Mom’s Spiced Nuts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can spiced nuts be frozen? ›

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nuts' fragile unsaturated fats can go rancid quickly. While that may not hurt your health, it can definitely be bad news for flavor. Keep nuts tasting fresh by stowing them in a sealed plastic or glass container in the refrigerator for four to six months.

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.

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

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.

The science behind this unfortunate transformation is a complicated chemical reaction called oxidation. Fueled by exposure to air, light, and heat, unsaturated fats break down and release free radicals.

Should nuts be washed before eating? ›

Yes, it's a good idea to wash almonds before eating them. Almonds, like many other nuts and seeds, can sometimes have dust, debris, or natural oils on their surface, which can be removed by washing. Additionally, washing nuts can help improve their overall cleanliness and remove any potential contaminants.

Cashews can stay good for one year in the freezer. Walnuts will last for a year in the freezer. Pecans can last up to two years in the freezer. So stock up next time these nuts are on sale!

You may think it's a nutty idea, but the best place to keep nuts is in the freezer! Nuts contain a lot of oil and can become rancid if stored in the pantry. Instead, place them in separate airtight containers or sealable plastic bags, then label, date and freeze for up to six months.

We routinely get cashews, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, and pistachios (as well as sunflower and pumpkin seeds), and keep them all in the freezer. I've never noticed any of them going off, although they rarely last more than a couple of months before getting used.

When brought back to room temperature, these nuts were indistinguishable from batches of freshly toasted nuts. So as long as you seal them tightly to prevent freezer burn and softening, feel free to store toasted nuts in the freezer for up to one month.