How Long Do Almonds Last?

Almonds are the prominent nuts that many consume regularly. It is an efficient nut that has lots of health benefits to bestow consumers.

However, almonds bought a long time back and stashed away in a kitchen rack for days together may not be ideal for improving your health.

They invariably are also very tasty and nutty in flavor when they are in their prime. If you buy unshelled almonds, you can actually consume them for a longer time than shelled almonds.

However, shells in almonds have an intrinsic coating that protects them from moisture and air intrusion. 

Unshelled almonds can be stored in the pantry for 6 months. They don’t even have a best-before date as they invariably have a longer lifespan. They can be effectively refrigerated or frozen for 16 to 20 months. 

Shelled almonds are slightly sensitive to time and need apt protection by all means. They should be refrigerated soon enough to be consumed whenever you want.

Although almonds generally have a longer timespan, they need exceptional care and effective preservation to last longer.

How Long Do Almonds Last?

Almonds, in general, are long-standing, but some varieties differ in the durability of the nut. They are available in raw form or even in roasted form. The two types of almonds are shelled and unshelled almonds. 

Let us discuss the durability of both types separately.

Unshelled Almonds

Unshelled almonds have an intrinsic coating that elongates the shelf life of these types of almonds. The coating actually acts as a shield against moisture, light, and heat. 

Unshelled almonds can be stored in the pantry or kitchen cabinet for at least 6 months. It can also be refrigerated for 16 to 20 months without any issues. Freezing the unshelled almonds seems to be another possible preservation technique.

Shelled Almonds

Shelled almonds are less effective in comparison with unshelled almonds when it comes to durability. They lack a coating and have a tendency to turn bad sooner, contrary to their name. 

Shelled almonds can be stored in the pantry or kitchen cabinet for 4 months. You can refrigerate them for 8 or 10 months. Freezing them can actually prolong their shelf life.

Can Almonds Go Bad?

Almonds are filled with fats and omega-3 acids. They are healthy because of this reason. However, when almonds stay longer exposed to air, these fats and acids might get eliminated slowly, leaving the almond bad.

Exposing it to moisture can make it rancid and radiate an odor that indicates that it has turned bad.

The package of almonds has some predestined storage conditions specified by the manufacturer. However, if you flout that protocol, there is a high chance that almonds might turn bad.

If you have refrigerated the almonds, you have to continue to refrigerate them and not take them out. If you remove them from the fridge, they may get spoiled sooner than you think. If you are not going to use almonds, they can be refrigerated. 

Keep the almonds outside in the pantry for not more than 8 hours. The longer you keep the almonds out, the more they are vulnerable.

How Do You Know That Almonds Have Turned Bad?

Almonds have the tendency to spoil a whole item when added to the recipe. There are many ways to identify whether the almonds go bad. 

Smell

This is one random way of finding whether the almonds have turned bad. When you take a sniff, you will find out that the almonds radiate an odor of sourness or smell a little dusty.

They would have lost their natural nutty aroma, leaving behind a repulsive rancid smell.

Taste

This is a perfect indication to determine whether the almond has turned bad. The taste will be slightly sour, and the tasty nutty flavor will have vanished. 

Appearance

Its appearance would indicate that almonds have turned bad. It would attract insects or bugs with breeding bacteria on the surface.

Is It Ok To Eat Almonds Past Their Expiry Date?

It is ok to consume almonds past their expiry date if you don’t see any signs of spoilage. The mentioned date is a tentative estimate of how long the almonds retain their superior quality. So consuming them beyond their best-by date would not be an issue.

You should check the condition of the almonds before even you plan on taking a bite. If you pick a package of almonds and find out it has grown molds, it is not eligible for consumption and should be immediately discarded.

What Happens When You Eat Expired Almonds?

Food poisoning is an obvious effect of consuming expired almonds. There will be a possible attack of salmonella bacteria which actually causes symptoms like fever, headache, and stomach upset. 

That bacteria is also considered slightly fatal by causing serious damage to your health when you consume more spoiled food.

If the almonds go bad, it will be difficult for you to take a bite. The surface will harden up, and you will find munching difficult.

How Do You Store Almonds?

You can keep the almonds in a pantry or kitchen cabinet, provided the temperature is cold enough. Storing almonds necessitates a dark, well-ventilated place. It should also be free from moisture and heat.

Almonds can be stored in airtight containers, jars, and storage bags. The nuts should be placed in a capacious location that will give them ample ventilation to breathe. You should also make sure that you keep away from any oxidation process. 

You don’t have to transfer the content if you have not opened the nut package. However, if you have opened the package, change the content into a closed jar or an airtight container. 

Can You Freeze Almonds?

Of course, you can freeze almonds. It is one of the most recommended methods that warrants an easy process. You just take the almonds and back them in a freezer with a vacuum-packed process. Just blow all the air out and keep it so intact.

Almonds don’t freeze too much or together. So there is no necessity to pre-freeze them. You can scoop out the almonds from the freezer package and then have it at your mercy.

You may have to warm it a little bit. Keep it at room temperature for half an hour before it gets nominal for consumption when you want to snack on it. 

Conclusion

Almond is an important nut and has significance on your health when consumed regularly. Although, preservation seems to be a sensible thing to address.

How long you can keep the almond and binge on it depends on how you store it and how long it has stayed. So the above article would clearly reveal all the information on the same without any reservations. 

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