Tips for Buying & Storing Pecans | ILovePecans (2024)

FAQs

Tips for Buying & Storing Pecans | ILovePecans? ›

Airtight containers, such as jars with lids, are best for storing pecans in the refrigerator. Be wary that you do not want pecans to “sweat”. Sealed plastic bags are best for storing pecans in the freezer. In-shell pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for 6 to 12 months.

Airtight containers, such as jars with lids, are best for storing pecans in the refrigerator. Be wary that you do not want pecans to “sweat”. Sealed plastic bags are best for storing pecans in the freezer. In-shell pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for 6 to 12 months.

With their high amount of plant-based oil, pecans also last longer at lower temperatures preventing the fats from spoiling. Properly stored, shelled pecans can last for up to six months, while unshelled — or in-shell — pecans can last for up to nine to 12 months.

You can extend the shelf life of shelled pecans up to 2 years by freezing them. Just make sure that you put them in an air-tight, heavy duty freezer bag.

Fresh pecans have a distinct aroma, characterized by their sweet, nutty scent. They should have a firm, almost crunchy texture and a rich golden or amber color. On the flip side, bad pecans may show signs of spoilage, such as a rancid smell, a shriveled appearance, or a soft and rubbery texture.

Allow the pecans to dry in the shell for a couple of weeks or so. Once the nuts are dry enough, you'll be able to break open the hulls without much effort. Rounding up, always ensure to pick your pecans during the late fall. After all, you'll be able to snap the kernels effortlessly only when the nuts ripen.

Pecans should be harvested as soon as they fall from the tree (pecan quality deteriorates rapidly if nuts remain on the ground for extended periods of time) and dried to remove excess moisture. Drying can usually be accomplished by storing the nuts in a warm dry room for approximately 2 weeks.

Oil. Because oil content in pecans is high, rancidity can develop at warm temperatures and is more noticeable than in most other nuts. Pecan oil is a mixture of several oils, although oleic and linoleic oils are the two principal ones, usually comprising about 95% or more of total oil.

Pecans (and almost any food) can be preserved in Mason jars. This method frees up your freezer space, and there is no freezer burn.

Nuts “definitely have a period of peak freshness,” says Overbay. Generally, a safe shelf-life at room temperature is between 3–6 months, says McNeil. But it's complicated: Use-by dates are determined based on a slew of external factors, such as processing and packaging. The type of nut is also important.

Is it better to freeze pecans shelled or unshelled? ›

When freezing, always freeze smaller recipe-ready amounts of shelled pecans. Double bag them for freshness, and once frozen, these yummy and addicting nuts will be tasty, plump and light in color. One last tip, although no defrosting is required, as pecans are recipe ready at all times, remember to taste for freshness.

Pecans stored below freezing can keep for two years. Make sure kernels are dried properly before freezing. Lay the nuts out several days in a warm, dry place.

Most nuts have mold on them. You may not be able to taste or see it, but they're kept in storage bins for weeks or months and accumulate mold, which produces toxins called mycotoxins. Soaking nuts helps reduce and eliminate mold from the nuts.

No, you cannot eat the green nuts that fall off prematurely from the trees as they've still not ripened. Only those nuts that ripen fully by Fall (and hence ready to harvest) are worth eating as they have the rich invigorating flavor you normally associate with nuts.

If there are many nuts with tightly stuck hulls, chances are good the nuts are not fully ripe. Once the pecans have been harvested, they need to be dried or cured before storing them. Dry them slowly-- spread out in a thin layer on a plastic sheet in an area of low light and circulating air.

When to Harvest. Harvest pecans in early September through November when they have fallen from the trees. Start your harvest in 3-8 years depending on the variety and growing conditions. Watch for a substantial portion of the husks to have split and opened and the shell to turn brown before gathering.

In-shell pecans can be stored at room temperature for a short period of time. Keep in a refrigerator, if so desired, to keep for longer than 4 months. If pecans need to be stored for more than a year, either in the shell, cracked, or shelled, they have to be placed in the freezer.

Once the pecans are harvested, it's time to dry them. Drying or curing pecans helps preserve them and makes them into the delicious snacks and baking ingredients we love. The first step in the pecan drying process is screening. All of the pecans go through inspection to ensure they're quality nuts.