Can Cashews Go Bad?: Cashews are the first preferred nut for many dessert lovers. People who search for cashew in every spoon of the dessert-like me can relate to this guide easily. Here in this guide, we are going to discuss whether can cashews go bad or expire if left out for a long time and stored in poor conditions. Know the information about Cashews goes bad or not along with how to spot rancid cashews, how to tell if nuts are bad, how long cashew nuts last, tips to store cashews fresh, facts, etc. below. Read on!
- Do Cashews Go Bad?
- How Long Do Cashews Last?
- How To Store Cashews At Room Temperature?
- Should You Refrigerate Cashews?
- Can You Freeze Cashews? | How To Freeze Cashew Nuts?
- How to Tell When Cashew Nuts Are Bad?
- What We Can Do Using Stale Cashews?
- Things Should Know About Cashew Nuts
- FAQs on Can Cashews Go Bad – Cashews Shelf Life and Spoilage Signs
- What are the dark spots on cashews?
- How long can cashew nuts be kept fresh?
- Is it safe to eat expired cashews?
Do Cashews Go Bad?
Yes, cashews go bad. It can easily go rancid and get spoiled every time when it is not stored in good conditions. If stored also it can go rancid at some point so cashew nuts spoils. Had any idea about rancid and how to tell if cashews go rancid? If not, let’s follow us.
The signs of rancid cashews taste bitter and harsh and smell off like nail polish or old paint. Also, it loses the original flavor and it is the standard sign of rancidity. Consuming rancid food items may make you sick and they are unsafe so discarding them is the suggested solution. If you want to learn some other cashew spoilage signs refer to the modules which are explained below in this guide.
Do Check: Can Vanilla Beans Go Bad
How Long Do Cashews Last?
When you think about the shelf life, generally it connects with how long they can last fresh without going rancid or losing their creamy taste and nutrition value. Cashews’ shelf life is about six months at room temperature and even upto 12 months if it is stored properly in the fridge. For extended storage time to your cashews, you can opt for the freezing process.
If you hold the raw cashews shelf life at room temperature is one month and 6 months in the fridge. If it is pre-packaged cashews, it lasts fresh upto the best-by date printed on the label. Based on the nuts processing before packaging the shelf life for unopened cashew nuts varies between 6 months and a year.
After opening the nuts it lasts for about 2 weeks in the cupboard, and about a month in the fridge. If you store them properly they can go rancid a bit late so that you can enjoy your nuts for a longer time. But it’s unpredictable to tell how long cashews exactly last.
All the periods mentioned in the below table are estimated as per real-time experiences. If you want to make those periods correct and even better then you should follow all the guidelines on storing the cashews fresh for a longer time.
| Conditions | In the pantry | In the fridge | In the Freezer |
| Raw cashews | 4 weeks | 6 months | 24 months |
| Opened cashews | 2 weeks | 4 weeks | 6 months |
| Unopened cashews | Up to best by date | Up to best by date plus 4 weeks | Up to best by date plus 12 months |
The below image of cashews’ shelf life will help you and your friends learn the time that it can stay good and make you realize how long you can store it fresh and use them.
How To Store Cashews At Room Temperature?
The following storage practices can make your nuts stay fresh for a longer time. So let’s look at them without any delay:
- Storing cashews at room temperature is good when they are in less quantity and you had a plan to use them sooner.
- It should be sealed tightly and stored in cool and dark areas right away from sunlight and heat sources.
- The trick to storing cashews in the pantry at room temperature is using airtight containers with proper sealing to avoid absorbing unpleasant & strong odors.
- When it sits in the pantry open for a longer time then it got absorbs external odors easily and smells funny. So make sure to store your cashew nut properly sealed and in preferred places & temperatures.
Should You Refrigerate Cashews?
Refrigerating the cashews totally depends on your wish to store them but it doesn’t require refrigerating. If you bought the cashews for a recipe and you know it will be completed in a week then refrigerating them is not a good idea. If you feel the pantry doesn’t fit your cashews and need to extend its shelf life then going into the fridge is the best option. If you had a huge stock of cashew nuts and want to store them properly for a longer time then freezing some of the quantity works best.
Also Read: Can Pecans Go Bad
Can You Freeze Cashews? | How To Freeze Cashew Nuts?
Yes, we can freeze cashews for prolonging their shelf life and also retain the best quality after years. Planning to freeze your cashew nuts too, just look at the below points on how you need to freeze cashews properly:
- Grab a freezer bag or resealable bags.
- Transfer the cashew nuts into the bag.
- Take out the excess air from the bag before sealing.
- Later on, seal it tightly and if needed you can write the date on the bag.
