Nuts are a great snack to have around: They’re tasty, high in protein, and easy to eat when you’re on the go. But did you know their shelf life is surprisingly short? If you buy them in large quantities and tend to forget them at the back of the pantry, there’s a good chance they’re…
Why Nuts Have a Short Shelf Life
Nuts are high in unsaturated fats. These fats are sensitive to outside elements such as light, oxygen, and heat, causing them to break down and spoil quickly. Depending on the humidity level, the form of the nut (whether it’s whole, chopped, raw, roasted, etc.), and the packaging or storage method, spoilage can happen within a few months — sometimes even before the “best by” date on the bag.
So, how can you tell if your nuts have gone bad? First, do a visual inspection for mold. Next, perform a smell test: if the nuts are rancid, they’ll have a sour smell, or they might just smell “off.” They will also feel soft to the touch, and (if you do eat one) they will have a bitter or sour flavor.
How To Store Nuts the Right Way
To keep nuts fresher for longer, store them in the fridge. The cold temperature keeps the unsaturated fats from breaking down too quickly. If you tend to purchase nuts in large quantities (for example, on your Costco runs), store any nuts you aren’t immediately going to eat in the freezer. The extremely cold temperatures will extend their shelf life even further. When you’re ready to eat them, just move them to the fridge for a couple of hours to thaw.
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Whether you use the fridge or freezer, always store nuts in airtight containers, not the bags they came in. An airtight glass container or a plastic freezer bag with the air squeezed out works well in either scenario. Limiting the nuts’ exposure to oxygen is key to preventing oxidation and spoilage.
How long your nuts will last in the fridge depends on their unsaturated fat levels. However, when stored properly in the fridge, most nuts will last for at least six months, with some types, such as almonds and pistachios, lasting up to a year.
