Mom’s Spiced Nuts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long do homemade nuts last? ›

The general rule is that most nuts retain quality for a few months. However, this does not mean that nuts will remain in good condition for an extended period. Shelled nuts stored at room temperature are expected to last six to nine months. Non-shelled nuts will last for four to six months.

Freeze chopped, ground, whole, roasted, or spiced nuts in the shell or in an unopened can. Nuts that are salted or spiced have a freezer storage life of 6 months. Plain nuts have a freezer storage life of about 12 months. Seeds can also be frozen for up to 6 months.

Spoilage is accelerated even more in the presence of light, oxygen, and heat. Storing nuts (and seeds) in the fridge or freezer limits their exposure to all three of these, and will result in your nuts tasting less bitter and more flavorful for a longer period of time.

Nuts don't usually spoil, unless kept in a very warm place, or are years old. If they smell good and still have their original colour, they should be fine to eat. Is eating rotten nuts really bad? Yes, when nuts turn rancid you can actually tell from the smell and taste.

"Nuts have a wide range of fat contents," says LaMarita. Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are lower in fat, so they'll generally last longer than nuts higher in fat, like macadamia nuts, pine nuts, cashews, and Brazil nuts, all of which will go rancid quicker, says LaMarita.

My pecans are sticky, what went wrong? When candied pecans are warm, they might be a bit sticky, but once they cool, the sugar coating should harden. If after they have cooled down, the pecans are still sticky, this means that the sugar mixture never reached a high enough temperature when on the stove.

Whole raw nuts can be stored in the freezer for up to one year. Chopped nuts, ground nuts, or nut flours — all of which contain more surface area for oxidation — are quicker to spoil and should only be stored for up to six months.

Glass jars are ideal; thick-walled plastic jars also work well. Some people use ziplock freezer bags. The main disadvantage of freezing nuts is needing to warm them up before eating or roasting.

Nuts smell sour and rancid and aren't quite pleasant. In terms of texture, stale nuts tend to feel softer and lose their trademark crunch when stale. Lastly, rancid nuts taste just like how they smell – sour and bitter.

As regards the nuts, dried fruit or nut creams in our cupboards, their expiry dates are 'best-before' dates, so once the date indicated on the packaging is past, you can use your senses to check if the food is still edible: taste, sight, and smell can help us fighting food waste.

What is the best container to store nuts in? ›

Nuts should be stored in their own airtight containers, such as glass, ceramic, or sturdy plastic containers. Even freezer bags are a good option. In selecting the container it's important to assess them for their airtightness.

When storing nuts, the freezer is your friend. This dark, cold space slows the deterioration of the nut's oils, a process that directly impacts flavor. Light, oxygen, and heat are the enemies of nuts.

Just be sure to store it properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. Homemade peanut butter can last for up to 3 months in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer. If your peanut butter has gone bad, it will have a sour or rancid smell. It may also have a strange colour or texture.

Nuts will last a LOT longer in the freezer without going rancid. Store them in a container that seals and won't admit odors. Glass jars are ideal; thick-walled plastic jars also work well.