpleasant, with a bitter taste. If this happens, it is not recommended to consume them.
Simply stale nuts, however, will mostly change in terms of texture, becoming softer and losing their trademark crunch. In this case, you can revive them by toasting them in a 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes.
How to Store Nuts Long-Term
- Store your nuts in tightly closed glass jars or containers to keep out moisture and avoid mold, and make sure to keep them shielded from light. Tight seals also help prevent odors leaking into the nuts.
- Opened packages of nuts last for a shorter period of time, so if you buy a large bag, reseal them into smaller portions and remember to mark each new container with the date they were purchased.
- Store your nuts in the refrigerator to extend their shelf-life to up to six months. Just make sure to put them in an airtight container and always keep the nuts separate from strong-smelling foods, such as onions. Nuts are very smell absorbent and tend to pick up the scents of nearby foods.
- Frozen nuts will keep fresh for up to a year! To maximize freshness and taste, freeze them immediately after purchasing. Label your packages of nuts with the date that they were put into the freezer, so you know which ones to use first.
Sam Henselijn Author’s Biography – Meet L’Orenta Nuts CEO
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