Can You Freeze Nuts?

4 minutes

There are so many types of nuts out there, over 50, in fact! They include some household favourites such as cashews, pistachios, and almonds. But, what is the best way to store them for the long term? Can they be frozen successfully?

Nuts in most forms can typically be frozen for up to 12 months. This is often the case for processed or unprocessed nuts and preserves the majority of their qualities for a long time.

Although, it is worth remembering that the amount of time you should freeze nuts should be reduced if they are processed. Raw nuts tend to freeze better than nuts which have been processed. As long as the packing is airtight, you should not encounter any issues.

How to Freeze Nuts

You can freeze nuts simply and safely to extend their shelf-life for use at a later date. The good news is that nuts will not take up much freezer space. Here’s how you can freeze them:

1. Let Them Cool
   If you have roasted or fried your nuts, cool them down to room temperature before freezing them. This is the case for all hot food, of course.
2. Wrap and Cover
   By wrapping your nuts in plastic film before sealing them in a freezer bag, you give the nuts the best chance of remaining fresh and delicious by double-wrapping them.
3. Remove Excess Air
   Making sure that the film is airtight and getting rid of the unnecessary air from the freezer bag ensures nut freshness. Next, you can seal the freezer bag completely so that nothing can enter or escape.
4. Date and Label
   Forgetting when you initially froze your nuts is frustrating, which is why attaching a sticker with the date you put them in the freezer stops you from freezing them for too long.

3 Tips for Freezing Nuts

Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing nuts to have the best results:

Keep Them in a Clear Container
To avoid the nuts cracking under insufficient freezing conditions, be sure to check your nuts from time to time so you can view their quality for yourself. A clear container saves you from opening it up so you can easily view its appearance and frozen state. 

Smell Them
If your nuts have been frozen for a long time, it is a good idea to smell them once defrosted. As you can imagine, they should have a subtle nutty smell to them. If they are pregnant and/or sour-smelling then it’s time to throw them out.

Freeze Nuts Raw
Consider freezing your nuts raw before processing them, as some say they freeze better raw. Whichever way you decide to freeze them, always check their quality before freezing and consuming them. 

How Long Can You Freeze Nuts?

Raw nuts can be frozen for up to one year typically. Nuts which have been processed, like blanched, roasted, or boiled, may not stay preserved for as long in the freezer, though.

Nuts possess a high oil content, so preserving their quality requires thorough packing and the correct storage. Nuts tend to keep a lot of their flavour and texture if they are properly contained in the freezer.

Every now and then, it is worth checking the quality of your nuts physically by their appearance, smell and texture.

You Can Freeze Nuts for up to 1 Year

How Do You Defrost Nuts?

Make sure your nuts are thoroughly defrosted before consumption. Nuts cannot exactly thaw because they do not technically freeze, but letting the nuts thaw overnight before reheating and consuming is advised.

Placing your nuts in the refrigerator overnight to defrost will thaw them out sufficiently. Reheat them as you wish after this.

Can You Refreeze Nuts?

Nuts generally can be refrozen, but it might not be a great idea to do so as this will impact the quality and texture. Should you decide to refreeze, always thoroughly defrost your nuts after doing so to make sure that the nuts being consumed are edible.

Ensure your freezer is set to the appropriate temperature, that the suggested containers are used and that nothing is on top of the nuts to crush them.

It might be unlikely that your nuts will deteriorate in quality if they have been frozen and thawed as suggested, but check on the quality just in case.

Do Nuts Freeze Well?

Nuts are likely to last for a long time frozen if they have been stored correctly, so yes, nuts do freeze well. It is important to remember to contain them as well as possible for good results.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing nuts or nuts in general, then these may help: