Best Ways to Store Pecans (2024)

FAQs

Best Ways to Store Pecans? ›

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.

Answer: The BEST way to keep your pecans fresh at home is to keep them in the freezer at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). Keep the bag sealed tightly so no moisture can get in.

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.

Use Airtight Containers: When storing pecans, use airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags to minimize exposure to air. Because of their makeup, oxygen can cause the pecans to turn rancid more quickly.

Don't bake with your shelled pecans right away. Place them in a colander and let them dry out for about 24 hours. This'll give them a better flavor and texture later on. Keep your pecans in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for a few weeks.

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. They can be refrigerated up to 18 months and frozen for about three years.

Can You Freeze Pecans? Freezing pecans is one of the best ways to store pecans due to their low water content. Freezing preserves their flavor and freshness when you only use them sparingly. You can easily buy pecans in bulk and save them for years in the freezer.

Pecans (and almost any food) can be preserved in Mason jars.

Ideally, nuts should be stored at temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Additionally, it's essential to place nuts in well-sealed containers to prevent the intrusion of odors and oxygen.

What to do with a lot of pecans? ›

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.

Boiling pecans before cracking them can actually help prevent the shell from shattering.

The Best Way to Store Nuts

The refrigerator, yes, but specifically, LaMarita recommends refrigerating nuts in air-tight glass jars. Store any extra nuts in the freezer in the bags they came in, he says. (If you don't have the original bags, consider using a freezer-safe air-tight container instead.)

“Texture-wise they lose their crunch and become softer. Color-wise they might darken a little bit,” he says, describing the flavor as “floury and bland.” Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature.

Like you, owners of pecan trees often find a sizable number of green pecans on the ground. Unfortunately, these pecans are not ripe and once off the tree will not ripen further. Within a few more weeks your pecans will be ripe enough to eat - as long as you can get to them before the squirrels.

Improper storage often leads to the darkening of kernels, and rancidity of the oils which destroy the natural flavor and aroma of the nuts. Dry the pecans by placing them in shallow layers in a warm dry area for two weeks, or they can be dried in a mesh bag. Adding fans and heat can speed the drying process.