How long can you store shelled and in-shell nuts at home?

Shelled and whole pine nuts must be stored correctly, otherwise their taste may noticeably change during the process. The main recommendation is not to purchase the product in large quantities. It actively absorbs moisture and becomes tasteless and damp. Whole nuts last longer, up to six months. Peeled ones are recommended to be eaten within a month, but freezing or storing in the refrigerator is not recommended.

How to select and prepare nuts for storage

If a product is purchased in reserve, it is important to choose good raw materials. The main parameters can be determined by assessing the condition of the cone, shell and the kernels themselves. Pine nuts from Siberia are recognized as the highest quality on the world market. A product from China is considered second-class due to partial non-compliance with the declared labeling.

When buying any plant product, you need to pay attention to the timing of its natural ripening. In the case of cedar, they occur in September-October. Kernels purchased during this period will be the freshest. When purchasing them in original packaging, look at the date stamped by the conveyor. It should fall between October and November.

If possible, choose a nut in the shell. The kernel cannot be further processed for keeping quality; therefore, it is considered safer. You need to look at the fruit itself, it should be dense and slightly moist, the aroma should be fresh, without bitterness, barely noticeable.

Attention! A pronounced pungent odor with persistent bitterness indicates that the product is old or has been stored incorrectly. You shouldn't buy it.

If the nut is peeled, the kernel should be light in color. Thus, the likelihood of freshness increases. An expired kernel is characterized by an intense yellow-green color. Fruits of this color cannot be consumed; most likely, they are parasitized by harmful flora that can provoke intestinal disorders and cause general intoxication.

Kernels suitable for long-term storage meet the following requirements:

• whole grains, in shell, without spots;
• have no foreign odor;
• there are no secretions on their surface;
• light shade;
• no traces of fungus (mold).

It is best to buy pine nuts together with the cone, although this creates certain difficulties, because you will have to extract the kernels yourself. They should be placed on a baking sheet or tray and dried for 4-5 days in a warm place. If the house is cool, it is permissible to use a heated oven; this will speed up drying, but will lead to a change in taste due to volatilization of essential oils. For the same reason, nuts should not be dried in the sun.

Drying

There are several methods for drying pine nuts at home before long-term storage. Main methods:

1. Roasting. You can pre-dry the nuts in the oven or in a frying pan. To do this, preheat the oven to 100-120 degrees (no more), pour the purified product onto a baking sheet and keep warm for 30 minutes. The kernels must be stirred regularly, otherwise they may burn, and then the taste will be irrevocably changed.
2. Drying in a special combine. The nuts are poured into a drum and kept for 4-6 hours (depending on power).
3. In the attic. Place the nuts on a cloth or tray and leave to dry in a dry and warm place. It is important to prevent water from entering.

Nutritionists say that radical drying is harmful to nuts. By quickly providing it, not only excess liquid, which affects shelf life, but also useful substances are removed from the tissues. Excessive heating destroys valuable acids, the source of which is cedar. The loss of oils affects the nutritional value of the product, which means it will bring less benefit to the person.

Cleaning

The shelling of kernels is ensured in several ways:

1. Heat. Prepared nuts that meet all the requirements are placed in a dry frying pan or sent to the oven along with a baking sheet. Fry the product over high heat for 20 minutes. After this process, the shell noticeably softens. It is carefully pressed with a rolling pin and the light kernel is removed.
2. Soaking in warm water. The kernels are placed in boiling water and left until the liquid cools completely. The peel will soften and can be removed by hand.
3. Freezing. Nuts with shells are placed in a bag and sent to the freezer for 3-4 hours. After significant cooling, the shell will become brittle and can be broken. There is a risk of damage to the nut.

Less commonly used for cleaning are special devices – crushers. They are only available in enterprises; it is unjustified to use the equipment at home. If there are not a lot of nuts, freezing, soaking and cooling them is pointless; it is easier to clean them mechanically using pliers, a rolling pin or a hammer.

