How to store pine nuts at home?

How to prepare pine nuts for storage

Before you send pine nuts for storage, you must first prepare them for this. When purchasing, you should choose good quality nuts, which will significantly increase the shelf life.

To do this you need:

select whole grains in the shell without any stains, without foreign odor, not overdried, dense;
peeled nuts should be light in color, free of mold, and without a specific odor.

Only high-quality products can be preserved longer, will be tasty and will not cause any harm to human health.

How to dry pine nuts

You can dry nuts in several ways: fry, use a dryer, or the old method of drying in attics or ovens.

How to peel

Peeling cedar kernels from the shell is not difficult.

This procedure is done using the following methods:

heating - pour the prepared nuts onto a dry frying pan or baking sheet. Fry for 15–20 minutes over high heat, stirring constantly, cool the nuts. Dry the product in the oven at a temperature of 110–120°C for 10–15 minutes. Peel the roasted nuts with your fingers or press with a rolling pin;
soaking in hot water - completely pour boiling water over the nuts for 20–30 minutes, drain the water, and dry the product. As a result, the shell will soften and be easily removed by hand;
temperature difference - first the nuts need to be thoroughly heated, and then placed under cold water. Due to this effect, the shell itself cracks and is easily separated with your fingers. With this method, rapid spoilage of products is possible due to moisture getting on the nut kernels;
freezing - place the nuts in a bag in the freezer. Keep them there for several hours and take them out. Frozen shells become fragile. You can run a rolling pin over the package under pressure, ensuring the integrity of the kernels. The disadvantage of this method is that both the kernels and the shells are mixed in the bag, and later they need to be separated from each other;
the use of special devices - crushers (gasoline, electric, etc.) are used on an industrial scale. At home, the following are perfect: a hammer, pliers, a garlic press, a rolling pin, etc. This method is somewhat traumatic and takes a lot of time.

Video: how to peel pine nuts

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 long do nuts last?

If all storage requirements are met, the shelf life of nuts will vary depending on whether they are shelled or not. The container in which the product is stored also plays an important role in this. For example, roasted nuts are not stored for a long time, since the oils they release during frying will very quickly give the kernels a bitter taste. They are recommended to be consumed immediately.

In a shell

The nuts are stored in the shell for about six months, no longer. To do this, they should be kept in a special container, adhering to regular ventilation, temperature and humidity levels in the room.

Peeled

Cleaned kernels can be stored for about 1 year. They must be kept in the refrigerator, in tightly sealed containers. Or, to increase their safety, they should be placed in the freezer.

Pine nuts, beloved by many, will be able to bring pleasure with their taste for a long time. The main condition for this is their correct storage, a competent and responsible approach to this issue.

Note to the hostess

Pine nuts, when exposed to unfavorable conditions, quickly deteriorate, so you should not buy too many of them. It's better to buy a small amount of fresh nuts than to throw away a batch of spoiled ones.

Nuts can also be dried in special dryers, but you need to remember that overdried nuts are stored just as poorly as wet ones. Therefore, the drying process needs to be regulated and the nuts must be mixed in time.

08 Jul 2020 edypravilno 292
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How to choose the right one

In markets and stores, pine nuts are sold in shelled and unpeeled form. Less common are nuts in cones.

Important! You should not store nuts in cones. In this form they quickly lose their taste.

When purchasing a purified product, pay attention to its color and smell . Preference is given to kernels that are light yellow in color with a pleasant nutty aroma. Any foreign odors are unacceptable and indicate low quality.

The dark color of the grains indicates a violation of storage conditions or that the product is expired. These nuts will probably taste bitter. A greenish tint indicates that the grains are spoiled. It is dangerous to use such a product.

The shelf life of shelled nuts is short. Therefore, first of all, pay attention to the production date on the packaging .

When buying nuts in shells, choose beautiful, bright brown seeds . A quality product is heavy and smells good. The shell of a fresh nut is smooth, without cracks or stains.

Interesting fact. In Russia, pine nuts are the name given to the fruits of the Siberian pine pine. The seeds of real cedars are not eaten.

The tips of fresh nuts in the shell should be light in color . Darkened edges indicate that the product is stale.

Mass procurement of pine nuts is carried out in September-October . If you bought a product with such a production date, then you have fully ripened and maximally healthy nuts.

