Can Freeze Walnuts?: Have you ever questioned whether do walnuts go bad? If yes, then you should know that storing plays a vital role in any food item. If it is stored properly then walnuts can’t go bad. Did you ask yourself like can freeze walnuts? If yes, then you must follow this guide for a proper answer which can make you tension-free walnuts storing for a long time.
In this article, we are going to discuss how to freeze unshelled & shelled walnuts, how to toast walnuts in the oven & stove, way to defrost frozen walnuts, can walnuts be refrozen, how long do walnuts be frozen, etc.
- Can You Freeze Walnuts?
- How Long Can Walnuts Be Frozen?
- How To Freeze Walnuts Shelled, Unshelled, Toasted?
- How to Defrost and Reheat Walnuts?
- Can You Refreeze Walnuts?
- FAQs on Can Freeze Walnuts Both Shelled or Unshelled?
Can You Freeze Walnuts?
Yes, you can freeze walnuts to extend their shelf life. If you leave your nuts in the sunlight or warm temperature then it goes rancid due to high oil content. So, they can stay well in the pantry for about 2 to 3 weeks and in the fridge for 4-6 months. When it comes to high cold temperatures like freezers they last fresh for a year or more when you use the best freezing technique.
Remember to set the temperature at a stable 0°F to retain the freshness of the nuts. If you freeze walnuts without proper care then they may go rancid. Look at the below modules and learn how to do freezing & thawing walnuts.
How Long Can You Keep Walnuts in The Freezer?
You can freeze walnuts for a year if maintained properly. As long as you keep the bag of nuts in the coolest & safest part of the freezer, it can last for a longer time with fresh quality.
Not only whole walnuts like shelled or unshelled but also frozen toasted nuts can stay fresh for 10-12 months nearly a year. The shelf life walnuts unshelled is a little bit more than shelled ones when frozen because unshelled ones come with extra protection.
How To Freeze Walnuts Shelled, Unshelled, Toasted?
The freezing process for shelled and unshelled walnuts is different but packing them is the same. If you have unopened nuts then freeze them as it is without any prep. Now, see the simple procedure on how can I freeze walnuts both shelled and unshelled separately below:
Freezing Unshelled Walnuts
- If you don’t want to portion them then toss the whole pack of store-bought unshelled nuts into the freezer.
- If you use the walnuts often, then portioning them into the required amount of quantity before freezing is important.
- So, divide into portions or single-servings and pour them into freezer-safe bags or air-tight containers. Seal it tightly after removing the excess air from the container or bag.
- Label the bag with the date and time to track the shelf life to eat the better nuts.
- Lastly, leave all those divided bags or containers of unshelled walnuts in the freezer for a year.
Freezing Shelled Walnuts
In order to freeze shelled walnuts, you need to follow the below steps:
- First, take the shelled nuts and line them on a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Use plastic wrap to cover the lined walnuts.
- Carefully lift the sheet and place it in the freezer for upto 6-24 hours to flash freeze.
- After that, pour the frozen nuts into Ziploc bags or airtight containers.
- Mark the date and name on the container or bag and preserve it in the freezer again.
Freezing Toasted Walnuts
Make use of this smooth and easy method of freezing your leftover toasted walnuts and store them for a longer time:
- First, you need to toast them and leave them at room temperature to cool down.
- Now, transfer all toasted nuts into the air-tight container or Ziploc bags, or freezer-safe bags.
- Eliminate the air as much as possible and seal the bag of toasted walnuts properly.
- Adding a label of date and time is optional but advisable before freezing.
- Finally, keep the toasted walnut bag in the freezer.
How to Defrost and Reheat Walnuts?
The thawing process is very important to be aware of when you are planning to freeze your walnuts. After freezing walnuts, you won’t be able to eat directly the frozen ones right? So defrost frozen walnuts and use them in your smoothies, oatmeal, baking, cooking, etc. The steps you have to follow while thawing are as follows:
Firstly, transfer shelled or unshelled pack of nuts from the freezer to the fridge. Let it sit for some hours or overnight. The next day your nuts are ready to use. If you don’t want to wait for so long then try this method. Leave the nuts at room temperature for a few hours before using and immediately make use of them in cooking or baking or toasting.
There is a risk of going bad when frozen ones are exposed to room temperature for a longer time because of their high-fat content. Once your nuts are thawed, you can directly use throw them into cooking or into smoothies.
If you want to give them a nice toasted flavor, then reheating them in the oven or stove is very important. The process of reheating or toasting walnuts in the oven or on the stove is discussed here.
Toasting nuts on the stove:
- Take the skillet to keep it on the stove and heat it over medium heat.
- Drop the thawed or fresh walnuts in a limited amount that fits the skillet.
- If you overfill the skillet then your walnuts don’t cook properly.
- Take a spoon and give a good stir occasionally till it starts to brown.
- After 5 minutes or more, all the nuts turn brown and your toasted flavor walnuts are ready to enjoy.
- Place them on a plate and let them cool for some time before having them.
Toasting walnuts in the oven:
- If you have an oven then toasting walnuts can be super easy.
- Initially, preheat the oven to 375°Farenheit.
- Now, take a clean cookie sheet or baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Keep the shelled walnuts in a line or evenly on the sheet and place the baking sheet in the oven tray.
- Toast for 5-10 minutes or until you feel like they have turned a golden brown.
Can You Refreeze Walnuts?
Yes, refreezing walnuts is advisable but not many times. It is best to refreeze any food once or twice because thawing reduces its quality and taste. So take care of thawing and refreezing walnuts especially shelled and prevent them from rancid.
Instead of refreezing walnuts, you can opt for flash freezing while freezing walnuts and pick up enough amount of walnuts and seal them back for freezing. This makes walnuts thaw quickly and also saves time.
Else, divide the single-servings portion and store it in the freezer using plastic bags or ziplock bags or containers. This way you can complete the portion in one go without any loss.
FAQs on Can Freeze Walnuts Both Shelled or Unshelled?
Yes, unshelled and shelled walnuts freeze well but unshelled work great in the freezer more than shelled and roasted walnuts as they go rancid over time. If you strategize to store them properly in the freezer bags and place them away from the strong odor foods in the freezer. Whole walnut type only freezes well compare to ground, roasted or toasted nuts.
2. How long do shelled walnuts last in the freezer?
Shelled walnuts which are stored properly in the freezer can last for 18-24 months with the best quality. If you risk the quality then you can still eat frozen nuts which are preserved at 0°F continuously.
3. Can I freeze chopped walnuts?
A straight answer is yes but we won’t recommend freezing chopped walnuts as there is a chance to get rancid quickly and absorb strong odors of other dishes stored in the freezer.
Yes, raw walnuts can be frozen to stop becoming stale. As we all know that walnuts are rich in oil content so they go bad easily when exposed to warm or hot conditions. Hence, freezing them works great to hold their nutrients and taste.
5. Can shelled walnuts be frozen?
Yes, shelled walnuts can be frozen.
Final Outcome
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