You can store raw cashew nuts for up to a year or longer if you store them in a sealed bag in a cool, dark and dry environment, such as the freezer. You can store them in the refrigerator for four to five months. For cashew nuts, the shelf life discussion measures the time it would take for the nut to go rancid and lose its creamy texture and nutritional value. When cashew nuts are purchased in bulk and stored properly, they can last for about a month at room temperature or up to 6 months in the refrigerator.
Beyond that, freezing would be necessary. Cashew nuts last about 6 months at room temperature and more than 12 months in the fridge. If you need even more time, you can freeze them. If you're going to use your nuts in the immediate future, it's OK to store them in a cool, dark place in your pantry.
Just make sure they're in an airtight container and plan to eat them in a couple of weeks. Dried cashew nut is easy to keep for a long time. However, fresh cashew nuts can be moldy, grimy, ingrown, and even rotten if not improperly preserved. That time both nutritional value and in-use value are lost.
It's important to make keeping cashew nuts fresh more complicated. You need to consider what type of nut and how long it should be kept to choose the right way to do it. When it comes to storing cashew nuts, make sure to keep them away from heat, sunlight, and air. Store cashew nuts in an airtight container, in a freezer bag, or in a resealable container to reduce exposure to air.
Once the package is opened, the roasted cashew nuts will last about 2 weeks in the pantry or a month in the fridge. With this type of cashew nut, if you want to preserve for a long time, the only way to dry the cashew nut under sunlight, avoid moisture or rain because the cashew nut will mold and ingrown faster. Cashew nuts tend to pick up odors and moisture in the fridge, so don't forget to store them in an airtight container. This also means that it's good to have cashew nuts stored in the pantry for those days when they would be a good addition to your recipe.
Because cashew nuts are necessarily sold shelled, they have little protection against natural factors that speed up this process. If your cashew nuts have gone bad and you accidentally took a bite or two, don't worry; you'll be fine. It's a toxin that isn't harmful in small amounts, but if you consume cashew nuts regularly, you could get hives. In addition to being an excellent snack by a handful, cashew nuts can also be used in desserts, salads, various dishes, or things like smoothies and natural nut butters.
Freezing cashew nuts reduces the chances of mold contamination and will prolong the freshness of nuts. So enjoy your fresh cashew nuts in moderation, and if you feel uncomfortable after eating them, choose not to eat them again. Cashew nuts tend to have a pleasant aroma and a creamy taste when the nuts are at their peak of freshness. So, if you like to eat occasional cashew nuts but don't consume a large amount, you could benefit from buying smaller packs of cashew nuts instead of buying them in bulk.
Enjoy these fresh nuts by storing them properly and watching if your cashew nuts have spoiled. Or maybe you've bought cashew nuts in bulk and aren't sure how to store them, so they're the ones that last the longest. Add walnuts to homemade bread dough, mix cashews with granola, or add a handful of almonds and a pinch of salt into the food processor for delicious homemade nut butter.