Interesting things on the site:

Topic: Peeled pine nuts in vacuum packaging

Nuts belong to the group of snack products.
Buying snacks always happens spontaneously. Often, the buyer does not go to the store specifically for nuts and seeds, but makes a decision to purchase already in the store, upon seeing the bright, interesting packaging and thanks to the taste of the product itself. Thus, one of the main motivators for purchase is packaging and preservation of taste. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the packaging process so that the product can remain fresh, tasty and aromatic for as long as possible. The above requirements for the storage of nut kernels can be met by vacuum packaging. Since nuts contain a high percentage of fat, vacuum packaging primarily prevents oxidation of the product, that is, it slows down its spoilage.

The fact is that peeled nuts often lie on the shelves in stores for a long time. It is impossible for the buyer to check the date of their purification, and the nuts begin to taste bitter, which not only spoils their taste, but can subsequently lead to poisoning of the consumer. Therefore, the buyer must be extremely careful and careful before purchasing shelled nuts.

The absence of air in the package slows down the process of changing the properties of the nut, just as nature itself stores the nut in the shell. Vacuum packaging keeps the nut as tasty and healthy as it was originally, prevents moisture from entering, and also prevents the nuts from drying out.

Vacuum packaging is also the best way to protect nut kernels from dust and dirt during storage, transportation and display on the store counter.

On vacuum packaging machines, you can achieve the maximum possible shelf life of nut kernels, thanks to the option of stepped vacuum/gassing and gas washing.

The essence of the packaging process is that after evacuation, a gas environment consisting of 100% nitrogen (N2) is supplied to the chamber. Nitrogen is an inert gas that replaces oxygen (by volume only). After gas washing, the product is again subjected to vacuum and the bag is sealed. Thus, after such a procedure, instead of residual oxygen, the bag contains an inert gas that does not enter into oxidation processes and keeps the product fresh for a long time.

In addition, the vacuum bag can be equipped with a Euro-hole for convenient and economical placement in the display case, above the counter at eye level of the buyer.

I tried to put it up for sale and share the information)))

Shipping from Poland.

Peeled nuts can only be stored in the refrigerator. Before storing shelled pine nuts, prepare them in a plastic bag equipped with a membrane or a glass container with a lid. Place the container with the product on the refrigerator door. This way it can last from 3 months to six months. It is recommended to consume roasted pine nuts immediately, as the vegetable oil released during roasting will produce bitterness.

As you can see, Siberian pine seeds can be stored at home. But it is better to buy such a delicacy in small quantities.

Despite the fact that pine nuts contain so many beneficial elements, they must be chosen correctly. Since cedar grows only in Siberia, residents of other regions are forced to buy ready-made nuts.

The nuts collected in September and October are considered the most delicious and healthy cedar fruits.

Siberian cedars

When choosing nuts, you should pay attention to the fact that the kernels have a brown tint, and are uniform and the same size. At the same time, if you pick up a handful of kernels, you can feel the heaviness. Cedar fruits should not have stains, traces of mold or unpleasant odor.

Many people prefer to purchase shelled nuts. It is best not to do this, since they are exposed to sunlight, which means they have lost some of the nutrients. In addition, peeled kernels quickly deteriorate.

Pine nuts are a storehouse of vitamins and nutrients, as well as a remedy for treating various diseases. Unfortunately, of all types of nuts, they have the shortest shelf life. In order to enjoy the taste of this delicacy for as long as possible, they must be stored in accordance with certain rules.

Cedar kernels have a lot of useful properties; it is not without reason that it has been used for pharmaceutical purposes for centuries.

These nuts can reach the market or counter in different forms:

unpeeled cones; Cedar cones quickly become moldy during storage
nuts in shell; To taste the taste of pine nuts, you need to open the hard shell
peeled, raw; Raw nuts are healthier than roasted ones
peeled, fried. When fried, pine nuts taste very pleasant

Pine nuts are a wonderful remedy for the treatment and prevention of many diseases. This is a very fatty product, containing in addition to proteins, sugar, starch, fiber and vitamin C, a lot of oil (about 60%). A tincture is prepared from pine nuts, which helps cure gout, arthritis, rheumatism, and hemorrhoids.

In addition, it is useful for tuberculosis, hypertension, atherosclerosis, disorders of the nervous system and kidney disease. A balm (turpentine) is made from cedar, which has disinfecting and epithelializing properties and perfectly heals ulcers. The little extracted from them is also very useful. Halva is produced from the cake. However, nuts are mainly a forest delicacy for consumption, which helps improve immunity.

By following these simple rules, you will retain all the benefits and taste of cedar nuts for a long time. In addition, you need to pay close attention to aspects such as storage temperature and humidity, otherwise the product will spoil. There are many varieties of nuts, of which pine nuts are the most perishable.