Proper storage

Nuts can be stored both in a country house and in a city apartment

But in order for them not to deteriorate and lose their valuable properties over a long period of time, it is important to select high-quality fruits and provide suitable conditions for their storage.

Which walnuts are suitable for storage?

There is no point in putting aside fruits that are obviously spoiled or those that cannot retain their original properties for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to sort out the nuts. Fruits with defects are discarded.

Good quality nuts are not difficult to recognize

What to pay attention to when preparing:

nuts should be thoroughly cleaned of the amniotic membrane (the green leathery-fibrous skin that turns black when dry), if this has not been done previously; the shell should not contain cracks, breaks, dark spots or traces of mold; the nucleus must be well supported by the septum inside the fetus

Dried nuts can be recognized by the characteristic knock of the kernel against the walls of the shell when shaken; You should also pay attention to the weight of the nut. Too light fruits are often empty inside

Depending on the variety, the weight of one nut ranges from 5 to 17 grams. Of these, the core accounts for about half.

The difference between good and bad walnuts is clear

Video: how to choose the right walnuts

How to store walnuts in shell

General rules and useful tips for preparation and storage:

1. It is better to organize nut collection in dry weather. But if the fruits were collected after rain and turned out to be very dirty, they can be washed under running water and then dried. A short stay in water will not harm the fruit.
2. After cleaning the amniotic membrane, the nuts should be thoroughly dried. For the first 1–2 days during daylight hours, the nuts can be left in the fresh air. Sunlight and a light breeze will promote quick drying. At night, the nuts must be brought into the house or barn; outside they will become damp.
3. Over the next 7–12 days, it is recommended to dry the nuts indoors, for example, in the attic. To do this, the floor is covered with cloth or paper, and nuts are poured onto it, in as thin a layer as possible.
4. It is best to use cardboard boxes or canvas bags as storage containers. These materials allow air to pass through well and the fruits do not smear. The storage place should be dry, cool and dark. The recommended air temperature should not exceed 20 °C. But it is better if its value is 10–15 °C.

Walnuts are stored well in a canvas bag

Video: harvesting and proper storage of walnuts

Proper storage of shelled nuts

To save time and effort, many housewives prefer to purchase already peeled fruits. In addition, this method allows you to get a good look at the quality of the nuts and not buy a “pig in a poke.” However, you should know that shelled nuts do not last long, and crushed kernels even less.

Shelled kernels must be whole

• The basic rule of storage is to avoid contact with light and oxygen. This leads to the development of bactericidal microorganisms, rotting and rapid deterioration of the product.
• For storage, use a dry glass or tin container. A paper bag will also work. But kernels in plastic bags deteriorate very quickly.
• To increase shelf life, place the container of nuts in the refrigerator or freezer. The latter option allows the use of plastic bags.
• For better preservation, bake the nuts in the oven.

Walnut kernels should be crushed immediately before preparing the dish.

How to dry nuts:

1. Place the nut kernels on a baking sheet and place in the oven for 1–2 hours at 40–50 °C.
2. Then transfer the nuts to parchment and leave for 30-40 minutes to cool and dry completely.

Video: how to dry and store shelled nuts

Table: shelf life of ripe walnut fruits

Is it possible to store green nuts?

Nuts picked ahead of time spoil very quickly and therefore cannot be stored. However, from unripe fruits you can prepare tasty and healthy infusions and decoctions or make jam. The fruits should be processed immediately after harvest.

Green walnuts cannot be stored

Where is the best place to store

Unlike other nuts, pine nuts quickly begin to deteriorate. To extend their shelf life, you must follow certain rules and adhere to basic recommendations:

• raw materials must be of good quality;
• It is better to keep nuts in an airtight container (or original packaging);
• whole kernels should be stored in a cool, dry place;
• It is permissible to store the cones themselves and unshelled nuts.

Attention! If you plan to store the nuts for a long time, you should not peel them. This manipulation halves the intended shelf life limits.

