Pine nuts, although it would be more accurate to call them pine pine seeds, are a tasty, nutritious product that brings invaluable benefits to the body. They are consumed peeled raw, used in the manufacture of confectionery products or for the preparation of medicinal tinctures.
Due to improper transportation or storage, the kernels lose most of their beneficial elements, and instead of a sweetish taste, they acquire a bitterness that is atypical for fresh nuts. It would be a stretch to call such a product tasty, much less healthy.
How to choose nuts for storage
In order for seeds to remain suitable longer, you need to know not only storage conditions, but also the rules for choosing quality products. The nuts should be felt: they should be firm and slightly moist. You should not buy a product that emits a strong odor, it is spoiled.
The color deserves special attention - you need to choose light-colored seeds. Dark yellow and green colors indicate infection with pathogenic bacteria.
Preserving the beneficial properties of pine nuts
The nutritional value and taste of Siberian pine seeds can be preserved if the following conditions are met:
- it is better to store nuts from the September harvest,
- fruits that have been thoroughly dried for several days must be placed in dry packaging - containers, sterilized jars,
- Seeds must be stored in the dark - refrigerator, freezer, cool room,
- for freezing, the kernels are placed in foil, bags, jars - without access to air,
- It is periodically required to check cedar fruits for smell, taste, presence of insects, appearance (mold, plaque),
- It is better to store the seeds in the shell (this way they last longer).
Peeled seeds mixed with various ingredients (sugar, syrup) cannot be stored for a long time; it is better to eat them immediately.
Siberian cedar nuts with an unpleasant aroma, bloom, and bitter taste should not be eaten. You should not buy large quantities of Siberian cedar seeds for future use, since they have a short shelf life.
How to store pine nuts in shell
People often wonder how long pine nuts can be stored in their husks. The most important thing here is to find a cool place with air humidity of 55-60%. A cellar, underground or pantry will do as storage.
It is more difficult for city residents to find good storage space. For such a case, a refrigerator or a place on the windowsill will do. Old-style apartments have fairly spacious storage rooms.
Siberians often store pine nuts in:
- tin cans;
- cardboard boxes;
- wooden or birch bark tueskas;
- glass container;
- wicker baskets;
- canvas or linen bags.
Proper storage conditions at home can extend the shelf life of nuts to 6 months.
How long do pine nuts last?
Being in a cedar cone and surrounded by a strong shell that protects from the negative effects of the environment, pine kernels remain useful for 6 months.
After peeling, their storage time is reduced by half.
Important! The closer the place where cedar kernels are stored is to the natural environment, the longer the properties of the product will not change.
Violation of correct storage conditions is noticeable by the following signs:
- sour, then rancid taste,
- the appearance of mold on the core,
- change in fruit color
- appearance of dark areas.
Nuts purchased in packaging must be stored in the dark according to the expiration date indicated on the original package. After opening the package, the kernels without the shell are stored for 2-4 weeks; in the shell, the shelf life will last up to 2 months.
How to store raw shelled nuts
Unshelled nuts can be stored in the freezer. After thawing, organoleptic characteristics do not change. All beneficial properties are also preserved.
To properly freeze shelled pine nuts you need:
- remove the shell;
- sift from small debris (do not wash!);
- pour the seeds into a food container with a tight-fitting lid (you can use a special vacuum bag);
- put the container in the freezer.
With this method, the maximum shelf life is 4 months. During this time, you don’t have to worry that the nuts will become moldy or begin to taste bitter.
Carefully!
Thawed nuts cannot be re-frozen.
You can also store pine nuts correctly in the refrigerator door. True, the shelf life will be only 1-2 months due to the high humidity inside the unit. The following containers are suitable for storage in the refrigerator:
- Plastic container;
- glass jar;
- zip lock bags.
It is extremely important that the container is sealed, otherwise the nuts will absorb the odors of other foods or absorb excess water from the air. Owners of modern refrigerators with a “know frost” cooling system do not have to worry about excessive humidity inside the unit. But the risk of foreign odors is the same for everyone.
Effect of humidity and temperature on shelf life
The short shelf life is associated with the increased hygroscopicity of nuts - they absorb moisture from the environment, which negatively affects the taste and beneficial properties of the product.
Be sure to read:
How and where to store wine to preserve the rich taste and aroma of the drink?
No less harmful are light from the sun, air and elevated temperatures, which contribute to rapid spoilage of the product and loss of nutritional value of the crop. The best storage option is a dark room with a low temperature.
Recommendations
The best time to buy pine nuts is the beginning of autumn (September-October). This is the most successful period for harvesting and final ripening. You shouldn't even try to store nuts in syrup or sugar. This dessert has a short shelf life - a maximum of three days.
Do not wash nuts before storing. This will make them vulnerable to mold and pathogenic bacteria. In general, it is not customary to wash nuts, even those without shells. They can only be scared away from possible debris. Owners of private houses can use a vacuum cleaner for these purposes and clean the nuts outside with a stream of air.