- Place the bag in the freezer.
If you need some cashews for the baking process then opt for a sufficient amount of cashews and use them directly without thawing. In case you require to eat directly then take out the bag and leave it for a couple of minutes on the counter and make them warm.
How to Tell When Cashew Nuts Are Bad?
You can see the most common signs of spoilage that tell when cashews go bad. So, check the below points and discard your cashew nuts:
Rancid: If your cashews go rancid then it’s mandatory to throw out the bag or container of bad cashews.
Pantry Bugs: Discard the cashews if you find any dead or alive pests, insects, bugs, or larvae in the packet or container.
Mold: In rare cases, you will see that cashew get mold growth. After storing them in good conditions also it may lead to mold growth because of high humidity and warm temperature.
The last two spoilage signs happen when you don’t care about the storage habits and the rancid is the real danger with regards to cashew nuts spoilage. Sometimes you may find your cashews dried out and taste stale but not rancid then check out the below module and solve it easily.
Ingredients:
Cashew Nuts
Nutrition Information
Servings per Package: 17
Serving Size: 30 g
| Nutrients | Average Qty per Serving | %Daily Intake* per Serving | Average Qty per 100 g |
| Energy | 165.9 kcal | 8.2% | 553 kcal |
| Total Fat | 13.2 g | 20% | 44 g |
| Saturated Fat | 2.4 g | 11% | 8 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0 mg | |
| Sodium | 3.6 mg | 0.1% | 12 mg |
| Potassium | 198 mg | 660 mg | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 9 g | 30 g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.9 g | 3.3 g | |
| Sugar | 1.8 g | 4.8% | 6 g |
| Protein | 5.4 g | 9.6% | 18 g |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Allergen Declaration: Contains Tree Nuts
What We Can Do Using Stale Cashews?
Stale cashews can be reused in many ways and some of them are going to explain here for your reference to save the food and reuse it in terms of a healthy environment. If you have half the packet of old or stale cashew nuts and planning to throw them wait!! Look at the below ways:
Make Cashew Butter: If you love to have butter in your breakfast like peanut butter or Nutella then trying homemade cashew butter is getting the cherry on the cake.
Fold Into Baked Goods: Go with the stale cashews and cut them into small pieces. Use these pieces of nuts in the mixture of cake or muffins or use them as toppings before baking your dessert. Definitely, it works best and you’ll love it.
Roast The Nuts: By roasting stale cashews can bring back their flavor to some extent and you can use various ways of roasting.
Top Desserts: Who love toppings? I will be at the top of the list. So take the cashews and chop them roughly that’s it you are good to go with cashew nuts toppings on desserts or ice-creams.
Things Should Know About Cashew Nuts
Here are the interesting yet little facts about cashews. Have a sight on them at once:
- One of the most popular nuts in the world is Cashew Nuts. The shape of the cashew is like a boxing glove.
- Between 1560 to 1565 years, the roots of the cashew nuts landed in Goa, India.
- You can consume cashews in various forms like raw nuts, roasted cashews, nut spread, or butter form.
- Cashews are high in copper, magnesium, and manganese sources.
- The nutrients of cashew nuts help for energy production, bone health, immunity, and brain health.
- Cashew Nuts are rich in fiber, heart-healthy fats, and plant protein but they are low in sugar.
- When you consume cashew nuts over the limit then it may cause weight gain, bloating, joint swelling, and constipation for some sort of persons who comes on the list of cashew allergic patients.
- People who are pregnant and breastfeeding women, and diabetic patients need to avoid taking a large number of cashews.
FAQs on Can Cashews Go Bad – Cashews Shelf Life and Spoilage Signs
1. What are the dark spots on cashews?
Dark spots on cashews are worms and by this, your cashews can damage quickly and they are low in quality.
2. How long can cashew nuts be kept fresh?
Cashew nuts can keep fresh for about 6 months in the kitchen pantry at room temperature and more than a year in the refrigerator. If it is sealed cashew bags then last till the date mentioned on the packaging.
3. Is it safe to eat expired cashews?
No, it is not safe to eat expired cashews it may cause various health issues and make you sick right away.
Key Points
Cashew is the most popular nut that comes under the nuts and seed category and it had plenty of health benefits. We hope the facts shared above along with Can cashews go bad details will help you gain knowledge about the same. The best part of this guide is even you can gather information regarding cashew nuts’ shelf life, signs of spoilage, and storage tips. For more articles on nuts and seeds like Can Pine Nuts Go Bad, Can Brazil Nuts Go Bad, etc. go with available links, or else bookmark our site canfoodgobad.com