Basic storage conditions

In order for the described storage periods to be correct, you must adhere to the basic storage rules. You can keep pine nuts in places that meet the following requirements:

• lack of light, and most importantly, contact with direct sunlight;
• air temperature about +15-18 degrees;
• air humidity – no more than 60%.

If these conditions are met, shelled nuts will last for 1-3 months, and the kernels in the shell will retain their properties for at least six months. It is rational to place the product in the pantry, basement or cellar. Nuts store worse in the refrigerator. Due to contact with high humidity, they can only be kept there in an airtight jar.

Selection of containers

The shelf life of pine nuts in shell will not depend on the environment, so they can be safely kept in almost any conditions. The only thing is to avoid excessive contact with sunlight and place it in high humidity conditions. You can only buy shelled pine nuts in vacuum packaging. It should be taken into account that if the kernels are not stored properly, they will pick up odors and, as a result, change the taste.

You can store pine nuts in:

• glass jars;
• ceramic containers with a tight-fitting lid;
• plastic bags;
• food containers.

The main quality required of the vessel used is complete tightness, minimizing contact with light and air. It is important to regularly inspect nuts for spoilage and discard them. Damaged, dry or rotting kernels must be removed - they will spoil the entire stock and make it unsuitable for food.

How long can peeled kernels be stored?

Since the fruit of the pine pine is a seed and not a nut, its shelf life is significantly shorter than that of typical nut representatives.

Nuts in shells are stored for no more than six months, shelled - about three months.

The short shelf life is due to the presence of vegetable fats, which, under inappropriate conditions, quickly oxidize and give the product an atypical bitterness.

How long are they stored?

Pine nuts should be stored at home in accordance with the recommended periods. They differ for products depending on the degree of processing. The standards are presented in the following table.

Attention! The shelf life of shelled pine nuts in the refrigerator does not increase - this is a misconception.

Pine nuts must be stored correctly if they are in original packaging. They retain all their properties until the expiration date indicated on the seam. But, after opening the package, you should not keep them in it. All kernels must be poured into a jar, but a minimum of sorting should be done first to detect spoiled components.

Peeled

It is best to peel nuts before eating to get more benefits. The kernel itself should be light and dense, with small black dots at the base. If you purchased peeled seeds, keep them in a tight container in a cool place. The optimal period is up to 3 months.

Freezing prolongs storage, but noticeably worsens the taste. The prepared nuts should be placed in a bag and sent to the freezer at a temperature of -18 degrees. There, provided they are sealed, they will last up to 8 months. It is better to pack the product in small portions so as not to defrost the entire volume. This recommendation is due to the fact that repeated freezing eliminates all beneficial qualities.

In a shell

You can store pine nuts in shells if they are whole. The presence of chips and cracks on their surface is an indication that the core should be removed. When integrity is violated, favorable conditions are created for the spread of fungus. After some time, mold may appear on the kernels. It is better to keep whole fruits in the pantry or on a glassed-in balcony, packing the product in a regular bottle or container.

Fried

Heat treatment makes cedar seeds less healthy, but enhances the taste, it becomes richer. You can fry them in a dry and clean frying pan or with a slight addition of refined vegetable oil. Cedar seeds must be stirred regularly, otherwise they will burn. It is better to consume them immediately, but can be kept at room temperature for 3 days.

What determines the shelf life?

The characteristics “shelf life” and “shelf life” apply to food products, including nuts. The expiration date refers to the length of time after which nuts and other food products cannot be consumed. And the shelf life is the period of time during which the product remains suitable for consumption and retains the required properties. In both cases, the rules and conditions for storing nuts must be observed.

The shelf life of nuts is 1 year. If the conditions are met, their taste will not change.

After 18 months of storage, the nuts may dry out and change color, but they can still be used, for example, in home baking. It turns out that the shelf life of nuts is longer, and sometimes reaches 2 years.

Nuts have both an expiration date and a shelf life. They depend on the type of nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, etc.), on the storage method - in shell or without. For example, according to GOST 16832-71, the shelf life of walnuts in shell is no more than 1 year, at a temperature of -15... 20 ºС, humidity no more than 70%. And according to GOST 16833-2014, the shelf life of walnut kernels is set by the manufacturer.

