Looking for the perfect snack? Nothing could be better than some pistachio nuts.
You’ve bought a packet of pistachios, and maybe you’ve kept them longer than you should have. You might be wondering: Do pistachios go bad? How long do they last?
Here’s the deal with pistachios and their shelf-life: shelled pistachios last 5-6 months at room temperature. To lengthen this time, you can keep them in the fridge for up to a year and in the freezer for two years.
Signs Of Spoilage
The first step to checking for signs that your pistachios have gone bad is to smell them. If it has a foul smell, almost like paint or nail polish remover, it has probably gone off.
Secondly, any mold on the surface of the pistachios is a bad sign. Make sure to discard the nuts. Thirdly, watch out for signs of nuts that have dried out or have a shriveled appearance. You’ll want to get rid of these as well.
Another sign you may want to look out for is any insects or bugs inside your packet of pistachios. Make sure to toss them out immediately.
Pistachios may go rancid if stored for longer periods of time. You can tell if your pistachios have turned rancid by smelling or tasting a sample. It will smell like paint and taste harsh and bitter.
This indicates that the fats in the nut have spoiled. Although consuming rancid pistachios won’t make you sick, the taste itself will probably stop you from eating them.
What is rancidity? Food goes rancid when the fats and oils in it contact the oxygen in the air, causing oxidation.
Storing Pistachios
So you’re done with your snacking and are ready to put your pistachio nuts away. What’s the best option for storing these nuts?
You want to store pistachios in an airtight container in a dark, cool place. You are free to use the package that the pistachios came in, provided it is re-sealable and airtight. Avoiding fresh air and light reduces the chance of your nuts going rancid.
What about refrigerating your pistachios? Well, pistachio nuts work well at low temperatures as it slows down the occurrence of rancidity. However, keeping them at room temperature is perfect for the short term. If you’re looking for a long-term storage solution, the fridge and freezer are the way to go.
Wherever you decide to store them, be sure to keep them in an airtight container. This will keep your pistachios happy and fresh for longer.
The Shelf-Life Of Pistachios
At room temperature, pistachios last 5-6 months. When stored in the fridge, they can last up to a year. In the freezer, this further increases to two years.
When checking the labels on your pistachios package, remember that it is mostly an estimate. You can still consume your pistachios past the best-by date. As long as there are no signs of them being spoiled.
Another note: unshelled pistachios last a bit longer than shelled ones. So if you have the unshelled variety, you can expect it to last a little bit longer than the times given.
In A Nutshell
These popular nuts are known as “happy nuts” in China. This is because they appear to be smiling with their shells cracked half-open. Here are more fun facts about this happy nut.
Overall, pistachios can keep for a pretty long time. At room temperature, they are perfectly okay and will last up to 5-6 months, whereas the fridge and freezer lengthen their shelf-life to years.
