Can Hazelnuts Go Bad?: Are you a newbie to hazelnut and have no idea about what to do with hazelnuts? how to roast hazelnuts? can hazelnuts go bad or make you sick? how to store hazelnuts? how long do roasted hazelnuts last? what happens if you eat expired hazelnuts? then this is the correct page for you to clear all your doubts and get perfect solutions for the same.
One of the most expensive nuts from the group of nuts and seeds is hazelnut. Hazelnut is a sweet-flavored nut that includes antioxidants and phytonutrients in enough portions. The other name for hazelnut is ‘filberts’. Get into this guide and gather all other answers to your questions about hazelnut.
- Do Hazelnuts Go Bad?
- How to Tell When Hazelnuts Are Bad?
- How to Use Stale Hazelnuts
- How To Store Hazelnuts? | Tips for Storing Hazelnuts
- Can You Freeze Hazelnuts? | How To Thaw Hazelnuts?
- How Long Do Hazelnuts Last?
- Fun Facts About Hazelnuts
- FAQs on Can Hazelnuts Go Bad? – Hazelnut Spoilage Signs, Shelf Life, Storage Tips
Do Hazelnuts Go Bad?
Yes, Hazelnuts go bad because of rancid attack that occurs when they are stored inappropriately. If you left the hazelnuts in a storage area for too long time in worse situations then they will go rancid. If you don’t know how to spot rancid hazelnuts then check the taste and smell of the nuts. If it tastes sharp and bitter and smells like paint or chemical then your hazelnuts have gone rancid surely.
Having hazelnuts that are spoiled with rancidity is dangerous to eat and unhealthy too. So, toss the rancid hazelnuts immediately. Also, you should know that hazelnuts are low in polyunsaturated fats, which allows for maintaining the quality for a longer time. Hence, it’s good to eat for the long term compared to walnuts. Also, you toss the hazelnuts if you find any of the spoilage signs covered in the next sections
How to Tell When Hazelnuts Are Bad?
Hazelnuts go bad when it goes mold or rancid or infested. Want to understand more about these signs of spoilage? Let’s see below:
Mold Growth: With nuts like peanuts, cashew nuts, and hazelnuts don’t come into contact with mold growth but sometimes it happens. To understand whether it is mold or not follow this step: break the shell and check for whiteish mold. If you found them moldy then throw them out. Also, when you notice the fluffy white threads on shelled hazelnuts then toss the nearby hazelnuts to stop spreading to others.
Infested: When you have problems with pantry pests and you stored your hazelnuts in the pantry at room temperature without proper sealing then you find the bag is infested. If this happens to you then toss the nuts as they are unsafe to eat.
Rancid: As we mentioned above rancid is the primary sign to tell that hazelnuts are bad. In case, your nuts are also rancid then check all the nuts before tossing the whole bag. Some may be fine but smell stale so you can use the stale nuts in various ways. Need to check what are they then check the next section.
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How to Use Stale Hazelnuts
If your nuts are not rancid but stale then avoid eating them for snack time but use them in other ways. The options instead of tossing the stale hazelnuts are as follows:
- Use them to fold or top baked goods
- Roast the stale hazelnuts
- Chop them into smaller pieces and use them as topping in desserts
- You can enjoy them with your health salads
How To Store Hazelnuts? | Tips for Storing Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts come in two types with shells and without a shell. Here we have explained the storage tips for both unshelled and shelled hazelnuts. So let’s begin learning how to store hazelnuts in the fridge and at room temperature:
If you have unshelled hazelnuts stored at room temperature then use the ventilated bad or a sealed container or bag. It can last for a minimum of 6 months like this. As they are unshelled so they can last a bit longer on the counter too but cold storage is the perfect solution for prolonging their shelf life.
In case they are shelled, they last for 3 months on the counter and for about a year in the fridge but are sealed properly in the bags. They should preserve in cool and dark areas and protect them from light, heat, and air. Check how to preserve hazelnuts at room temperature and in the fridge in detail from the below subparts.
Hazelnuts At Room Temperature Storage Tips
The storage at room temperature for hazelnuts is simple and easy, simply keep them in a dry or cool place and avoid sunlight or heat sources. For unshelled hazelnuts, use the kitchen basket or lidless storage container or ventilated bags to pass the airflow properly, and also it can evaporate the moisture content easily.
The only drawback of storing hazelnuts on the counter is pantry pests. For shelled hazelnuts, take the freezer bag and store them in the refrigerator. All storage conditions for hazelnuts are mostly similar to storing peanuts ( Can peanuts go bad) and walnuts.
