How Long Do Pecans Last? | Can Pecans Go Bad?
Pecans are a versatile ingredient that can add flavor and crunch to various recipes. They can be used in baked goods such as cakes, pies, and muffins, as well as in sweet recipes like candies and pralines. Pecans can also be used to enhance savory dishes such as salads, stuffings, and sauces.
They can be chopped, toasted, or added whole, depending on the recipe. Being among the highest sources of iron in nuts, fiber, healthy unsaturated fats, and magnesium they surely are a tasty wholesome snack to look for.
Nuts like pecans are commonly associated with digestive discomfort, with many families believing that they are difficult to digest. However, this misconception is largely unfounded, and with the right preparation and cooking techniques, pecans can actually be easily digested and cause no digestive problems.
Families all throughout the country have started making the smart decision to include this wholesome, domestically farmed nut in their rotation of snack foods. Pecans have a great flavor, the highest antioxidant content of any nut, and the fewest net carbohydrates per serving of any nut.
However, one of the concerns for pecan consumers is the shelf life of these nuts and how long they can last. In this article, we will explore the factors that affect the longevity of pecans, including storage conditions and the type of packaging used, as well as the signs to look for when determining if pecans have gone bad.
How Long Do Pecans Last?
Pecans that have been shelled may keep for nine months in the refrigerator; however, unshelled pecans only last for approximately six months in the pantry and a year in the fridge. You can preserve pecans in the freezer if that period is insufficient.
Pecans Shelf Life: Shelled vs. In the Shell
Every nut has a shell to protect it from things like moisture and the elements. As a result, the in-shell nuts keep better at ambient temperature. All of the protection is provided for shelled pecans by the container or bag they are kept in. In the pantry, they can last up to three months.
Finally, even under poor storage circumstances, in-shell pecans have a rather long shelf life if you keep them in their original shell. But it differs for pecans that have been shelled.
Date of Expiration
A best-by date is marked on pecan packs. That time period represents an approximation of how long nuts keep quality. In reality, pecans continue to be excellent for a few weeks after the best-by date, thus it is not an expiry date. But before ingesting them, you should check for signs of deterioration.
| Pantry | Fridge | |
| Unshelled pecans | 6 months | 12 months |
| Shelled pecans | 9 months |
Can You Freeze Pecans?
Yes, both in-shell and shelled pecans may be frozen. The nuts should be kept in this manner for as long as possible. The pecans should be put in the freezer bag. Seal the bag after removing the air. The bag should then be put in the freezer. Those pecans will stay frozen for two years.
How Long Do Unshelled Pecans Last In The Freezer?
In order to avoid accidentally destroying your food, be careful to handle freezing pecans with care. Pecans can be harmed if they are not properly frozen, thawed, and refrozen.
Unshelled pecans keep well in the freezer for two to four years and are delicious when removed. Due to the additional insulation provided by the freezer, roasted, salted, or candied pecans also store nicely there.
Pecans may be shielded from bugs, humidity, heat, and other elements that could make them stale or rotten by storing them in the freezer. Before using your pecans in recipes, taste them after removing them from the freezer to make sure they are still fresh.
Stored in small, separate containers, frozen pecans may be thawed out in batches rather than all at once, extending their shelf life and helping them last longer overall.
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How To Defrost Frozen Pecans?
Pecans may be easily defrosted. For about 30 minutes, let them on the counter to come to room temperature. It’s better to let the pecans thaw naturally because microwaving them might make them lose their freshness, taste, and even texture.
Defrost the pecans just before eating or using them in cooking. If you thaw them earlier than necessary, you may store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. After defrosting, they should retain their taste for at least two months. They will keep their flavor for the following period even if you refreeze them.
How To Store Pecans?
Your pecans are similar to other nuts. So you may store them similarly to how you would pine or walnut nuts. Pecans contain 65 to 70% oil, which is bad as it can become rancid when it comes in contact with moisture, air, or shifting temperatures. Your pecans are shielded from the environment by their shells. As a result, you must store unshelled pecans a little differently from shelled pecans.
Unshelled Pecans
- Unshelled pecans can be kept in a cold, dry location, such as your pantry.
- For a few months, there is no need to keep them refrigerated.
- Put them in your freezer or refrigerator if you won’t be using them for the next six months.
Shelled Pecans
- Keep shelled pecans away from the room temperature.
- The fridge is the ideal place to store them.
- Put them in your freezer if you want to utilize them after a year or two.
Keep in mind: You must shield your pecans from dampness.
So you may continue to store unopened pecan packages in their original packaging. If the packet has been opened, put the pecans in freezer bags or other airtight containers before storing them in your refrigerator or freezer.
Always make sure the bags or containers are closed securely before moving on. Your pecans will be shielded from dampness and kept from acquiring overpowering scents from their environment.
How To Tell If Pecans Are Bad?
If you want to store pecans for a long time, you should be aware of the several physical signs that indicate when a container of pecans has gone bad. If any pecans in your container exhibit one or more of these characteristics, you should not eat any of them and discard the nuts right once.
Dryness. You shouldn’t consume any of your pecans if they have turned dry since it signifies the oils in the nuts have dried out and will soon go rancid. A clear indication that your pecans are poor is if they are dry because, without their natural oils, pecans start to get stale and rough because those oils keep them moist and fresh.
Bitterness. Even though your pecans feel and appear OK, they may still be dangerous for you if they start to taste strongly sour or bitter. All pecans with a bitter flavor have gone bad because when a nut’s oil is rancid, it turns bitter and permeates the remainder of the nut, making it taste awful.
Mold. The formation of mold, fungus, or other external growths on the surface of any food is the most evident evidence that it has gone bad. This also applies to pecans, therefore you should always discard moldy nuts, even if only one or two are physically contaminated. The remainder may still be home to spores and hidden growths.
Also Read:
- How Long Do Baked Beans Last In The Fridge?
- How Long does Quinoa Last?
- Do Chia Seeds Go Bad?
- Does Tempeh Go Bad?
Summary | What Is The Shelf life Of pecans?
Pecans have a shelf life much like most other foods. Pecans may survive for a very long time if they are properly stored and still have their shells on. To extend their shelf life, try to store pecans in airtight containers like stiff plastic containers or sealed plastic bags.
Pecans keep better at lower temperatures because they contain a lot of plant-based oil, which prevents the lipids from deteriorating. Shelled pecans may keep for up to six months when stored properly, whereas in-shell (or unshelled) pecans can keep for nine to twelve months.
As both shelled and unshelled kinds of pecans survive longer and maintain more of their flavor when stored in a cold environment, try allocating some refrigerator space for your nuts.