If nuts are extracted from freshly picked cones, they must be dried before storing. To do this, you should spread a suitable rag, pour out the seeds and spread them in an even layer not exceeding 5 cm. Periodically, these reserves will need to be stirred up. After a few days, the seeds can be poured into a special container for further storage.
Is drying and freezing possible?
There are several ways to preserve cedar seeds, including drying and freezing. You can send the product for storage directly in the cone, in kernels, raw in shell, peeled, fried.
You need to dry the kernels in the following way:
- the grains are poured in an even layer onto a flat surface,
- leave for a week in a room at room temperature, remembering to stir.
It will be possible to dry cedar fruits using a special unit, keeping the process under control - the nuts cannot be overdried or left wet.
Dried nuts are placed in the freezer - there the product does not lose quality for six months.
Can nuts go bad?
If you do not comply with the key requirements for storing a product, it will quickly become unusable. First the appearance changes, and then the taste suffers. Significantly spoiled products have mold on the surface, taste bitter and smell unpleasant, possibly with a putrid odor. Eating modified cedar seeds is unacceptable, they will not be beneficial and can be hazardous to health.
Attention! It is better to keep pine seeds in the shell or peeled; it is permissible to fry them before use.
The shelf life of pine nuts is maximized when stored in vacuum packaging or an airtight container. This is explained by the fact that the product deteriorates very quickly due to contact with the external environment: air, sunlight, heat. You can protect valuable kernels by placing them in a jar with a tight lid. In such conditions they will last from 3 months to six months. At the same time, in order to avoid losing the entire supply, they should be inspected approximately once a month, assessing the smell. If it occurs, it is worth reviewing the volume and removing damaged elements.
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How long can peeled kernels be stored?
Since the fruit of the pine pine is a seed and not a nut, its shelf life is significantly shorter than that of typical nut representatives.
Nuts in shells are stored for no more than six months, shelled - about three months.
The short shelf life is due to the presence of vegetable fats, which, under inappropriate conditions, quickly oxidize and give the product an atypical bitterness.
How to prepare for storage
The kernels are removed from the cones and scattered on a spread cloth (baking sheet, tray). So they will have to dry out for some time (4 - 5 days). In this case, you can dry them on a heated stove or in another warm place. This will significantly speed up the drying process.
Note! Drying nuts in direct sunlight is strictly prohibited. This will lead to the destruction of fatty acids, which are present in large quantities in the product. This, in turn, will negatively affect its quality and shelf life.
Overdrying the kernels also has a bad effect on their consumer quality. Therefore, they need to be constantly mixed, removing spoiled ones.
Expiration dates
The shelf life of taiga nuts depends on the form and conditions in which they are stored.
- Peeled, in the refrigerator - about 3-4 months.
- Cleaned, in the freezer – 1-2 years.
- Cleaned, in a dry, dark place - about a month.
- In the shell, in a dark and dry place at room temperature - no more than 6-8 months.
- Unpeeled, in the refrigerator - about 5-6 months.
- Peeled, fried - no more than 3-5 days.
- In buds – 1-2 years if stored in a dry and dark room with good air ventilation.
Seeds without shells placed in the freezer have the longest shelf life. Therefore, if you have a large amount of nuts, it is recommended to peel them and store them in the freezer.
Since taiga nuts are collected in the fall, purchasing them in the summer is not recommended. It is best to enjoy them in winter or spring. At the same time, when buying seeds, you need to pay attention to the date of their manufacture.
Kernels collected in October will last the longest, since by this time they have time to fully ripen. Unripe seeds have the shortest shelf life.
About the main nuances
To store shelled pine nuts, you need to purchase fruits collected in early autumn.
Cedar nuts
The September harvest has beneficial qualities and excellent taste. If the product is purchased in cones, the nutritional contents should be extracted by simply knocking it out. Before storing pine nuts for long-term storage, they need to be dried. It is better to do this on the floor, spreading the products on clean, dry paper in one layer.
Dessert with pine nuts
If nuts are mixed with honey, sugar or any other product, the dish cannot be stored. It should be used in food as soon as possible. In this case, the nutritious product quickly loses its beneficial properties. Therefore, the shelf life of such dishes is very short.
To store pine nuts at home, you only need to store them in a dry container, placing the dried products in it. Even minimal moisture content will speed up the spoilage of nuts.
Due to the high oil content in the kernels, it is not recommended to store cedar fruits in the shell or without it for a long time. Oil has the ability to go rancid. This means that if pine nuts are stored for a long time, they will eventually become bitter and unsuitable for consumption.
How to choose buds
To prepare tinctures, decoctions or creams, it is preferable to use young cones, reaching a length of no more than 4 cm. The optimal time for collecting them is the beginning of summer. At this time, cedar fruits are quite soft, which makes them easy to cut with a knife and use for their intended purpose.