The shelf life and shelf life are counted from the end of the product manufacturing process. After the purchase, the manufacturer carries out the procedures he needs - washes, dries the nuts or covers the kernels with chocolate, salt, etc. And then he can set his dates. They are justified by sanitary and epidemiological examination.

Preparation. After harvesting, the harvest is sorted so that diseased nuts do not infect the rest. The fruits are dried naturally: in a continuous layer on sieves in dry, warm, windy weather. Or in ovens on pallets at temperatures up to 40 ºС in bulk in one layer. Drying extends shelf life. If there is excess moisture, the fruits will become moldy and begin to rot. Tara. Inshell nuts are stored and transported in strong fabric bags. Or three or four-layer paper ones. Cardboard boxes and wooden crates are used for cores. The bottom of the boxes is lined with corrugated cardboard to prevent damage to the product. Any packaging must be dry, clean, free of foreign odors and pests. Nuts are best preserved in vacuum packaging. View. Nuts in the shell last longer than shelled nuts. The finer the kernels are crushed, the shorter the shelf life. Supplements Additives reduce storage time. Nuts with salt, sugar, glaze, etc. are stored for 3-8 months. It is advisable to consume nuts immediately after opening the package.

Pay attention to the composition. Preservatives extend shelf life, but not all of them are healthy

Honey has antiseptic properties. The kernels are stored in it for up to 3 years, subject to careful sorting. Conditions: Temperature. Not higher than 20ºС. Peeled and chopped nuts last longer in the refrigerator and freezer. Humidity. No more than 70%. Away from direct sunlight. Under their influence, the nuts become bitter. Sorting. If your stock of nuts is large, inspect it once a month. Remove spoiled nuts to save the rest.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with Wax moth - what it helps with, how to prepare it at home and how to take it for treatment

Can nuts go bad?

If you do not comply with the key requirements for storing a product, it will quickly become unusable. First the appearance changes, and then the taste suffers. Significantly spoiled products have mold on the surface, taste bitter and smell unpleasant, possibly with a putrid odor. Eating modified cedar seeds is unacceptable, they will not be beneficial and can be hazardous to health.

Attention! It is better to keep pine seeds in the shell or peeled; it is permissible to fry them before use.

The shelf life of pine nuts is maximized when stored in vacuum packaging or an airtight container. This is explained by the fact that the product deteriorates very quickly due to contact with the external environment: air, sunlight, heat. You can protect valuable kernels by placing them in a jar with a tight lid. In such conditions they will last from 3 months to six months. At the same time, in order to avoid losing the entire supply, they should be inspected approximately once a month, assessing the smell. If it occurs, it is worth reviewing the volume and removing damaged elements.

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Storage errors

To avoid various problems with the selection, storage and consumption of pine nuts, you need to consider the most common mistakes:

1. If the fruits are peeled, then you should not keep them open.
2. Failure to comply with temperature and humidity conditions can lead to rapid deterioration.
3. It is not necessary to peel them, since in this form they will be preserved less than in the shell.
4. You should not leave nuts in sugar or syrup for a long time. The maximum time they can be stored is 2 days.
5. It is also not advisable to wash pine nuts, as this will help mold develop faster.

To increase the shelf life and ensure that the fruits do not lose their beneficial properties over time, several tips will help:

1. It is better not to purchase already peeled fruits by weight, as their properties may disappear due to prolonged contact with air.
2. If the nuts are completely dry, it means that their shelf life and beneficial qualities have already been lost.
3. The more they are split, the faster they will spoil and go rancid.
4. After 6 months of storage, all the beneficial substances in them disappear, and the taste becomes unpleasant.
5. Roasted nuts are best eaten immediately.
6. Salting and frying can increase the shelf life, but this reduces their value.
7. There are special dryers for drying nuts, but care must be taken not to overdry them.
8. It is better to purchase the quantity that you can quickly eat, so that they do not sit for a long time.

