Can You Freeze Walnuts? [Tested & Detailed Guide]

Let’s talk about walnuts. Did you know they come from trees in the Juglans family? That’s right.

Walnuts aren’t just nuts; they’re seeds from a drupe. Fancy, huh? But they’re not an actual botanical unit.

They’ve got a tough shell and the meat inside looks like a tiny brain. Cool, right?

They taste sweet and rich. People have been munching on these for over 8000 years!

Most of the walnuts you buy come from China and California. Black and English walnuts are the most common.

You can toss them into foods like cakes, sauces, and bread. Yum!

Chop them up to garnish salads, yogurt, fruit bowls, or oatmeal. Versatile, much?

There are loads of recipes with walnuts. Tried “Parmesan Herbed Walnuts” or “5-Minute Candied Walnuts”? How about “Walnut Fudge” or “Walnut Halwa”?

They’re great in smoothies too. Smooth nutty goodness!

Can you freeze walnuts? Absolutely. Throw them in the freezer and they’ll be just fine.

Because they have a high-fat content, they can go rancid. So, freezing them is smart if you want them to last.

Walnut wonders, aren’t they?

Does Freezing Affect Walnuts?

If you are freezing unshelled walnuts, then you can expect their quality and taste to remain intact at all times.

You can store them for long periods and still enjoy the freshness of its meat once you take it out of the freezer.

However, just like any other ingredient, you have to let it thaw properly first.

Also, if you are planning to freeze unshelled walnuts, then the way you handle and store it will determine their quality and taste.

You have to realize that walnuts tend to absorb the odors of the things around them.

So, when you store them inside the freezer, ensure that you maintain a proper distance.

It especially applies to certain ingredients that possess very strong odors.

Ensure that you use a proper airtight freezer bag or container to protect them from the smell.

In this way, the flavor and quality of your walnuts will be preserved, allowing you to enjoy them like you just bought them today.

How To Freeze Walnuts?

If you have leftover walnuts from a pack that you just opened, then it would be smart to store them inside an airtight container that’s freezer-safe.

Here, you can also store your walnuts inside a freezer bag as an alternative to a plastic container.

Both of them work well because they help in locking out all the moisture and air inside the freezer.

You also shouldn’t forget to label your freezer bag or storage container.

Here, you can use a marker to write down the freezing date and also the content.

In this way, you will be able to eat it before the expiration or best before the date reaches.

Plus, if you are freezing multiple batches, then make sure to stack the containers on top of each other to save space.

But when it comes to ground walnuts, it is best to avoid freezing them.

However, if you still choose to do so, then you need to freeze them as a whole.

And once you take them out of the freezer, proceed to ground them all at once and use them.

Do not process, chop, or ground your nuts until you decide to add walnuts to your meal.

It will help in ensuring that the walnuts possess an optimal flavor whenever you defrost them.

Also, if you are interested in freezing a packet of walnuts, but you only wish to use some at a time, then you should freeze them in a way that allows for easy separation later.

You can do so by following these key steps:

• Start by placing the nuts on the baking sheet. Ensure that you are properly spreading them out.
• Proceed to place them in your freezer and keep it until it’s frozen.
• After that, you can transfer your frozen walnuts into a storage bag or airtight container that’s airtight.

In this way, you won’t end up freezing your walnuts together.

You won’t have any trouble grabbing a handful of these walnuts from the freezer bag or container.

It will also save you the hassle of having to thaw everything.

Shelled walnuts can last about 18-24 months inside the freezer.

Also, unshelled walnuts can last for a year or more inside the freezer too.

But regardless of whether it’s shelled or unshelled, you need to handle and store them properly.

How To Thaw Frozen Walnuts?

You can defrost your frozen walnuts by transferring them directly to the fridge.

You can allow them to defrost overnight to use the next day or for some hours.

But if you are planning to cook them, then you can easily throw them in your meal without having to thaw them because it’s not needed.

It is also possible to thaw your frozen walnuts by keeping them under room temperature.

The defrosting process will be quicker because of the shift in temperature.

But you can also toast your walnuts by using an oven or stove for obtaining that rich toasted type of flavoring.

Caution.

• If you are thawing your frozen walnuts under room temperature, then avoid keeping them out for long. Your walnuts will go bad because of their high-fat content.
• If you are toasting your walnuts inside the oven or stove, then do them for 5-10 minutes and 5 minutes, respectively.

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