Keeping Your Nuts Fresh For Your Recipes

By Tanya Doyle

Nuts are a great food source. First, as a rule, they are extremely rich in nutrients. And, secondly, they mesh extremely well with food recipes from all sorts of cultures.

As a matter of fact, nuts are such a versatile food that, if you are a cook or chef, it helps to keep a supply of your favorite nuts on hand to use as you need them. The problem, however, is how do you store them?

If you keep nuts in their shells, they can last for a pretty long period of time. This is readily apparent just by the fact that squirrels and bird are famous for hiding and storing nuts for the winter months. So, it has long been known that nuts inherently are a food source that is capable of being stored for long periods of time. But, for the kitchen chef, there are a few things that can be done to make them last for an even longer period.

As the fall season rolls in, squirrels begin to get busy collecting and storing nuts in preparation for the upcoming winter months. So, essentially, the bulk of their storage activity takes place in relatively cool weather. And, following their example, you should do the same.

When you store nuts, don´t store them at room temperature. Nuts often become rancid In warm weather if kept there for a long period of time. This is due to the high amount of fat that many nuts have. Fat has a tendency to break down when kept for long periods in warm temperatures. And, in a damp environment, the rancidity will occur at an even faster rate. In some cases, moisture will even trigger the growth of mold in the nuts.

If you want to keep your nuts as fresh as possible, put them in a freezer bag and store them in your freezer. If you ask the majority of food experts, they will probably tell you that it is best to store them whole in the shell. In real life, however, most cooks tend to buy nuts that have already been shelled. Luckily, shelled nuts store just about the same.

Nuts of all kind are easy to store. You can easily store them in your freezer for up to 6 months, 7 months, or even longer - and they will retain most of their flavor. If they are pressure sealed, they can be stored in the freezer even longer. Chopped nuts can be stored for a lesser period of time. So, for the best results, if you require chopped nuts, save the chopping until after they have been removed from the freezer.

Thawing nuts is not a problem. Simply leave your storage bag at room temperature until they are thawed. In fact, if you are using them in recipes that require baking or stovetop cooking, many times you don´t even need to thaw them out. In a pinch, just take them directly from the freezer and toss them into the mix.

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