Peanuts have lots of useful elements and minerals that are very beneficial to our health and immune system. Like all nuts, they are pretty durable which makes people think that peanuts can never spoil.
Is it really so?
And, do peanuts go bad? If you store the peanuts in an unopened package, it will last up to 20 months. If the package was open for more than 10 days, the peanuts can become rancid and get a bitter taste and smell like spoiled oil. Also, you can see mold or tiny black spots on it.
Let’s dig deeper and find this out!
How Long Do Peanuts Last?
The duration of our foodstuff lifespan is an essential thing to know since we always want to be sure that we are consuming healthy and edible things.
Whenever we buy something that tends to become off quite soon (e.g. dairy products), we always take a look at the expiry date.
But do we do the same when buying nuts? Hardly so.
Nonetheless, the shelf life of peanuts can’t last forever.
Even though these nuts are quite durable, their lifespan won’t extend for more than twelve months.
How long do shelled peanuts last? How long do roasted peanuts last? These questions make people confused most of all.
Of course, everything hangs upon where we keep them. To make it easier for yourself to compare and analyze this information, take a look at this chart.
| Pantry | Fridge | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelled peanuts | Four months | twelve months at most | Up to two years |
| Unshelled peanuts | 1-2 months | 4-6 months | 9-12 months |
| Roasted peanuts | Up to two months | Up to half a year | One year at most |
Remember though that the better you mind your peanuts the longer they will remain at their best quality and healthiness.
How Long Do Raw Peanuts Last?
What about the raw nuts? Is their storage the same as for the roasted ones, for instance?
Since raw peanuts have their shell on, it protects the core from drying and other harmful external impacts. Nevertheless, even this natural protection won’t extend their lifespan for more than two months.
That is why, if your goal is to prolong the peanuts’ life to its most, you’d better expose them to frost.
And, how long do raw peanuts last? Raw peanuts should be stored in a cool, dry place, for example, pantry, in a properly sealed airtight container for up to 4 months. If you store raw peanuts in the original package in the freezer, in will last for 6 month.
Storing Peanuts From A To Z
A common belief exists that nuts are one of the simplest things to store. However, it appears that even nuts require certain skills and knowledge from people to be able to store this natural and healthy snack longer.
Since the most popular kinds of peanuts we have today are in-shell, shelled, and roasted nuts, let’s talk about how we could prolong their lifespan.
- How to store raw peanuts without the shell
Sometimes raw peanuts are sold without their shells. Probably, it is made because peeling them is rather time-consuming task. Anyway, if you need to know how to keep such peanuts fresh, we would advise you to put them into the airtight packet and seal it tightly.
So, How to store raw peanuts without the shell? Store your raw peanuts in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry, in the original package or in the proper sealed airtight container. You can also store unshelled peanuts in properly sealed glass jars covered with cotton fabric inside.
Store raw peanuts in a dry and cool place away from the bright light.
Like that, your peanuts will stay edible for 1-2 months.
- How to store raw peanuts in the shell
Since their shell is a natural protection that prevents spoiling, in-shell nuts normally last longer, something like four months in a pantry and up to a year if refrigerated.
For refrigeration, always use airtight packets since the level of moisture in there is somewhat higher than necessary for these huts.
And how to store raw peanuts in the shell? Store your raw peanuts in the shell in a cool, dry place f.ex pantry, you can store it there for up to 4 months. Store peanuts in the shell in the airtight containers or in the original package in the refrigerator for up to 12 months.
- Storing roasted nuts
This way seems to be the most simple since roasted peanuts are sold with the expiry date set on the packet.
Nevertheless, it is useful to keep in mind several handy tricks.
If you are 100% sure that the nuts will be consumed within 2-3 weeks, leave them in the kitchen unchilled.
But if your plan is to store them longer, the best option would be to freeze them to prolong the lifespan to three months or so.
Are Peanuts Bad For People?
Peanuts are natural and organic food, nevertheless, some people are sure that these nuts can be harmful.
Peanuts indeed can be bad if you are allergic to them. But those who have no health issues can consume these nuts safely since they are rich in healthy protein and fats.
These nuts can become a perfect snack to replace the so-called empty-calory foods like chips, etc.
In addition, peanuts contain anti-aging compounds that make our skin healthier and younger!
Can Peanuts Go Bad?
Naturally, a question may occur whether peanuts can go bad.
Well, bad peanuts are quite a rare thing to see since these nuts are pretty long-lasting.
Besides, even when getting off, they don’t have any visual symptoms of spoilage, e.g. mold or others.
So how to tell if peanuts go bad?
They will simply go rancid because of the high amount of oil!
If your peanuts smell sour and taste bitter, then you’d better throw them away.
Many of us may wonder what happens if you eat bad peanuts. In fact, there were no proved cases of people getting sick after consuming a handful of rancid peanuts but let’s agree that eating rancid bitter nuts is not something one would like to do!
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