Store shelled or unshelled walnuts safely in an airtight container and store them in a cool, dry place. The refrigerator is a great option, as walnuts stay fresh for up to three months. You can also freeze walnuts for up to a year. Shelled walnuts stay fresh in the pantry for about 12 months.
Of course, it's not that after that period all nuts are discarded. But chances are that at least some of them are dry or stale, and some of them are stale. Properly stored shelled and shelled walnuts last up to a year in the refrigerator. All you have to do is put them in an airtight container or store them in their bag if it wasn't open.
Shelled walnuts can last up to 12 months, maintaining their freshness and quality. However, once the housing is removed, the life of the nut decreases significantly. Shelled walnuts are kept for at least half a year at room temperature and more than a year in the refrigerator. On the other hand, shelled walnuts last at least 3 months in the pantry and more than 12 months in the refrigerator.
Shelled walnuts require much more care and caution than their shelled counterparts. When they are in their unopened package, they can last as long as their expiration date indicates. Outside of the package, the situation is totally different. Because of their high fat content, walnuts turn rancid relatively quickly once exposed to the elements.
Even when stored perfectly, they can only be expected to last up to four weeks in the pantry. Because of this, it is much better to transfer the nuts to a sealed container as soon as they have been opened. When placed in the fridge, the shelf life can be extended up to 6 months. However, as time goes on, you may notice that one or two are starting to get bad before the others.
How long do shelled walnuts last? Shelled walnuts won't last long. They can usually last up to a month in the pantry, or maybe two months if stored in an airtight bag with very little air inside. Shelled walnuts can be expected to last at least a year in the fridge. Just like in the pantry, they can also last much longer or not as long, but they can stay in good condition for 18 months or more.
There's nothing like keeping a pack of nuts in your coat pocket while walking on icy sidewalks and putting them in your mouth from time to time. Knowing how to store walnuts properly will help ensure they have a long shelf life and stay fresh. Now, if you can't put the walnuts in the fridge, let's talk about storing them at room temperature. You keep rummaging through your pockets to take out another handful of nuts and keep eating until there are no more left.
Naturally, when you buy nuts that are still in the shell, they have an additional layer of protection against these harmful elements. If you have chopped or ground nuts and want to know if they are still fresh, sift the walnuts. There are several different ways that nuts can go bad, some of which are obvious and some of which are not. And that's why most people prefer to put shelled walnuts in an airtight box after opening the store-bought package.
Now let's look at each type of nut (with and without shell), so you can find the shelf life of the ones you're looking for. Walnut kernels are best stored in the refrigerator, but you can store them in a dry, low-humidity place away from direct light. You'll find that shelled walnuts can last 12 months in the freezer and chopped or ground walnuts for up to six months. For walnuts in shell, you can leave them at room temperature in a ventilated bag, or place them in a bag or container and refrigerate them.
