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Pine nuts are a healthy, nutritious and tasty product that contains a large number of useful elements. The nuts are collected in the first autumn months. They go on sale in peeled form, in shells and even in cones. To preserve their beneficial properties throughout the winter, you need to know how to store pine nuts.
Preparing pine nuts for storage
Pine nuts are a culinary name, but in nature they are the seeds of the pine pine tree. The kernels are located in a strong shell and hidden in a cone. Being under such protection, nuts do not lose their aroma and beneficial properties for several months. The duration of storage of peeled pine seeds, subject to temperature and humidity conditions, is no more than 2-3 months.
When purchasing taiga nuts, you need to understand how to select a product and prepare it for long-term storage.
When buying kernels in shell, you need to check them by touch. They should be dense, slightly moist with a pleasant fresh aroma.
Unshelled nuts are dried before storing.To do this, you need to scatter them on a baking sheet covered with paper in a thin layer and put them in a dry place for several days. During the drying process, the nuts are stirred periodically.
When purchasing shelled nuts, you should give preference to light kernels without any foreign odor. A bright yellow color indicates improper and long-term storage. Such pine nuts will be bitter and will not bring any benefit to the body. If pine nuts are covered with a greenish coating, then this is the first sign of infection with pathogenic bacteria.
Unshelled nuts can be stored in an airtight, light-proof container or in a sterilized glass jar.
How to properly store pine nuts
To extend the shelf life of pine seeds, you must follow simple rules:
- For storage, maintain a temperature range from - 15 ° C to + 20 ° C, provided that there are no differences in values. Shelf life is reduced if the product is dried in the open sun.
- Air humidity should not exceed 70%; with high humidity, the kernels quickly become moldy.
- Processing is a correctly selected and prepared product, the key to long-term storage.
- It is better to store shelled pine nuts in vacuum packaging, in paper, linen bags or in airtight jars.
How to store pine cones
The taste, aroma and preservation of beneficial properties depend on the storage rules. The technology for storing pine nuts is simple.
Storing pine cones is not the most popular method, since they take up a lot of space, and the seeds quickly lose their taste and beneficial properties.When stored, cedar cones quickly pick up moisture from the air and begin to deteriorate and mold.
But if the task is to preserve the taiga harvest in cones, then they are bought in canvas bags. They should not have mechanical damage or signs of rot. The integrity of the pine cone means the integrity of the seeds. The best storage option is a dark, well-ventilated room. Before planting, remove the soil, pine needles, and foliage and place several pieces in linen bags. In apartment conditions, pine cones can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than six months.
During storage, periodic inspection is carried out for the presence of white deposits, the appearance of insects and an unpleasant odor. If one of the signs is present, the nuts are thrown away, since instead of benefiting them they will cause harm to the body.
How to store shelled pine nuts
Before sending for storage, unshelled cedar seeds are carefully sorted, eliminating spoiled and damaged shells.
The prepared product is transferred to a breathable bag, glass container, clothes bag and stored in a dark, dry, well-ventilated room. The shelf life of pine nuts in shell depends on the storage method and averages 2-3 months.
How to store pine nuts at home without shells
Peeled seeds retain their aroma and vitamins only if properly stored. Therefore, it is better to purchase nuts in shells and clean them yourself.
To quickly get rid of the shell, you can use proven methods:
- Soak the seeds in water for a day. Under the influence of liquid, the shell softens.
- Pour boiling water over taiga nuts and leave for 10-15 minutes.After heat treatment, it will become easier to crack the shell.
- To make it easier to remove the shell, the seeds can be roasted in the oven for a couple of minutes at 120°C.
- You can also fry the seeds in a hot frying pan for a few minutes and immediately immerse them in ice water. Due to temperature changes, the shell cracks on its own.
Peeled kernels are stored only in hermetically sealed containers to prevent moisture from getting inside. The storage place should be dry and well ventilated. This could be a refrigerator or freezer. If stored properly, shelled kernels will not lose their beneficial properties for 3 months.
Where to store shelled pine nuts
For long-term storage, a refrigerator, basement, cellar, freezer or balcony is suitable. The room should be dry and dark. When storing in a basement or cellar, pine nuts must be protected from rodents. To do this, they are placed in an airtight container or put away in a place inaccessible to rodents.
Freezer - seeds are placed in plastic or plastic bags and placed in the freezer. The kernels retain their taste and aroma throughout the year. The product cannot be re-frozen, so it is better to pack them in portions. This method is suitable for storing pine nuts in shell.
The refrigerator is an ideal way to store peeled seeds. The kernels are placed in an airtight plastic container, ceramic dish or glass jar. The selected container should be tightly closed so that the nuts do not collect excess moisture and quickly rot.With this method, the seeds will retain their freshness and beneficial qualities for 100 days.
Cellar, pantry, basement - in these places nuts are stored in wooden, cardboard boxes or glass jars. The main condition for storage is a dark, dry, well-ventilated room. With proper maintenance, cedar seeds can last up to 6 months.
How long do pine nuts last?
Taiga seeds have a short shelf life due to their mineral composition. If the temperature and humidity conditions are not observed, fats change their qualities and give the product a peculiar bitterness. Signs of a spoiled product are the presence of mold, a specific odor, discoloration of the kernel and dark spots on the grains.
Fried kernels do not have a shelf life, since during heat treatment they release oils, which during long-term storage give the product a bitter taste. Even if roasted taiga seeds are stored according to all the rules, after a few days they will acquire an unpleasant odor, become bitter and unsuitable for consumption.
Even if after six months the taiga nuts have not lost their appearance and have not acquired any foreign smell, they should not be eaten. Because after three months they begin to lose their beneficial qualities, and the taste becomes less intense. Also, after 6 months, bacteria appear in the nuclei, which are invisible to the human eye. When consuming such a product, you can harm your body.
To increase shelf life and preserve freshness and aroma for a long time, you must follow simple rules:
- You cannot purchase peeled kernels by weight, as their beneficial properties are lost during prolonged interaction with air.
- When purchasing, you need to look at the quality; if the nuts are dry, it means the expiration date has expired.
- Fried kernels are best consumed immediately.
- Use an electric dryer for drying.
- Buy the quantity that can be consumed in a short period of time.
- Since taiga nuts are collected in September-October, you cannot buy them at the beginning or end of summer.
Conclusion
To preserve vitamins and microelements, you need to know how to store pine nuts. If you follow the rules, you can diversify your daily menu, keep your body in good shape and enrich it with useful substances.
