Almonds are a great snack food because they’re crunchy and relatively healthy. That is, until we spoil them by over-starving ourselves on the yummy things! If you want to make sure your almonds last as long as possible, learn how to store them properly in this blog post.
The “how do you know if almonds are bad” is a question that is often asked. There are many ways to tell if an almond has gone bad, but the best way is to smell it. If the almond smells like moldy bread, then it’s probably bad.
You’ve discovered an old bag of shelled almonds in the cupboard and aren’t sure whether they’re still edible. Is it possible for almonds to spoil?
The nuts are beyond their sell-by date, but they seem to be in good condition. You’d probably eat them straight away if the date wasn’t there, but now you’re hesitant. That’s where learning how to distinguish between excellent and bad almonds comes in helpful.
Continue reading to learn about deterioration indications, shelf life, and suitable storage techniques. You should know what to deal with the old pack after reading this article. Also, how should almonds be handled in the future?
Is it Possible for Almonds to Go Bad? Is It Possible To Tell If Almonds Are Bad?
Almonds, like almond milk or almond flour, go bad after a while.
You should watch for the same spoilage indications as you would for other nuts (e.g., hazelnuts). They are as follows:
- mold
- invasion of insects (possible if you have insect issues in your pantry)
- kernels that have dried up and become brownish
- rancidity
You should get rid of those nuts if any of them is present.
Let me explain how to differentiate excellent almonds from rotten almonds if you’re not sure. When it comes to rotting almonds, there are two things to keep an eye out for:
- Smell has changed. The nuts are rotten if they smell bitter, sour, or like paint. They aren’t if they have a little nuttiness to them.
- Taste has changed. If the nuts have a harsh or bitter taste, the lipids in them have gone rancid, and you should toss them.
Remember that changed flavor is a more prevalent indicator, so even if your almonds smell OK, you’re still not out of the woods. Before putting them in a cake, salad, or giving a handful to your kids as a snack, you should still take and consume a couple.
The good news is that almonds survive a long time (more on that in the next section), so unless you store them improperly, they should be OK for months beyond their expiration date.
To summarize, eat one or two almonds if they look and smell good. If the flavor is acceptable, you have perfectly edible nuts on your hands.
What Is the Shelf Life of Almonds?
When it comes to almonds, the shelf life estimates you’ll read online aren’t uniform, but they’re all quite close.
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), you may store:
- 20 months at 0°C (32°F), 16 months at 10°C (50°F), and eight months at 20°C (68°F) in-shell almonds
- Almonds that have been shelled will last roughly half as long.
On the other side, the FoodKeeper App (FK) suggests the following:
- In the pantry, unshelled almonds will last six months, 16 months in the fridge, and 20 months frozen.
- In the pantry, shelled almonds will last four months, eight months in the refrigerator, and ten months frozen.
As you can see, the eras aren’t very dissimilar from one another.
I usually purchase shelled almonds and anticipate 6 months in the pantry, 12 months in the fridge, and 18 months in the freezer. And that suits my needs well.
If you purchase pre-packaged almonds, the label will almost certainly have a date on it. Please bear in mind that this date is simply an estimate, and the almonds should remain in excellent condition for much longer. As I said in the outset, even very old almonds are often edible.
Let’s speak about how to maintain your almonds in the finest possible condition for as long as feasible.
What Is The Best Way To Store Almonds?
We have the same three alternatives for keeping almonds as we have for peanuts or pistachios: the freezer, the refrigerator, and the pantry. And, as you may be aware, the colder the environment, the longer the nuts will survive.
If you’ve ever kept almonds at room temperature and they’ve gone rancid, cold storage is the way to go since it prevents lipid oxidation (fat rancidity) (USDA). The pantry or kitchen are typically adequate storage facilities for most of us who don’t intend on storing the almonds for an extended length of time.
The kernels of in-shell almonds don’t need much protection since the shells provide it for them. All you need are some containers or freezer bags, as well as a well-ventilated bag (for room-temperature storage) (for cold storage).
Because shelled almonds lack the protective coating, you must intervene. You should store them in an airtight container or resealable bag. This treatment prevents oxidation and eliminates smells, which almonds are prone to absorb owing to their high fat content (USDA).
If you’re going to store your items at room temperature, make sure they’re dry, dark, and away from any heat sources. A cupboard in the pantry or kitchen (but not near the stove) should suffice.
Putting it all together in a nutshell
- Almonds may get rotten, moldy, or dry out and turn a different color. If you find either, toss them out.
- Because almonds survive longer than most other nuts, your old bag may still be edible.
- For long-term storage, cold storage is the best option. If you need to preserve almonds for a few months, a dark cupboard in the pantry or kitchen will suffice.
References
Almonds are a popular snack food that is often eaten raw. This can be dangerous if you don’t store them properly, as they can go bad quickly. Reference: do almonds go bad in the fridge.
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