How to properly store shelled walnuts and other nuts at home

There are many ways to store nutswhich differ from each other depending on whether the nuts are peeled or in the shell.

The storage of these healing kernels is important, because it will be possible for a long time to use the nuts collected with their own hands, or bought in the season at a lower price.

The right choice of raw materials is the key to long-term storage at home

To keep the nuts as long as possible, it is necessary to choose the right raw materialsavoiding contact with spoiled product:

• it is best to store whole nuts, because when crushed, they quickly damp;
• when purchasing nuts, you should pay attention to the expiration date, the erased date indicates that the product has been on the shelves in the store for a very long time;
• on dried or moldy nuts, dark spots of a characteristic color appear;
• also, a spoiled product smells unpleasant and can sometimes cause a gag reflex;
• experienced housewives claim that purchasing peeled nuts can protect yourself from buying a "pig in a poke". Old kernels can be distinguished by a dark, yellow tint, a wrinkled surface, or the presence of dark spots;
• there is one little trick, expired nuts in the shell will rattle when shaken;
• if a yellow cloud of dust forms when the shell is opened, then the product is spoiled;
• it is advisable to try the nuts before buying, they should not be bitter;
• if possible, you can ask the seller for a bag in which the nuts were lying; it should be free from traces of various insects and mold.

There are also signs by which you can determine the freshness of a particular type of nut:

1. Walnuts - if you try to crush the shell with your fingers, then it will work with old nuts, but not with fresh ones.
2. Pistachios - these nuts must necessarily be opened, while you can easily distinguish how this process went, naturally or mechanically. If the pistachios have opened themselves, then when you try to return the shell to its original position, the joint will not touch.
3. Pine nuts - spoiled peeled nuts show a darkening of the tip. If kernels are sold in shells, the packaging must be free of any debris. Also, there should be a dark dot on each shell, this indicates that it is not empty. Another sign of an old product will be too dark a shell or the presence of plaque on it.
4. Hazelnut it deteriorates much faster than other nuts, and it must be stored especially carefully, therefore it is best to buy kernels in shell, while there should be no mechanical damage on it.

We decide on the timing: how much to store?

The shelf life of nuts varies depending on the conditions in which they lie.

The shelf life of peeled nuts is conditionally equal to the following figures:

• in a place with room temperature - 2-3 weeks;
• in the refrigerator or cellar, nuts can be stored for up to 3 months;
• if the kernels are frozen, then the shelf life is increased to 1 year.

All individual types of nuts, at least slightly, but differ in terms of shelf life.

In-shell kernels can be stored much longer than peeled ones, for example, at cold temperatures, such nuts lie not for 2-3 months, but for about six months.

How much and under what conditions walnuts, hazelnuts and others can be stored

How can you save peeled nuts?

There are several ways in which you can keep the nuts for the required amount of time.

If nuts are planned to be consumed in the near futurethen you can store them at room temperature. To do this, experienced housewives recommend adhering to the following recommendations:

1. Some types of nuts, such as walnuts, almonds and cashews, need to be calcined in a pan without oil or in the oven, while drying out should not be allowed, for this the state of the kernels is constantly monitored and stirred.
2. Chopped nuts will deteriorate much faster, so only whole kernels are chosen for storage.
3. They are put in a tin or glass jar and closed tightly.
4. You can also use cloth pouches.
5. You can not use plastic bags for storage, because they will not be able to provide the necessary air circulation and the nuts will begin to rot and become moldy.
6. It is best to choose dry and dark places for storage.

How much and how to properly store walnuts at home:

If nuts need to be stored for a longer period, then in this case they are put into the refrigerator, adhering to some tricks:

• It is best to store peeled nuts on the top shelf of the refrigerator;
• before placing the kernels in a container, they must be sorted and all rotten nuts must be removed, because they can cause damage to the entire batch, it is also desirable to carry out heat treatment;
• for these purposes, you can use a glass, plastic or tin container.

If the nuts are planned to be stored until next season, it is best to put them in the freezer, for this you need:

• whole, peeled nuts are sorted out and calcined;
• after that, they are laid out in small portions in order to make use more convenient. Nuts cannot be re-frozen, in which case they will lose their taste and useful qualities;
• For storage in the freezer, portions of the nuts are individually wrapped in baking paper or foil, or cling film can also be used.

