| Pantry | Fridge | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw | 1-2 Months | 1-2 Months | 6 Months |
Shelf Life of Hazelnut
Hazelnuts are sweet-flavored nuts used in baking recipes, at meals, and as snacks. They are also known as filberts. Hazelnuts contain minerals, proteins, vitamins, fiber along with healthy fats and thus have many nutritional benefits. They provide a rich and nutty flavor when used for deserts. Due to their health benefits, they also boost salad’s nutritional profile.
Hazelnuts have been considered an added beneficial source of nutrition in the daily diet by the Hazelnut Council. The shelf life of hazelnuts depends on their storage and condition. Shelled hazelnuts if stored in an airtight container in the freezer can stay flavorful and fresh and last up to a year. Whereas in the pantry the nuts can last up to 4 to 6 six months if they are stored in an airtight container.
Purchasing Hazelnut
Hazelnuts can be purchased raw, roasted or in the form of spreads from grocery stores through online herbal retailers. For cooking purposes, it is preferred to purchase raw, whole, shelled hazelnuts. These are available in bins in the bulk food section of the grocery stores, where they can get easily evaluated up close for quality assurance. They should have a rich, nutty and sweet aroma. If the nuts do not appear to be fresh, let the provider know so the bins can get replenished.
Hazelnuts are available all year round in the markets. The best nuts will feature a brown-yellow color in bright, would be compact, uniform in size and heavy to feel. They should also be free from any molds, cracks, spots and rancid smell.
Storing Hazelnut
Hazelnuts that are unshelled have the longest shelf life, and they look pretty in a bowl kept on the kitchen table. However, when it comes to cooking, shelled nuts are considered more convenient to work with as they also take up less room. On the other hand, it is best to keep both raw and roasted nuts prepped in various ways.
Hazelnuts stored in closed containers kept in the pantry are easily available to satisfy a nut hit. They are also stable for a couple months like this. Large quantities of nuts should not be stored this way as exposure to light, air, moisture, and warmth hasten rancidity making freezer the best option. Frozen raw hazelnuts can last for a year. Roasted nuts in the freezer stay fresh for up to 18 months while chopped and roasted for 12 months.
Handling Hazelnut
Hazelnuts should be dried before storage and consumption. They are firm and become spongy during the drying process; they become firm again as the drying stage approaches. The internal color also changes from white to a creamy color. Properly maintained and dried hazelnuts maintain eating quality for up to a year.
Cooking with Hazelnut
They are relatively high in calorie count and contain beneficial dietary fiber. Cooking with hazelnuts include roasting which is simple stuff. There is no proper way; it can happen low and slow or high and fast. Usually, around 350 degrees is preferred as there is control over the outcome.
It takes about 15 to 20 minutes at this temperature. The longer time they are roasted for, the richer flavor they have. There are various ways through which roasted hazelnuts can be incorporated in recipes.