So, in an effort to up your nutrition game, you went out and purchased your very first jar of cashews. You decide to open the package and give the nuts a try as a midday snack in the hopes that they will give you a boost of energy. Up to this point, everything has been going swimmingly, but you have noticed that the label on the nuts suggests that they should be consumed within approximately two weeks. Do cashews go bad?
Or perhaps you’ve made a bulk purchase of cashews but aren’t sure how to best store them so that they keep for as long as possible. You have heard that some people refrigerate these nuts, which strikes you as rather strange. Additionally, since you have a limited amount of space in your refrigerator and freezer, you want to make sure that you only use that space when it will actually benefit the cashews.
This article is for you if any of those concerns sound familiar to you and you would like to learn more about the storage, shelf life, and spoilage of cashews.
The Proper Method for Storing Cashew Nuts
Cashews are a type of nut seed that can be consumed on their own as a wholesome snack or used as an ingredient in a variety of dishes, including desserts, salads, appetizers, and stews. But regardless of how you intend to put these nuts to use, it is imperative that you are familiar with the correct method of storing them.
Cashews, like other types of nuts such as almonds or pecans, contain a significant amount of oil, which means that they will eventually become rancid.
Exposure to high temperatures, direct sunlight, and open air all hasten the process of going rancid. In addition, the fact that these nuts are sold without their shells means that they have no natural defenses against the aforementioned factors. Now that you are aware of all of this information, let’s talk about what you need to do to ensure that they last as long as possible.
Let’s begin with the proper way to put them away. If you purchase cashews in a large quantity, for example in a brown paper bag, you should move them once you get them home into a container that is airtight or a freezer bag. This will assist in reducing the amount of time spent in the open air.
If you purchase them in a plastic bag, once you have opened the bag you should transfer the items to one of the containers that were previously mentioned. If they are packaged in a jar or a can that can be sealed again after being opened, you will be able to keep the nuts inside of them even after they have been opened.
Okay, it’s time to start talking about where to store them now, isn’t it?
Cashews that have already been packaged can typically be stored at room temperature until they are opened. They can be kept in the jar or the plastic package without any concern for their safety; however, you should store them in a cool, dark place that is away from any sources of heat.
After the box has been opened, the nuts will only maintain their quality for a short period of time at room temperature. If you want to make that period of time last longer, refrigerating or freezing the food is the best option. The situation is pretty much the same with regard to the cashews that you have purchased in large quantities. When storing something for a longer period of time, opt for the refrigerator or freezer rather than keeping it at room temperature.
Keep in mind that cashews are hygroscopic when deciding how to store them in the refrigerator. In light of the fact that they have a propensity for soaking up moisture and acquiring pungent odors from their surroundings, it is essential to ensure that they are hermetically sealed.
When you freeze cashews, you need to make sure the nuts are well protected from the elements. Freezer bags and airtight containers are your best bets for accomplishing that goal. Pick resealable bags if you can get your hands on them because not only are they better for the environment, but they also take up less room in the freezer. Before you seal the package, you should make sure that as much air as possible has been removed from it. Using the original container is perfectly acceptable as long as it has a secure lid and can be stored in the freezer.
How Long Can Cashews Remain Fresh?
You are aware that cashews have the potential to become rancid. Furthermore, the likelihood of these nuts becoming rancid is significantly higher than the likelihood of them becoming spoiled in the conventional sense of the term. That being the case, when we speak of their shelf life, we are referring to the amount of time they have before they become rancid, at which point they lose some of their rich flavor as well as some of the nutritional value.
Let’s begin with raw cashews that were purchased in large quantities. The pantry should keep these fresh for about a month, while the refrigerator should keep them fresh for close to six months. Freeze them to keep them for a longer period of time.
When purchasing pre-packaged cashews, you should always check the expiration date on the package. In addition, it is safe to assume that the nuts can be kept in the kitchen or pantry without being opened until the specified date. In case you were curious, the shelf life can differ significantly depending on the seller as well as the manufacturer. However, the typical range is somewhere between three months and two years. It all depends on the processing that is done to the nuts before they are packaged.
After the package has been opened, the nuts should maintain their quality for approximately two weeks in the pantry and approximately one month in the refrigerator. Once more, you should freeze the cashews if you need to keep them for a longer period of time.
It is not possible to pinpoint an exact time frame for when the nuts will become rancid, despite the fact that their shelf life is typically a little bit longer.
How to Determine Whether or Not Cashews Have Gone Rancid
First things first, check any nuts that have been in the pantry for a while for any signs of mold growth. This is especially important for nut butters. Throw away any and all nuts that are present.
When cashews are at their peak of freshness, the nuts have a flavor that is typically described as creamy, as well as a pleasant aroma. On the other hand, as time passes, the nuts will become darker in color and more brittle in consistency.
Another one of the telltale signs of deterioration is an appearance that is darker and more shriveled than before. Once they have reached the point where they are completely dry, it is time to get rid of them.
If the nuts don’t appear to be in too bad of shape, you can try one of them to determine whether or not they are still fit for consumption. Additionally, if the cashews have developed a bitter flavor, this indicates that the nuts have already rancidified and are therefore unfit for consumption.