Residents of Siberia are very familiar with pine nuts as a product that not only has a wonderful taste, but also benefits.

They contain polyunsaturated fatty acids in huge quantities, which protect the human heart and blood vessels from various diseases, have a positive effect on sleep, nerves and the general structure of the blood.

In order to store nuts correctly, certain conditions are necessary, which will be discussed below.

Storing nuts depends on the method of processing. When organizing these conditions, you should remember several varieties of this product:

peeled, unfried;
peeled fried;
nuts in cones;
fruits in shell.

How to store them at home depends on the variety.

Before organizing preparations for autumn and winter, nuts need to be well prepared. First of all, the product needs to be dried like this:

Spread the nuts on any convenient surface in one layer.
Leave in a warm place for a week.
Stir occasionally.

Drying nuts can be done in special dryers. It is important to ensure that they do not dry out. If the product is wet, it will quickly deteriorate and mold will appear.

Shelled pine nuts

They are stored in two ways:

In a refrigerator.
In the freezer.

place the nuts in dry glass jars;
close the lids so as to prevent the absorption of excess odors, but also to prevent the product from suffocating;
put in the refrigerator.

Cedar fruits are stored in the refrigerator for about 3 months.

Divide the product into freezer bags;
seal tightly;
put in the freezer.

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This way the nuts are stored for about six months.

Fried peeled

Such nuts cannot be stored for a long time. It is advisable to use the product within three days.

In cones

Nuts and pine cones

Such nuts do not last long and at the same time lose both their taste and their benefits. Most often, cones are used as a decorative element. However, if such storage is necessary, it is necessary:

place the cones and nuts in canvas bags;
put in a cool, dark place with good ventilation;
if necessary, hang the bags from the ceiling, excluding access by rodents.

It is important to remember that in the room where the buds will be stored, the humidity should be low, otherwise the product will become moldy.

In a shell

Nuts in shell

In canvas bags (nuts are stored in the same way as cones).
In special polyethylene bags with an air membrane. They are stored for a maximum of 3 months.
In a refrigerator.

The procedure is the same as for raw peeled ones.

nuts harvested in September are stored much longer, since at this time the cones are optimally mature;
to remove nuts from the cones, you need to knock on it and then shake it;
Only thoroughly dried fruits should be stored and only dry containers should be used for storage;
peeled nuts in syrup, sugar and other additional ingredients cannot be stored for a long time; it is advisable to consume them immediately after purchase;
pine nuts contain a lot of oil, so you shouldn’t buy them for future use;
for safety, it is better to use containers with lids or sterilized jars;
store the product not only in the freezer or refrigerator, but also in any other cool, dark place;
for freezing, you can use both containers or jars, and plastic bags or foil;
peeled fruits cannot be stored open;
during storage, you need to check the product not only for taste and smell, but also for plaque, mold, and the presence of insects;
if the nuts are bitter, and the surface is covered with a coating, then you cannot eat them;
It is better to store nuts in shells, since peeled ones do not retain their benefits and taste for long.

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.

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.

Selection of containers

The correct container for storing shelled pine nuts should be:

close tightly;
do not allow moisture to come into contact with the product;
protect from foreign odors;
be lightproof (if you are not storing nuts in the refrigerator or freezer).

If you plan to store nuts in the refrigerator or freezer, choose plastic and glass containers with tight-fitting lids. For freezing, it is also convenient to use special plastic bags for freezing food.

Dry glass jars, plastic containers, and ceramic containers with lids are suitable for storing kernels in a dark, cool pantry or closet

Choosing the right pine nuts

Only high-quality nuts will be stored throughout their entire shelf life. You can buy them in the form of a cone, in bulk in a shell, or already peeled. The criteria to use when choosing a product are as follows:

Unshelled kernels should be slightly moist, firm, dark brown in color, with a resinous aroma characteristic of pine nuts. Dried and long-stored specimens have a thinner, lighter and drier shell and have almost no smell.
The cone should be dense, fragrant, without traces of mold. In small specimens, empty seeds without kernels may be found.
Shelled nuts should have an ivory tint, from light to dark, with a yellowish tint also possible. A dirty yellow color or the presence of green marks indicate poor quality, possibly moldy, raw materials.

It is advisable to buy cedar kernels in September-October, when the cones have time to fully ripen and have undeniable freshness and optimal taste.

If the nuts have an unpleasant, pungent or musty aroma, or there is a foreign odor, it is better not to purchase this product.

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.