How to properly store peeled and unpeeled hazelnuts at home

It's not enough just to grow hazelnuts. How to store these nuts correctly so that they do not lose their properties? After all, it is known that this particular variety has the longest shelf life, if all the conditions necessary for this are met. The stock of useful and nutritious substances in nuts does not change for a long time.

Requirements for the selection of hazelnuts

Hazelnuts are grown both for personal consumption and for profit. The choice of the variety depends on the final goal. As a rule, gardeners give preference to frost-resistant or drought-resistant varieties, and only then pay attention to the characteristics of their fruits.

In varieties with round fruits, kernels are predominantly stored, since when they are chopped, a minimum battle is formed. Nuts contain a lot of vegetable fats and proteins. Varieties with a conical shape of the fruit are kept, as a rule, together with the shell. Varieties with an oval shape of nuts are almost not subjected to industrial processing, and at home they are stored in a peel.

Basic guidelines for the storage process

The rules for keeping hazelnuts in storages allow you to preserve vitamins and nutrients for a long time, minimize the risk of spoilage:

1. Immediately after harvesting or purchasing a finished product, it is necessary to sort it out and dry thoroughly.
2. If the nuts are dirty, it is recommended to rinse them before drying.
3. Those specimens that float up during the washing process can be safely thrown away - they will be empty in the middle.
4. It is recommended to eat the blanks within six months, otherwise the hazelnuts change their taste characteristics.
5. Collected and stored nuts, from which the shell is not removed, are placed in cloth or paper bags to ensure good air circulation.
6. Hazelnut kernels are stored in closed zip bags, plastic containers or ordinary glass jars covered with a nylon lid, since the presence of air significantly impairs their quality and reduces the shelf life.
7. You can store hazelnuts at room temperature and moderate humidity, but in no case should you avoid direct sunlight or sudden temperature changes.
8. The kernels of nuts are kept for up to six months in a purified form, subject to quick freezing: they put the product in a container and send it to the freezer. Do not re-freeze the product.
9. The shelf life of the harvested hazelnuts is extended, and the taste is improved if the nuts are sent to dry in the house, in standard home conditions.

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How to store peeled hazelnuts at home

Experts recommend peeling hazelnuts no earlier than an hour before eating. This is explained by the fact that the kernels have the ability to quickly absorb foreign aromas and moisture, which negatively affects their quality. If the nuts have already been peeled, then they are sent for storage in a dry, tightly closed ceramic or glass container.

Condensation may form in bags or plastic containers, which can lead to mold growth.

It is recommended to keep peeled hazelnuts at a temperature of +3 ... + 10 ° С and an air humidity of 10-15%. Such conditions are considered optimal and ensure the shelf life of the finished product within 4-5 months. The longer the peeled hazelnuts are stored, the more likely they are to turn rancid, so it is recommended to consume the nuts as soon as possible.

Features storage of unpeeled nuts

In the shell, the hazelnuts are stored in order to protect the kernels from external factors and to extend the shelf life. There are some rules to simplify the procedure and make it as effective as possible, as well as to protect the crop from mold infestation:

1. For storing nuts in an unpeeled form, fabric bags are prepared, while avoiding synthetic materials and polyethylene, which interfere with the normal "breathing" of the product, as a result of which it quickly molds.
2. For the safety of hazelnuts, a place with low humidity and temperature, protected from direct sunlight, is selected.
3. To preserve unpeeled nuts for up to 1 year, the air temperature should be maintained at + 3 ... + 12 ° С, and the humidity within 12-14%. At lower temperatures (0 ... + 3 ° C), the shelf life of the product increases to several years.
4. Do not store hazelnuts near substances or products with a pungent odor, since the porous structure of nuts allows them to quickly absorb aromas from the environment and reduce their taste characteristics.
5. If you put hazelnuts in the refrigerator, then it retains its original properties for up to 1 year, but in the freezer this period stretches up to 3 years.
6. It is important that during the storage of nuts in the store a relatively constant temperature and humidity level is maintained, as otherwise the product may become moldy from condensation.

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How much can you store?

It is known that peeled hazelnuts retain their qualities and useful properties at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. In a refrigerator or a dry basement, this period increases to 3-4 months, and in a freezer - up to six months.

It is worth noting that the shelf life of a hazelnut is largely determined by the chosen form of storage. In the shell, this period is significantly extended, but peeled nuts quickly lose their taste characteristics, absorb third-party aromas and moisture. If peeled hazelnuts are stored in the refrigerator for only 5-6 months, then in the shell this time stretches to 9-12 months.

If even small specks of mold were noticed on the nuts, this indicates their unsuitability for food. Even if you get rid of the mold as soon as possible, the harmful substances will already have time to penetrate deep into the structure of the nut kernel, and such a product can easily be poisoned. In addition, it will have an unpleasant bitter taste.

You cannot store hazelnuts from different crops or batches in the same package, and even more so it is forbidden to mix it with other types of nuts. Do not store hazelnuts in an open container, since the kernels quickly become bitter and absorb moisture. Also, a young nut that has not had time to ripen on a tree is not suitable for laying.

The quality of hazelnuts is characterized by a fresh classic scent.As soon as notes of bitterness or mold begin to be felt in it, then it is no longer possible to eat such nuts. Due to violations of storage conditions, the product loses most of its useful components and nutrients, therefore, all recommendations must be carefully followed and not deviated from them. Only in this case, you can be sure of the quality and safety of the stored crop.

Roasted hazelnuts have a short shelf life. If all the necessary conditions are met and the temperature is maintained at + 3 ... + 12 ° C, this period does not exceed 3 months, therefore it is recommended to cook it in small portions.