If you've been keeping beans in your pantry, you may want to reconsider that decision. Storing nuts at room temperature can keep them fresh for a short period of time, but cooler temperatures are necessary for long-term storage.
Step
Method 1 of 3: First Method: Room Temperature
Step 1. Freeze the beans to remove pests
If you store your own harvested nuts, or if you buy them from the local market, you may need to freeze them for two days before storing them to kill pests or pest eggs.
- Insect larvae and eggs like room temperature. The larvae and eggs may not be visible, but that doesn't mean your beans are free of insect larvae and eggs. Therefore, fresh beans need to be sterilized by freezing.
- If you buy pre-made nuts, you don't need to freeze them. Peanut factories already kill pests from peanuts before they are sold.
- Place the nuts in an airtight container and place the container in the freezer. Leave the beans in the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) or lower.
Step 2. Pack the nuts in an airtight container
Place the nuts in a plastic or glass container. The containers used must be clean and dry, with tight and airtight lids.
Plastic and glass containers are better than plastic bags. Plastic bags are not airtight, so even if they have a good seal, air can still enter the beans and spoil the taste of the beans
Step 3. Store nuts for 2-4 months
Place the container in a dark, cool place, such as the kitchen. This way, your beans will stay fresh for 2-4 months.
- Chestnuts should not be stored at room temperature. These beans can lose moisture and even get moldy. If you store chestnuts at room temperature, make sure you use them within two weeks, as mold can develop if the nuts are left for more than two weeks.
- Light can cause beans to go rancid faster, so it's not recommended to store beans in drawers, cupboards, or other exposed areas.
Method 2 of 3: Method Two: Refrigerator
Step 1. Pack the nuts in a plastic or glass container
Place the nuts in an airtight container. Make sure the container you use is dry and clean, and can also be tightly closed with an airtight lid.
- You don't have to worry about pest eggs and larvae when you put the beans in the refrigerator. Even though peanuts contain pest eggs/larvae, storing them in cold temperatures for long periods of time will prevent the eggs from hatching.
- Glass and plastic containers are better than plastic bags. Peanuts absorb odors, so the containers you use should be tightly closed and made of airtight material. Otherwise, the taste of the nuts may change during storage.
Step 2. Refrigerate the beans for two months to a year
Place the bean container in the refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) or lower. When nuts are stored this way, most nuts can last for a year. However, some types of beans can go rancid over a shorter period of time.
- Almonds, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts will stay fresh for a year if refrigerated, peeled or unpeeled.
- If unpeeled, chestnuts can only last for two months. Once peeled, nuts can stay fresh for a year. These nuts are high in starch and dry quickly, so they go rancid faster than other nuts.
- Heat and light can make the beans go rancid faster, so storing the beans in a cool, dark place will prolong the shelf life of the beans.
Method 3 of 3: Method Three: Freezer
Step 1. Pack the nuts in an airtight plastic or glass container
Make sure the lid is airtight when you close the container. The containers you use must also be clean and dry.
- Since you'll be freezing the beans, you don't need to pre-freeze them to kill the eggs or insect larvae.
- You can store nuts in a plastic bag, but hard plastic or glass containers are better. Plastic bags are not airtight, so bad smells can still be absorbed by the beans and change the taste.
Step 2. Freeze the beans for a year to three years
Leave the beans in the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) or lower. Nuts stored with this method can stay fresh for one to two years, and some nuts can last longer.
- Almonds and chestnuts will usually stay fresh if frozen for a year. Pecans and walnuts can last for two years, and pistachios can last up to three years, peeled or unpeeled.
- Heat and light can cause beans to go rancid faster. Storing nuts in the freezer keeps them away from both factors, so this method is suitable for long-term storage of nuts.
Tips
- Rancid beans are not unsafe to eat, but they have a very strong and unpleasant aroma. Therefore, you are not advised to eat rancid beans.
- Chestnuts should be soaked for 3-4 hours after freezing or refrigerated before consumption to restore their water content.
