When buying and storing nuts, a few simple rules of thumb make all the difference in maximising their freshness and nutty deliciousness!

Buying nuts

Nuts in the shell: Choose clean nuts, free from cracks and holes. Nuts in their shell should be heavy for their size. This points to a fresh, solid kernel.

Nut kernels: Choose crisp, plump and solid kernels, as this indicates high quality. Unless you plan to use kernels as a garnish, they don’t need to be whole or uniform in size.

Storing nuts

Remove nuts from plastic bags and store them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. Nuts can be refrigerated for up to four months and frozen for up to six months.

Before placing them in cool storage, mark a ‘best before’ date on your container, for four or six months down the track, depending on whether you’re storing them in the fridge or freezer. You’ll find they stay as fresh and crunchy as the day you bought them!

Tip: Remember to bring nuts back to room temperature before eating them to maximise their nutty taste.

Did you know? As nuts are porous, they can take on odours from other strong-smelling foods. To prevent this, store nuts in an airtight container.