going nuts

Contrary to popular belief, nuts should be stored in the fridge or freezer, explains  Beth Gold of RealSimple.com. Why? Because nuts contain a high amount of unsaturated fat, a delicate type of oil which makes them highly prone to going rancid. Spoilage is accelerated even more by light, oxygen and—you guessed it—heat. Storing nuts (and seeds) in the fridge or freezer limits their exposure to all three and will result in your nuts tasting less bitter and more flavorful for a longer time.

According to Steve Lindsay, the director of quality assurance for Diamond Nuts, you can keep an unopened bag of shelled or in-shell nuts in the fridge or freezer for two years. Even if the bag has been opened, shelled nuts should last an entire year, and in-shell nuts will last about a year and a half.

If you’re going to use your nuts in the immediate future, it’s fine to keep them in a cool, dark spot in your pantry. Just make sure they’re in an airtight container and plan to eat them within a couple of weeks.

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