Whole nuts in their shells are a long-storage item, with many kinds of nuts having a shelf life of several months. However, they do vary widely and, unless stored in the refrigerator or freezer, it is possible that some nuts will suffer a serious loss of flavor or texture. As long as their fats have not gone rancid, it's easy enough to restore them to usable condition by baking the nuts lightly.
Shell as many nuts as you will need at one time. Pick over the shelled nuts carefully, discarding any that are shriveled, visibly moldy or have off smells.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the nuts in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake the nuts for 10 minutes, shaking and turning the pan halfway through the baking time to ensure that they toast evenly.
Related LeafTv Articles
Remove the nuts from the oven and let them cool. Taste one to ensure that there is no unpleasant flavor, and proceed with your recipe.
Tip
Soak the shelled nuts overnight in milk diluted by an equal amount of water, if they have absorbed undesirable flavors from other foods. Rinse the nuts, dry them on a paper towel and refresh them in the oven as directed in the previous steps.
The refreshed nuts should be used immediately for best results, but if necessary can be refrigerated in airtight packaging for a week or two without significant loss of quality.
Rancid nuts cannot be salvaged and should be discarded.
References
- "On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen"; Harold S. McGee
- "The Progress Meatless Cookbook"; Carlotta Lake
Writer Bio
Fred Decker is a trained chef, former restaurateur and prolific freelance writer, with a special interest in all things related to food and nutrition. His work has appeared online on major sites including Livestrong.com, WorkingMother.com and the websites of the Houston Chronicle and San Francisco Chronicle; and offline in Canada's Foodservice & Hospitality magazine and his local daily newspaper. He was educated at Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.