Pine nuts are a nutritious product that is valued because it contains a huge amount of healing elements, as well as vitamins that keep the body in good shape. That is why it is worth understanding the rules for their selection, storage and use conditions, so as not to cause harm.

How to store pine cones

Sometimes they want to save nut cones. They take up a lot of space and are best placed in a cool, dark place. It should be well ventilated. In order to protect them from rodents, you need to place the cones in bags and hang them from the ceiling.

To prevent mold from forming on pine nuts, the room should not be too humid.

Many people like to take the fruit out of the cone and peel it themselves, and then enjoy the taste.

Peel storage

Cashew fruits in nature grow covered with a shell and a very hard shell, reminiscent of a shell. The space between them is filled with an oily liquid - cardol. It is extremely toxic and can cause severe skin burns and irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory system and eyes. It is for this reason that cashews are found on sale exclusively in peeled form; the shells are removed from the fruits in protective clothing, a mask and gloves immediately after harvesting.

Important!

Despite all the benefits of the nut itself, its shell contains a huge danger to human health. Therefore, independent collection and cleaning of these fruits is strictly prohibited, as is storage of the toxic shell.

Below is a video on why cashew peels should not be stored:

Roasted nuts

Heat treatment deprives cedar seeds of their original quality, but their taste after roasting becomes brighter and richer.

The kernels should be fried in a heated frying pan, without adding oil, with constant stirring.

The storage of pine nuts after roasting will last no longer than 3 days, no matter what conditions they are in.

The more time passes from the moment of harvesting and the further the nuts are from the place of growth, the less their nutritional value and beneficial properties. Those who know where and how long they can store pine nuts will always be able to provide their body with the necessary substances and acquire Siberian health.

What to look for when buying a nut

When purchasing cedar seeds, you need to choose them correctly, which will extend the shelf life of your purchase.

The following tips will help with this:

• you need to take dense, strong grains,
• it is necessary that the seeds have a pleasant, characteristic smell, without mustiness,
• fresh kernels have a light shade,
• Greenish and dirty yellow fruits will have a rancid taste.

The ripening of cedar cones occurs in September-October, when they fall off the tree. When purchasing a freshly harvested crop, you can be sure that the product is of high quality.

Step-by-step instructions: how to hold it correctly and where?

Peeled

Peeled nuts are stored as follows:

1. The batch being put into storage is sorted out. All nuts damaged during peeling - or those that were affected by pests - are rejected. Those that were incorrectly chopped, used for food, gnawed by animals or insects - are thrown away or composted.
2. The kernels are placed in a container. If storage is carried out at temperatures above zero degrees Celsius, it should be stored in containers with holes for the “breathing” of nuts or in containers made of wicker (including synthetic) or fabric.
3. Containers are placed in a dark, cool and ventilated place.

Under such conditions, peeled pine nut kernels can be stored for at least 6 months.

Not shelled

Inshell nuts should be stored in pantries or basements. There, at normal temperatures, in the absence of direct sunlight, high humidity and high temperatures, nuts can be stored for a long time.

They are stored as follows:

1. The bulkhead is being rebuilt. All seeds showing signs of disease or damage are rejected.
2. Selected nuts are poured into containers with access to ambient air. You can store nuts in their shells in an airtight container only when they are frozen or vacuum-stored. Without this, they must be placed in a container where the nuts can “breathe”.

Attention!

The storage temperature should not be higher than +18, but not lower than zero. At zero, nuts can undergo stratification and sprout. Air humidity should be no higher than 60%.

Fried

Roasted pine nut kernels are stored for literally several days. Therefore, they are not stored. But there are exceptions:

• Kernels are deep frozen. When stored at temperatures below -15 degrees, roasted nuts can be good for up to 1 year.
• Nuts in vacuum factory packaging. Until the package is opened, roasted nuts can be stored for the entire period specified by the manufacturer.