Also, Refer
Tips To Store Hazelnuts In the Fridge
The refrigerator works best for shelled hazelnuts that protect from mold, rancid, and pantry bugs. Storing hazelnuts in the fridge is also simple you just need a freezer bag or an airtight container with tight sealing. It protects your nuts from absorbing the strong odors of surrounding foods.
When it comes to storing the unshelled hazelnuts in the fridge, you can leave them on the fridge shelf, and better if you packed them while storing them. If you want to free up the space in the fridge break the shells and store the hazelnuts in the bag.
Can You Freeze Hazelnuts? | How To Thaw Hazelnuts?
Yes, freezing the hazelnuts is possible and works best for storing the nuts upto many years either shelled or in-shell. Get the simple steps to freeze hazelnuts from here:
- Opt for the freezer bag and store hazelnuts.
- Take off the excess air from the bag.
- Seal the bag tightly.
- At last, keep the bag in the freezer.
And it’s done! which take one minute to do so stop excusing to say no. If you want a bunch of nuts to use then take enough nuts from the bag and leave them on the counter for some time like 30 minutes or so. In the next minute, they are ready to use for snack time or in any desserts. If you want them to use for baked recipes then skip the thawing process and fold directly.
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How Long Do Hazelnuts Last?
When you store the hazelnuts in the refrigerator they stay good for about 1 year and in the freezer, it lasts for about two years with the best quality. The shelf life for hazelnuts at room temperature is quite the same as walnuts when it is stored properly and the period is a year for unshelled nuts and 3 to 4 months for shelled hazelnuts.
Let’s talk about the store-bought hazelnut shelf life. For the packaged nuts, the storage life depends on the date printed on the label. After the expiration date also you can use them for extra months but check the quality or do a taste check before using a huge amount of nuts in any recipes or for snacking. If you store them in proper conditions then they can extend their shelf life to a couple of years. Need to know how to store fresh? Check the above-storing tips module.
Lastly, you should know the shelf life of the nuts that are available in bulk bins in the supermarket. Let’s assume they last for about a month in the least cases but recommend you buy fresh nuts from the farmers market and know how old they are before purchasing. All the shelf life periods above are only estimated ones so remember to follow the best storage practices and prolong the storage time of hazelnuts.
| Conditions | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unshelled hazelnuts | 6 – 12 months | 12+ months | 24+ months |
| Shelled hazelnuts | 3 – 4 months | 12 months | 24 months |
Fun Facts About Hazelnuts
The hazelnut is the fruit of the hazel tree and includes many hidden facts which are historical, and nutritional. So, check the following hazelnuts facts and learn more about them:
- Hazelnut is a short-lived tree related to the family of birch.
- It is the most commonly cultured and consumed kind of nut worldwide.
- North America, Asia, and Europe are the temperate areas where hazelnuts were produced initially.
- Hazelnuts are also called cobnuts or filberts as per the species.
- The height of the hazelnut tree is 20 to 40 feet.
- It is rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids sources, vitamins A, E, and folic acid (B9), dietary fibers, and minerals.
- Hazelnuts are also used to treat cough and baldness and were done by ancient greeks originally.
- Annually, around 75 percent of globally consumed nuts initiate from Turkey and 748.000 metric tons of hazelnuts are produced.
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FAQs on Can Hazelnuts Go Bad? – Hazelnut Spoilage Signs, Shelf Life, Storage Tips
1. Are raw hazelnuts poisonous?
No, raw hazelnuts are not poisonous. Usually, hazelnuts can be eaten raw, or roasted. But people who are allergic to nuts should avoid taking hazelnuts because they may cause life-threatening breathing problems (anaphylaxis) and other allergic reactions too.
2. What do rancid hazelnuts taste like?
Rancid hazelnuts taste bitter and sharp same as rancid oil. Eating rancid nuts is unsafe and makes you sick.
3. Can old hazelnuts make you sick?
No, old hazelnuts don’t make you sick but they may give you side effects on your body after some time.
In A Nutshell
I believe that the data given above regarding whether can hazelnuts go bad helped you clear your doubts so easily and also provided additional information about hazelnuts like shelf life, signs of spoilage, and tips to preserve. Need more like these articles on nuts and seeds then visit our website canfoodgobad.com and learn the details about the nuts in no time and solve your issues while using them during cooking or snack time.