Food preservation

How to Safely Store Peanuts – Step by Step Guide

Who doesn’t love to munch on a handful of peanuts or use them in delicious home-baked cookies? That is unless you have a peanut allergy, of course. Peanuts are highly nutritious, but they also have a high oil content. This means that they have to be stored correctly, so that they don’t go rancid.

It’s important to store peanuts in an airtight container or sealed bag. You can store peanuts in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 3 months, in the fridge for around 4 to 6 months, or in the freezer for around 9 to 12 months.

Here’s how to store peanuts correctly.

Step-By-Step-Guide To Storing Peanuts

Storing unshelled peanuts

To store unshelled peanuts, follow these steps:

  1. Inspect the peanuts and ensure that there is no moisture or mold on them.
  2. Put them into an airtight container, a sealed zip-lock bag or a vacuum sealed bag.
  3. Store them in a dry, dark place, preferably in the refrigerator, for around 4 to 6 months.
  4. If you choose to store them in fridge, make sure that you check the container once every couple of weeks to ensure that there’s no condensation. If there is some moisture in the container or the bag, remove it using some clean paper towel. Remember, you want to keep your peanuts totally dry because any moisture will make the oils go rancid.
  5. To freeze the peanuts, put them in a freezer bag and seal, making sure that you get all the air out. These can be stored in the freezer for around 1 year.

Storing shelled peanuts

To store shelled peanuts, follow these steps:

  1. Place the peanuts in an airtight container or a ziplock bag, making sure that they are completely dry.
  2. You can store these in the pantry for around 3 months.
  3. To extend their shelf life, you can store them in the refrigerator for around 6 months. But make sure you check them every couple of weeks to ensure there’s no condensation on the inside of the container.
  4. If you want to freeze them, you can store them in an airtight container or freezer bag for around 9 to 12 months.

Roasted peanuts

If your peanuts taste a little stale when you’re ready to eat them, you can place them on a tray into the oven. Roast them for around 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius).

To store roasted peanuts, follow these steps:

Roasted peanuts have the longest shelf life because the roasting process has removed most of the moisture from the nuts. This lessens the chance of them going rancid.

  1. Place the roasted peanuts in an airtight container or a ziplock bag.
  2. You can keep these in the refrigerator for around four to six months. Make sure that you check the container regularly to ensure that the peanuts are nice and dry.
  3. If you want to keep your peanuts for longer, place them in a freezer bag and then store them in the freezer for around 12 months.

Vacuum Seal Your Roasted Peanuts For Optimum Storage Time

To allow you to store your peanuts for the longest time possible, you should vacuum seal them after roasting them. This will effectively remove all the oxygen from the bag and is one of the safest ways to store peanuts for the long term.

Here’s what to do:

  1. If you’ve purchased peanuts in their shell, unshell them so that they can be roasted.
  2. Place your peanuts on an oven tray in one layer. Shake the tray gently so that they’re spread out.
  3. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius)
  4. Put the peanuts in the oven for 5 minutes and then give them a bit of a stir.
  5. Roast the peanuts for another 10 minutes.
  6. Take them out of the oven and allow them to cool.
  7. Once cool, remove the peel from the peanuts. It should come off quite easily.
  8. Place the peanuts in a bag and vacuum seal it to lock in the freshness and remove all the oxygen.
  9. You can also add a special oxygen absorption packet into the bag before you vacuum seal it. This will absorb any gases that are stored in the peanuts.

Now that your peanuts are vacuum-packed, you can safely store them in the pantry or the refrigerator for around 12 months.

How Do You Defrost Frozen Peanuts?

If you’ve frozen some raw peanuts, you can easily defrost them by placing the sealed bag of peanuts in a bowl of warm water. You can also just thaw them at room temperature if you don’t want to consume them straight away.

How To Tell If Your Peanuts Have Gone Bad

There’s a couple of easy ways to tell if your peanuts have gone bad, with some being more obvious than others. Here are some tests you can do:

  • Look for any signs of mold or discoloration on the surface of the peanuts.
  • Make sure that the peanuts have not shrivelled up instead of being nice and plump.
  • Do the sniff test. If the peanuts smell sour, like sour milk, then they’ve likely gone rancid. If they still have a lovely nutty smell, then they’re fine.
  • Taste one or two peanuts. If the peanuts taste bitter or sour, then they’ve definitely gone rancid. On the other hand, if they still have their lovely nutty flavor, then they’re fine.

Also, be aware that boiled peanuts do not store very well and need to be consumed within 2 to 4 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to store peanuts?

You should store peanuts in an airtight container or bag or, better vacuum seal them.

How do you store peanuts long-term?

For long-term storage, roast your peanuts and vacuum seal them. They should store for around one year.

Should you keep peanuts in the fridge?

Peanuts in an airtight container will keep in the pantry for a month or two. However, due to their high oil content, they should be stored in the fridge to stop them from going rancid. This should extend their shelf life to around 4 to 6 months.

How long do peanuts in the shell last?

As a general guide, peanuts in the shell will last around 4 months in the pantry and around 12 months in the refrigerator.

Is it safe to vacuum seal nuts?

Absolutely. Vacuum sealing nuts and storing them in a cool and dry spot can effectively extend their shelf life for up to 2 years.

How long do peanuts last in a sealed can?

If you’ve purchased commercially sealed peanuts in a can, you can generally store them for around 2 years. However, let the best before date on the can be your guide.

Can you freeze peanuts in the shell?

Yes, you can but freezing them makes them harder to shell. However, the freezing process does lock in their freshness and also prevents any chemical changes from occurring within the peanuts.

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