In cones

When storing pine cones, you must proceed as follows:

1. Select cones for storage that are not damaged by animals or insects.
2. Selected cones are poured into baskets or fabric bags that allow air to reach the contents.
3. Containers with cones are stored in a dry and dark place.
4. In such conditions, cones can be stored for up to 2 years.

Important!

To store nuts in pine cones, you need constant access to fresh air.

They are not stored frozen or in a vacuum - mainly because only pickers hold the knocked down cones in their hands - and they are usually not good with equipment more complex than a mechanical crusher. Nuts are delivered to industrial enterprises shelled and cleared of cone structures.

Several ways to easily shell pine nuts

There are several methods to obtain cedar tree kernels that are completely ready for further use. Among them:

• scald with boiling water;
• to freeze;
• fry in a frying pan;
• warm up under high temperature in the oven;
• sudden change in temperature. First, the nuts are fried, then sharply lowered into cold water;
• break it with special tools or improvised means: tweezers for trimming dog claws, a garlic press and other sharp objects.

Depending on free time and the availability of necessary equipment, each person will be able to choose the best option for themselves.

Peeling nuts from shells using boiling water

In order to use this method, you must strictly follow the following sequence of actions:

1. Place pine nuts in a separate container.
2. Fill them with boiling water.
3. Leave the kernels in hot water for 5 minutes to make the shell easier to crack in the future.
4. Transfer the nuts to a hard surface. A cutting board is best for this.
5. Roll a rolling pin over them using a little force.

If everything is done correctly, then after this action the person will hear a characteristic cracking sound from the shell. All that remains is to open it and release the cores. Pine nuts are ready for further use.

How to peel pine nuts using cold

Few people know that the process of peeling nuts is much easier if you use the freezing method. To do this, the unpeeled kernels must be placed in a bag and sent to the freezer. Wait until the product is completely frozen.

Then all the air is released from the bag, and the nuts are evenly distributed in it. Next, you need to take a rolling pin and walk over the kernels. If all the rules are followed, a cracking sound will be heard from the splitting of the shell. All that remains is to manually remove it, thereby freeing the cedar seeds.

How to clean nuts by roasting

To quickly soften the shell and release the cedar kernels, you can use a frying pan or oven. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Place the product on the prepared baking sheet or frying pan.
2. If the first method is chosen, then you need to put the dishes in the oven and heat the kernels at a temperature of 110-120 degrees for 2-3 minutes. In the second option, the kernels are fried in a frying pan for the same period of time.
3. All that remains is to walk over them with a rolling pin. This will help peel off any excess debris.

Exposure to high temperatures makes the nuts softer and more pliable for further cleaning.

Application of the sudden temperature drop method

Another method for softening the shell is based on a sharp change in hot and cold temperatures. To ensure everything works out and the peeling process does not take too long, you first need to fry the pine nuts in a frying pan. Then quickly pour them into the prepared container and fill with cold water. It is best to use even ice water.

A sharp change in temperature promotes the separation of the kernel from the shell. A person will only have to remove all the nut husks.

How to quickly peel pine nuts by hand

You can split the product in a non-traditional way. Tweezers are used as a tool to trim dog nails. They break the shell, placing the kernel inside. This is one of the easiest and fastest cleaning methods. The main thing is to follow safety precautions so as not to harm yourself during this procedure. Also, do not apply too much force so that the kernels do not crumble.

Pine nuts in the shell and without it are not stored for a long time, so they should be consumed immediately after the cracking procedure. This will allow you to enjoy a truly fresh and high-quality product.

Is drying and freezing possible?

There are several ways to preserve cedar seeds, including drying and freezing. You can send the product for storage directly in the cone, in kernels, raw in shell, peeled, fried.

You need to dry the kernels in the following way:

• the grains are poured in an even layer onto a flat surface,
• leave for a week in a room at room temperature, remembering to stir.

It will be possible to dry cedar fruits using a special unit, keeping the process under control - the nuts cannot be overdried or left wet.

Dried nuts are placed in the freezer - there the product does not lose quality for six months.