How Can I Preserve Shelled Walnuts?
Shelled walnuts are best kept in a cold environment to prolong their freshness and to allow them to safely be used in cooking, baking and salad preparation. The oils within the nutmeat release flavor when chopped and can spoil if not properly stored. Avoid leaving shelled nutmeat in a warm, wet or bright environment and take measures to ensure the safe preservation of this baking ingredient. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Shelled walnuts
- Disposable airtight container
- Zip-top or vacuum storage bags
- Marking pen
Instructions
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Shell the walnuts completely. Ensure that no residual cracked shell remains, as it will impart a bitter taste over time to any nutmeat that it comes in contact with as oils emerge and mix with the air in the freezer or refrigerator environment.
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Select the proper storage vessel for keeping the walnuts fresh in accordance to intended use. Disposable kitchen containers with lids are fine for refrigerator storage when the nutmeat is intended for use in the next few weeks or months. Freezer-safe zip-top bags or vacuum seal bags are ideal for longer storage within the freezer.
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Freeze or refrigerate shelled walnuts whole to preserve freshness until use. Chopping or dicing the nuts releases the nut's oils and should not be done until preparing the dish they are intended to flavor.
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Use within four to six months if refrigeration method is chosen. Shelled walnuts can remain fresh and usable for up to one year if stored properly, with minimal air and within a freezer. Be sure to mark on the container or storage bag the date of freezing or refrigeration so as to reference the nutmeat freshness.
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Check thawed or refrigerated nutmeat before adding it as an ingredient to any recipe. There should be no darkened moist spots, which might indicate mold, nor any pungent or rancid smell or taste, which can indicate spoilage of the polyunsaturated fatty oils within the shelled walnuts. Thaw the nuts out, uncovered at room temperature, so no moisture is allowed to gather on the shelled walnut surfaces.
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Tips & Warnings
Because of the severity of nut allergies, it is best to keep walnuts and all nuts in disposable, one-time use containers for safety purposes or to sterilize the container at high heat after prolonged storage use.
Spoiled or moldy walnuts can be very toxic if eaten by humans or certain animals, such as dogs. Consult a health care professional if anyone accidentally ingests spoiled walnuts in substantial amounts.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit open walnut image by OMKAR A.V from Fotolia.com
