From crunchy granola to hearty salads, almost every meal tastes better with nuts, and of course they're an excellent healthy snack. Nuts offer a generous co*cktail of essential nutrients, from satiating protein to gut-friendly fiber. There are also many types of nuts (think almonds, pecans, cashews, walnuts, and pistachios, just to name a few varieties) so there's something for almost everyone. Knowing the best way to store nuts at home will mean the nuts you buy will last longer and help you reduce food waste.
If you want to get the most out of your nuts, it's important to store them properly. Whether in plastic bags from the bulk bins, original packaging, or transferred to glass jars or other containers, many people keep nuts at room temperature—just like supermarkets do—but this is actually the wrong technique.
First, it's important to understand why and how nuts go bad: Nuts are teeming with unsaturated ("good") fats, which are responsible for their anti-inflammatory benefits. However, as noted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, unsaturated fats are extremely fragile and delicate, meaning they break down quickly. This makes nuts prone to rancidity, which ruins their flavor and freshness. So to preserve them, it's best to store nuts in the refrigerator, says Richard LaMarita, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. The coolness of the refrigerator will keep unsaturated fats from breaking down, ultimately slowing down spoilage.
The Best Way to Store Nuts
The refrigerator, yes, but specifically, LaMarita recommends refrigerating nuts in air-tight glass jars. Store any extra nuts in the freezer in the bags they came in, he says. (If you don't have the original bags, consider using a freezer-safe air-tight container instead.) When your refrigerator stash is running low, it's time to "refill from the freezer to the jars in the fridge." Stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator, nuts will last for four to six months, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Meanwhile, in the freezer, they'll last for at least one year.
It's worth noting that some nuts will spoil faster than others. The reason? "Nuts have a wide range of fat contents," says LaMarita. Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are lower in fat, so they'll generally last longer than nuts higher in fat, like macadamia nuts, pine nuts, cashews, and Brazil nuts, all of which will go rancid quicker, says LaMarita. You won't notice this difference as much when you store them in the refrigerator and freezer but it's more obvious when they are stored in the pantry or kitchen cupboards.
How to Tell If Nuts Have Gone Bad
When it comes to detecting spoiled nuts, the best bet is to use your nose. As LaMarita explains, the most dominant sign is an unpleasant odor. "Rancid nuts give off an aroma—a sour, moldy, paint-like, plastic-like smell," he says. "Their texture will be soft, and they'll lose their crunch." In terms of taste, spoiled nuts will be sour and bitter rather than sweet and nutty. "If you accidentally eat rancid nuts, they won't get you sick—but they will be unpleasant," LaMarita says.
Stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator, nuts will last for four to six months, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Meanwhile, in the freezer, they'll last for at least one year.
Nuts' fragile unsaturated fats can go rancid quickly. While that may not hurt your health, it can definitely be bad news for flavor. Keep nuts tasting fresh by stowing them in a sealed plastic or glass container in the refrigerator for four to six months.
The shelf life is 12-14 months sealed. Once opened, we recommend using the butters within 3 months. Do I need to refrigerate your products? While it's not necessary to refrigerate our products, we recommend doing so to keep the naturally occurring oils from separating.
Glass jars that have been vacuum sealed with a food evacuator are the gold standard, says Schaich. The second best: Put your nuts in a resealable plastic bag and press out as much air as possible before sealing, then store the bag in a glass container.
At room temperature, nuts and seeds can start to go bad after anywhere between one and three months, though some brands will advertise longer shelf lives than that. If stored in the refrigerator, however, these healthy fat sources can last up to six months.
To preserve nuts, it's best to store them in the refrigerator, says Richard LaMarita, chef-instructor, of plant-based culinary arts, at the Institute of Culinary Education. The refrigerator's coolness will keep unsaturated fats from breaking down, ultimately slowing down spoilage.
When storing nuts, the freezer is your friend. This dark, cold space slows the deterioration of the nut's oils, a process that directly impacts flavor. Light, oxygen, and heat are the enemies of nuts.
Almonds should be stored in an airtight container and it's best to store them in the refrigerator or freezer. Almonds are not recommended to be stored at room temperature for periods of time, so your pantry is not a good idea.
Contrary to popular belief, nuts should be stored in the fridge or freezer as opposed to a room temperature pantry. Why? Because nuts contain a high amount of unsaturated fat, a delicate type of oil, which makes them highly prone to going rancid.
If you plan to store cashews for an extended period, consider placing them in an airtight container and storing them in the refrigerator. However, ensure that the container is well-sealed to prevent moisture absorption.
Contrary to popular belief, shelled or unshelled walnuts require refrigeration if you want to keep them for longer. You can place them in the refrigerator or freezer, depending on when you're going to use them. If you are going to use them within a month, you must keep them in the refrigerator, or else, the freezer.
When choosing a container, use one that is airtight. You can use Tupperware, plastic baggies, freezer bags, or even mason jars. Glass and plastic containers are preferred over plastic bags. Since plastic bags are permeable, it is easy for odors to seep into the bag.
The general rule is that most nuts retain quality for a few months. However, this does not mean that nuts will remain in good condition for an extended period. Shelled nuts stored at room temperature are expected to last six to nine months. Non-shelled nuts will last for four to six months.
Because they are such a nutrient- and calorie-dense food, portion control is essential to avoid excess weight gain. More importantly, eating too many nuts can actually lead to food toxicity which can range from mild symptoms to severe illness.
Raw nuts can be stored in an airtight container in a cool dark place for six to 12 months. The fridge or freezer is ideal. Nuts can be refrigerated for up to four months and frozen for up to six months. Store ground almonds in an airtight container in a cool dark place for a couple of weeks.
Almonds should be stored in an airtight container and it's best to store them in the refrigerator or freezer. Almonds are not recommended to be stored at room temperature for periods of time, so your pantry is not a good idea.
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