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If you are used to keeping nuts such as walnuts in glass jars in your kitchen, you should know that there is another way to preserve them better and extend their shelf life. As far as walnuts are concerned, this nut is full of healthy oils, but very delicate, so they can spoil quickly if they are not stored correctly. It is therefore essential to take into account a number of tips to preserve nuts better.
One of the best places to keep nuts longer would be in the freezer. Although it may sound strange to you, the cold slows down the deterioration of the nut’s oils, and this keeps the flavour largely intact. Light, oxygen and heat can cause the fats in nuts to become rancid and sour. Therefore, many experts advise storing them in an airtight container in the freezer. This will help limit their exposure to these and reduce spoilage.
Also, because nuts have a low water content, they are less susceptible to freezer burn than other foods such as meats or vegetables. They will therefore stay fresh for longer. But to prevent them from absorbing odours, they should be stored in an airtight container and should be kept away from other spicy ingredients such as garlic or onions.
As for the shelf life of these nuts, if you store them in the freezer, their shelf life is also extended. If they are whole raw nuts, they can last up to a year, while if they are ground or chopped, they can last up to 6 months. The same applies if they have been roasted beforehand, as cooking accelerates the oxidation process. A positive point of preserving nuts in this way is that you do not need to defrost them if you are going to use them to add them to salads or desserts.
Other nuts that also preserve better in the freezer are pistachios, almonds, pine nuts and cashew nuts. If you want to start putting them into practice, here is a recipe for a banana sponge cake with nuts.