A mature pine cone has a diamond shape and reaches up to 15 cm. It is collected in early autumn. The fruit can contain up to 130-150 seeds - our favorite pine nuts.
Storage methods
The main condition for storing cedar cones is maintaining a certain temperature balance. Cones tolerate low temperatures better. It is important to protect them from direct sunlight. It is preferable to use a ventilated room for this. To properly preserve the pine cones, you need to place them in fabric bags and hang them from the ceiling to avoid damage by rodents. Plastic bags are not suitable for these purposes.
You can place a bag of cones under a canopy in the fresh air, where the wind will dry them well. Without such an opportunity, you can store cones at home in winter. To do this, you need to lay them out on a paper-lined surface. It is important that the room is dry and well ventilated. The shelf life of seeds in cones can reach several years. If the above conditions are not met, the lump will simply prohibit it.
Siberian cedar is a unique tree that is medicinal in its structure. In terms of the amount of useful substances, this northern “hero” has no equal in the plant world. Due to the presence of a whole complex of vitamins, microelements and amino acids contained in needles, bark, resin, nuts and cones, cedar is considered a folk healer and breadwinner.
Under what conditions should it be stored?
Pine nuts deteriorate when exposed to excess moisture or high temperature in the environment, and also absorb odors well. Kernels, especially peeled ones or with damaged shells, begin to be affected by bacteria and become moldy. When the temperature is excessive, the seeds begin to release the available moisture, dry out and lose their taste.
Therefore, the rooms where the kernels are stored should not contain extraneous odors. Placing pine nuts next to foods with strong odors is also not recommended.
Humidity should not exceed 70% and temperature +20 °C. The room must also be clean and dry.
Factory packaging
Shelled nuts
When purchasing cedar kernels in a vacuum-packed factory container, the product must be stored in a darkened cabinet until opened. At the same time, it is important to observe the shelf life indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. After opening the package, nuts cannot be stored for a long time. When exposed to moisture and oxygen, the product quickly becomes unusable. Typically, clean kernels are stored for no more than two to three weeks, and whole, unshelled kernels are stored for no more than 2 months. After opening the original packaging, the product is poured into a clean glass container and consumed within the next few hours.
About the benefits of taiga nuts
Avicenna also pointed out that the kernels and husks of pine nuts have the wonderful property of cleansing the body, healing wounds, and removing stones from affected kidneys.
Russian subject, German naturalist P.-S. Pallas in the 18th century studied and “advertised” pine nuts as a panacea for those eager to restore male strength and regain youth.
Today it is known that cedar kernels contain about 60% oil, proteins, sugar, starch, and a whole “battery” of vitamins.
They are indicated for immunodeficiency, allergies, and recommended for atherosclerosis and ischemia. Traditional healers for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases (ulcers, stomach, gastritis, pancreatitis) successfully use a very effective and no less tasty drug - nuts with honey . Taiga gifts contain amino acids that are extremely beneficial for nursing mothers and the development of a small person. Therefore, everyone who cares about their health should know as much as possible about how to store pine nuts.
Cedar kernels are a desirable forest delicacy. In cooking, there are a lot of delicious original recipes for dishes of any variety (first, second, dessert), the creation of which cannot be done without cedar nuts. For example, one of the recipes for salads made from chicken, grapes and cheese involves the use of healthy and tasty nuts.
Storage periods and methods
The longest shelf life is for nuts extracted from cones rather than shelled . Left without a shell, the grains absorb foreign odors, and the fatty substances contained in them oxidize, giving the product bitterness.
Deadlines
If storage conditions are observed (cool and lack of moisture), the unrefined product will last for at least six months without loss of taste . Purified – no more than two months.
Advice. Buy the amount of grains that will be eaten in a short period of time. In an apartment it is not always possible to provide the product with proper storage conditions.
If peeled grains are purchased in a package, then place it in a dark place before opening the package . The production and expiration dates of such a product are indicated by the manufacturer. After opening the package, transfer the contents to a suitable light-proof container and store in a cool place.
Compliance with these rules will allow you to extend the shelf life of pine seeds.:
- constant temperature at the storage location no higher than +20°C without sudden changes;
- air humidity is no more than 65% - with high humidity, mold quickly appears;
- Unshelled nuts are dried before storage;
- peeled ones are stored in containers with tightly closed lids, away from sunlight and heat sources.
Important points
To please her loved ones with tasty and healthy food, the housewife must remember the following points:
- Pine nuts become very tasty after roasting. However, such a product cannot be stored. During heat treatment, a lot of oil is released, which gives a bitter taste to the nuts during storage.
- Nuts that are six months old are not suitable for consumption. It is better to throw away such a product.
- When you buy nuts in a store in original packaging, try to use the entire volume of the product. After opening the package, cedar products should not be stored.
- If there are nuts left from the vacuum packaging, they need to be transferred to a glass container with a lid.