Nuts have the ability to absorb odors, so they are kept separate from other foods.

Using these methods, you can preserve tasty kernels for a long time, while avoiding product spoilage.

You can also preserve nuts by preserving.:

• you can cook walnut jam;
• also, many people are very fond of nuts combined with honey.

How to extend the shelf life of inshell nuts

Inshell nuts last much longer than peeled nuts kernel, while you need to follow some recommendations:

1. First you need to sort out the nuts, while removing the specimens with damaged shells.
2. Large glass or iron jars are used as containers, which are placed in a dry, dark and cool place.
3. You can also use canvas bags that are hung from the ceiling in a cool and well-ventilated area.
4. Another possible container would be wooden crates.
5. The maximum temperature at which the nuts do not dry out and do not lose their taste is plus 10 degrees.
6. You also need to take into account the properties of nuts to absorb foreign odors, so it is better not to store them together with onions, garlic, etc.

Although inshell nuts take up more space, at the same time they will be stored longer and retain all their benefits.

Nuts are a very healthy and tasty product, moreover, they are quite simple to store. The main thing is to provide a comfortable temperature, humidity, air circulation and protection from sunlight.

All types of nuts differ slightly in terms of shelf life, so such nuances must be taken into account.

How to store nuts at home

Considering where the peeled walnuts will have to be stored in the future, they use fabric bags, glass or ceramic jars, and plastic containers for packing:

• if the stock is used up quickly enough, then bags or cardboard boxes will do
• large volumes are laid out in sterile glass jars and hermetically sealed
• plastic containers and sealed vacuum packaging are used to store supplies in the refrigerator.

All containers must be washed and dried, and glass containers must be sterilized.

Features of storing walnuts at home

Walnuts can be stored in shell or peeled. To prevent the kernels from becoming moldy inside, certain storage conditions must be observed.

It is advisable to place the nuts in a cardboard box, cloth bag, or wooden box. The container with the product should be left in a dark and dry place, out of direct and sunlight. The room temperature should be no higher than +10 and not lower than -5 degrees. Air humidity should also be low - up to 40%.

If the nuts are planned to be consumed in the near future or it is necessary that they do not take up much space during storage, then they can be peeled from the shell. To prevent the kernels from becoming bitter, they can be placed in a glass, enamel or metal container with a lid and placed in a dark and cool place.

Thus, the nuts can be stored for up to one month. You can increase the shelf life of peeled walnuts to 1 year by decomposing them in small bags and sending them for storage in the freezer. But it is undesirable to re-freeze the product, as it will lose its beneficial properties.

How peeled nuts can not be stored

If a person does not know how to properly store nuts without shells at home, he can make serious mistakes, which often lead to mold or blackening of the kernels:

• they cannot be stored at room temperature, which exceeds 20 ° C, since under such conditions the kernels dry out
• high humidity leads to the appearance of mold, therefore, it is not allowed to place products next to plumbing fixtures or in the kitchen
• the kernels should not be exposed to direct sunlight: under their action oils are released, the nuts become bitter and oily
• if there are areas of mold on the shell, the product must be thrown away.

Attention! It is not recommended to leave wet or poorly dried kernels for storage: they quickly mold, and the spores pass to neighboring products.

How to store shelled walnuts

Duration of storage of peeled walnuts at room temperature does not exceed a month. After this time, they become bitter and dry out.

To preserve the nuts for several months, they need to be stored in the refrigerator. Previously, the kernels must be packed in a food-grade plastic container or in any other container with a lid.

To preserve the taste and benefits of nuts, you must definitely follow the storage rules. Otherwise, the kernels will deteriorate very quickly and acquire an unpleasant aftertaste.

Read today

Walnuts can be stored without loss of nutritional value for up to 2 years, but only if certain requirements are met. Optimal conditions for storing walnuts are temperatures from -5 to +15 degrees. Relative air humidity should not exceed 40-60%. Direct sunlight is contraindicated for nuts, as well as increased ambient temperature. This product contains many valuable oils that tend to turn rancid when exposed to temperature fluctuations and light exposure.

You can store walnuts in different ways. Depending on the expected storage duration and the availability of a suitable space, you can choose the most convenient method.

Nuts in shell

The easiest way to store a product is unrefined. Immediately after collecting or purchasing nuts, they must be dried. Residual moisture in the shell can cause spoilage. Nuts grow moldy, turn black inside, after which they can only be thrown away.

