Tricks to Store Raw Cashew Nuts for Freshness

The cashew nuts are the most popular snacks and are even used in dishes to maintain taste. The creamy texture and the crunchy flavor of the dry fruit enrich the taste of any dish. The cashew nuts consist of rich proteins and fat apart from high- oil content that makes them prone to spoilage if they are not stored properly. In this post, we will talk about raw cashew nuts, and how they can be stored to intact their freshness. However, you should make sure that they are shelled and free from any outer skin and toxic oils. 

Storage Tips for Raw Cashew Nuts 

These tips will keep the nutritional value and crunchy taste of cashew nuts intact. 

• Use Air- Tight Containers:

When you remove the cashew nuts from the packing, store all the contents in an airtight container. Glass jars with tight-sealing lids or vacuum-sealed bags are excellent choices. These containers protect the nuts from moisture and air, which can speed up the degradation process. Make sure that the container you are using is clean and dry before you add the cashew nuts. Odors from the other food can transfer into the dry fruits, making them smell weird. So store them away from any kind of flavored food.

• Store Them in a Cool- Dry Place:

Store the dry fruits away from direct sunlight, in a cool and dry place. The cupboard or shelf that is not near to any heat sources is perfect. The rising temperature can cause the oils in the nut to break down, causing to formation of rancid flavors. If you live in a humid place, store the dry fruits in the refrigerator.

• Avoid Contaminants:

The dry fruits need to be preserved from any sort of contaminants, so always place them in a freshly cleaned jar. Also never mix it with other dry fruits. The flavor and moisture exchange will deteriorate the quality and taste of the raw cashew nuts. 

Long-Term Storage Solutions 

Apart from the storage solutions mentioned above, these long-term solutions will ensure that the dry fruits remain fresh for a long period.

• Store in the Refrigerator: 

If you plan on keeping the raw cashew nuts for more than a couple of months, then you need to be extra cautious about the storage of the dry fruits. You can also use the zip-lock containers to securely store the dry fruits in the fridge. It will stop the moisture and air from entering the bag, keeping the fruits fresh.

• Keep in the Freezer:

Freezing the cashew nuts can further enhance its life up to 1 year. You can freeze the dry fruit by keeping it in an air-tight container or a freezer bag. The best part is that there is no need to place them in warm water (thaw) before use. It can directly be added to the dish.

Additional Tips

These extra tips will also help in ensuring the freshness of the dry fruits.

• Roasting Before Storage:

Roasting the cashews will help remove the extra moisture which can extend its shelf-life. However, as compared to the raw ones, it will have a shorter life due to added flavor and removed moisture. The roasted cashews must be stored in airtight jars or resealable bags to restore their crunchy texture. Refrigeration of the dry fruit will further enhance its life. 

How to Check the Raw Cashew Nuts for Freshness? 

If you are doing so much to ensure the freshness of the dry fruit, then you must also know how to check whether it has retained its freshness. Well, with these tips you can find that out. 

• Smell:

When you check the dry fruit to find out its freshness, start by smelling it. The dry fruit should have a sweet- nutty smell. The bitter odor or a pungent smell is an indicator that the cashew nut is not fresh and may have even gone bad.

• Taste:

Tasting the dry fruit is another way of finding its state. Just take a bite of the cashew nut, if it tastes bitter then it may be spoiled. The fresh cashew nuts are firm and crunchy, so if you find the texture soft and soggy, then most probably the dry fruit is no longer edible.

• Inspection:

You can check for the visible signs on the cashew nut like dark, blotchy, wrinkly, and dry. It is most likely that the dry fruit is spoiled.

Parting Words….

Storing the raw cashew nut properly is essential to maintain its freshness and flavors. The above-mentioned tips will hopefully help you understand how to keep them crunchy and edible for more than a year. However, to enjoy the best flavor and delicacies of the cashew nuts, you must get them from the best suppliers like R.K. Agro Processing. Their nuts go through several testing phases to avoid any bacterial contamination. These nuts are processed keeping in mind the health of the customers at the lowest possible rates.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

• How Long Can the Raw Cashew Nuts Survive in Room Temperature? 

If the raw cashew nuts are properly stored in a cool and dry place in an air-tight container, then they can remain fresh for up to two months. 

• Is It Possible to Store the Cashew Nuts with Other Dry Fruits?

Yes, it is possible to store the cashew nuts with other dry fruits, provided that they are kept in an air-tight condition so that there is no cross-contamination of the flavors.

• How to Know the Raw Cashew Nuts Have Gone Bad?

The cashew nuts will give away some tell-tale signs like a rancid smell, a bitter taste, or a change in texture like dark, wrinkly marks. 

• How Many Cashew Nuts Can Be Eaten in a Day?

One ounce (28.3495 grams) of the raw cashew can be eaten in a day. It is considered healthy and will not cause any side- effects.

• What are the Side- Effects of Eating Too Many Raw Cashew Nuts?

The cashew nuts have a high- rate of oxalate content and thus eating any food with a high- oxalate rate can cause kidney stones. It is essential to keep an eye on how many cashew nuts you eat in a day. Consuming cashew nuts with milk can reduce the oxalate absorption.