Aisha Zakari
Can you freeze nuts? You may think it is a crazy thing to do, but you can actually do that.
There are plenty of reasons why you might want to freeze nuts. One may have excess nuts in the house or want them to last long and stay fresh.
Does any of this sound like you?
This guide will show you everything you need to know about freezing nuts.
Let’s get to it.
What Exactly Is a Nut?
A nut is a dry hard fruit consisting of edible kernels that is safe to eat. In general, nuts are used in food as they have energy, vitamins, and nutrients in them. Some are known for having high oil content because they consist of unsaturated fatty acids that are healthy for the human body.
What Are the Types of Nuts?
There are over 53 different types of nuts, in truth. The most commonly used nuts in households are almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, pistachios, and chestnuts.
How to Freeze Nuts
Freezing nuts is like ABC!
Whether shelled or unshelled nuts, chopped or unchopped nuts, salted or unsalted nuts, roasted or fried, you can freeze them in the following ways:
1. Let It Cool Off
If you want to freeze fried or roasted nuts, you must let them cool off first. After cooling off, you can now freeze them.
2. Pack and Double Wrap
Pack your nuts and wrap them twice using plastic film, then place them in a sealed bag. Seal the bag and put it in the freezer. Ensure, before sealing, that you get rid of air by pushing out as much as you can.
3. Ziploc Bag
You can use a zip-loc bag to store your nuts and keep them fresh. Simply pack up nuts in a zip-loc bag and leave a small opening toward the middle of the bag. Then, push out excess air or use your mouth to suck the air out.
4. Tag It
Label the bag with the storage date before placing it in the freezer. This way, you know the date you freeze nuts, and in doing so, you won’t freeze them for too long.
Keep in mind that you can freeze processed nuts, but they don’t last as long in the freezer as raw nuts would. Processed nuts are either fried, chopped, roasted, or salted, releasing oil. When processed nuts release the oil, they get exposed to oxygen and go bad quickly.
How Long Will Nuts Keep in the Freezer?
You can freeze raw nuts for about 12 months.
Nuts freeze well in the freezer, but some, due to their high oil content, do not freeze well for a long period of time.
We recommend buying and freezing nuts in smaller portions to avoid eating up space in your freezer. How about you share some portions with a friend or family member if you must buy in large portions?
7 Tips for Freezing Nuts
Here are six tips to follow when freezing nuts to ensure they last up to a year:
Tip 1: Consider freezing your nuts shelled (that is, raw) rather than unshelled (processed). This is my favorite because it helps to keep my nuts tasting better and more flavorful.
Tip 2: Make use of clean containers when freezing nuts. This gives you the chance to view containers without opening them and exposing them to oxygen.
Tip 3: Keep nuts away from smelling foods like onions, garlic, etc.
Tip 4: To freeze nuts, make use of an airtight jar or plastic container to help the nuts maintain their water level.
Tip 5: Store your raw nuts in a sealed container and place them in a cool, dark space with no contact with sunlight.
Tip 6: It is a good idea to smell your stored nuts before using them. If your nuts give off a rancid smell, then they have most probably been exposed to oxygen.
How to Defrost Frozen Nuts
Once it’s time to defrost, simply take out the nuts from the freezer the night before. You can also place your frozen nuts in the refrigerator all night to defrost adequately.
We advise you to ensure nuts are defrosted completely before eating. The outside of frozen nuts cooks easily while the inside does not, and this unhealthy cooking can promote bacterial growth in your half-cooked nuts.
How to Tell If Your Frozen Nuts Is Bad
If you are the type like me who forgets to label their storage date, you are sure to encounter this problem. But fret not!
To tell if your frozen nuts have gone bad, do this:
1. Smell It
Frozen nuts that have gone bad give off a nail polish or paint smell once you open the storage container. If you happen to recognize this smell, immediately get rid of the nuts.
2. Taste It
Your next best friend is your taste bud. If, after smelling, you still feel the nuts might be good, then taste them.
Break the nuts and give them a taste. If it’s flavorful, chances are your nuts are still edible but if it tastes rancid, bitter, or sour, it means your nuts have gone bad and you should spit it out and throw the remaining away.
Conclusion
With over 53 types of nuts all over the world, it is good to know there are ways to freeze nuts and use them for a longer period. What’s not to love?
Now, are you still wondering if you can freeze nuts? I guess not anymore!
FAQs
Can you refreeze nuts?
Yes, you can. Refreezing your nuts is possible but bear in mind that refreezing will deteriorate the quality and flavorsome of the nuts.
Do nuts freeze well?
If you store your nuts correctly, then yes, nuts freeze well. To freeze nuts well, ensure the seal is airtight with no room for oxygen.
Can you freeze almonds?
Yes, you can. All you need is to wrap them correctly in a plastic film, place them in a sealed or freezer bag, and store them in the freezer.
Can you freeze pecans?
Yes, pecans can be frozen for 12 months. Simply wrap it in a sealed bag and store it in the freezer.
Does freezing nuts destroy nutrients?
No. Freezing nuts doesn’t kill or destroy bacteria. Rather, it helps in storing and keeping them fresh for a year.