You can dry the nuts both naturally, spreading in one layer on a flat surface in warm weather, or accelerated. The second method is more preferable, since it is not always possible to dry the nuts for several days in a warm place. It is convenient to use an oven for drying. The optimal temperature regime is +50 degrees. Drying time is 40-50 minutes.

I always dry the nuts before storing them. Otherwise, they will not be stored even in ideal conditions. You can put them in the oven for 30-40 minutes, but when there are a lot of nuts, I put them on baking sheets in a special electric dryer. At 50 degrees dry land no more than 40 minutes.

It is best to store nuts in a cool, dark place in a container that provides adequate air ventilation. For these purposes, shelves in the pantry, insulated boxes on the balconies are suitable. Nuts can be folded as in plastic containers, glass or canvas bags. Unpeeled nuts in a dry place, subject to all conditions, can be stored for up to 2 years.

Unpeeled nuts can be stored in nets, but in this case they must be protected from direct sunlight.

Peeled nuts

To save space, walnuts can be peeled before storage. To do this, immediately after collection or purchase, the nuts are split, freeing them from the shell. The kernels must be roasted in the oven at a temperature of +100 to +150 degrees for 10 minutes. This is necessary for the destruction of mold spores, good drying.

Peeled nuts should be stored in sealed containers (plastic food containers, dry wooden boxes with lids). The container must be kept in a room with a suitable temperature regime. The maximum shelf life in this case is 12 months. If the humidity in the room is high or other unfavorable factors are present (high temperature, direct sunlight), the shelf life can be reduced to 2–4 months.

Peeled walnuts can be stored in the refrigerator

Nuts in the fridge and freezer

You can increase the shelf life of walnuts by placing them in the refrigerator or freezer. It is first necessary to free the kernels from the shell. Pack the peeled nuts in zip bags of 200-500 g each. You can store the kernels in a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid.

It is important not to store nuts in the refrigerator or freezer next to foods that have a specific smell. Peeled nuts are stored in the refrigerator for 4–5 months without losing their properties, and in the freezer for 1 year.

Storing cleaned kernels

Peeled nuts must be sorted out before being stored, removing shell remnants, dried and dark kernels. Not only spoiled pulp is dangerous, spreading bacteria, pieces of shells and jumpers provoke the appearance of fungi. Whole kernels last longer, so it's wise to weed out the debris and eat them first.

If the nuts are purchased, it is necessary to clean them of possible contamination and pathogenic microflora by rinsing with cool water and calcining in the oven or in a frying pan over low heat. At the same time, heat treatment of the peeled kernels is undesirable, except when carried out before eating the nuts. In view of this, it is worth purchasing and storing large quantities of nuts only in the shell.

There are 3 ways to store shell-free kernels:

1. At room temperature. The edibility and taste of the fruit last for about 2 weeks. In this case, the kernels are stored in cabinets located as far as possible from heat sources, in glass jars or tin boxes with sealed lids. The containers must be dry, the permissible air humidity is no more than 70%.
2. In a refrigerator. Fruits last up to 2-6 months. The temperature should not exceed + 10 ° C. The cores are placed in a glass, plastic or ceramic container with a lid. Foil is well suited for storing peeled nuts. You should not use polyethylene - the material is impervious to air, so there is a high probability of decay of raw materials. It is advised to keep a container with nuts on a shelf, and not on the door, in order to exclude temperature drops that occur when opening the refrigerator.
3. In the freezer. Freezing extends the shelf life up to 12 months. Keep nuts in a plastic bag or foil. It is important not to allow the product to be thawed, so the kernels are put into bags in small portions, "one time".

On a note!

Freezing, calcining and sealing the packaging are the main ways to protect nuts from damage by pests, in particular, moths. But prolonged maintenance at low temperatures leads to the loss of some nutrients by the pulp of the nut.

Peeled nuts stored in a cupboard or refrigerator should be sorted from time to time. You should not try to reanimate the kernels on which mold has appeared by washing and frying them. Eating moldy nuts is hazardous to health.

If you have a large stock of walnuts, the most reliable way is to store in the shell. It is advisable to peel or buy peeled nuts in small portions, calculating them so as to consume the product within 1-2 months. It is also advisable to eat jam and other blanks from nuts quickly - within 2-3 years after cooking.