Cashew nuts have a long shelf life when stored under the right conditions. Storing them in a closet will keep them fresh for up to 6 months. But the best thing to do is store them in the freezer if you know you won't eat them quickly enough. They can last more than a year in very cold temperatures.
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. Cashew nuts, such as almonds, are usually not raw, even if they are marked as such. The shell around the cashew nut contains urushiol, the same substance found in poison ivy. The inside of the shell contains toxic resins, which can contaminate the nut if not removed carefully, so the processors remove the outer shell with heat treatment or boiling in oil.
Very few manufacturers remove the peel without using heat, according to the Living and Raw Foods website. 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. 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. If you bought raw cashew nuts, they would last about a month in your pantry or up to six months in the refrigerator. Keep them in an airtight container or in a resealable plastic bag if you refrigerate cashew nuts. Fresh raw cashews should be light brown in color; if they start to turn yellow or gray, this indicates that they are going rancid.
In that case, it is essential to store them properly to prevent them from spoiling and contaminating with foreign substances or pathogens. It is best to store cashew nuts in an airtight container and place them in a cool, dry place, such as the refrigerator or freezer, to extend the shelf life of the cashew nuts. If you can't get them at nearby stores, you can search online, which will surely give you cashew nuts in their many presentations. Also, you should never try to substitute raw cashew nuts for roasted ones in a recipe, as this replacement will likely result in an inferior tasting dish.
Cashew nuts tend to pick up odors and moisture in the fridge, so don't forget to store them in an airtight container. These dates are mostly accurate, and if you store your cashews properly, you can not only enjoy these nuts until that date, but probably for a month afterwards. Cashew nuts never come completely raw with full coverage because the shell contains “urushiol,” the same substance found in poison ivy, according to LiveStrong. 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.
The good news is that you can quickly get a longer shelf life from your cashew nuts if you store them properly.