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Walnut is a useful unique product, a storehouse of vitamins, all the necessary trace elements for the human body. Therefore, it is desirable to save the harvest as long as possible. There are some nuances that should be considered when collecting and storing fruits. Store peeled walnuts using a different technology than green or in shell. The technology includes the presence of a certain illumination, compliance with the temperature regime, humidity, packaging.
When to Harvest a Walnut for Storage
Harvest time depends on the degree of ripeness. At the end of August, the first fruits are harvested in a green shell. Such a product is kept for two weeks for ripening. Only then it is cleaned, dried and sent for long-term storage.
If the fruits ripen on their own, then they must be collected after cracking the green shell, when the fruit itself falls to the ground or it can be shaken off. Depending on the variety, this happens in September-October.
Signs of maturation and readiness for harvest:
- yellowing of foliage;
- loose outer shell;
- shell cracking.
Preparing walnuts for storage at home
Storage of walnuts in the shell and in the cleaned state requires preliminary preparation. After harvesting, the fruits must be dried on a flat surface. Otherwise, moisture will form under the shell.
The crop should be inspected, sorted out, and all diseased, cracked specimens removed. If a dull sound is heard when shaking or the fruit is too light, the inside is dry. This product must be disposed of and is not suitable for long-term storage and transportation.
For the safety of cleaned specimens, only healthy ones are chosen, without signs of rot and mold. The core should have a uniform color without white spots. Only such fruits after drying should fall into the basement or cellar.
The fruit must be free of foreign smell. Signs of mustiness are unacceptable.
How to store walnuts
The storage rules depend on the method. The storage conditions for the peeled and in-shell fruit are significantly different, as are the shelf life. It is important to harvest the crop correctly in order to preserve it as much as possible. Collection is carried out in dry weather.
How to store walnuts in the shell
If all the conditions are correctly observed, then the shelf life of the crop in the shell without bitterness is 2 years. So that larvae and harmful insects do not appear under the shell, it is recommended to calcine the product in the oven. But this must be done very carefully so as not to provoke the release of aromatic oils. They will give an unpleasant bitterness. Therefore, for roasting nuts in the shell, the minimum temperature is used, and the maximum exposure time is 60 minutes.
When choosing containers for storage, you should focus on natural material. The optimal containers are:
- cardboard box;
- linen bag;
- paper bags;
- wooden barrels and boxes;
- potato bags.
In such a container it is permissible to store up to 50 kg. Humidity should not exceed 60% to prevent mold. The extreme humidity levels are -70%, at higher values, not only the nut, but other products begin to mold. The room should be dark, dry, with a temperature not higher than + 5 ° C, so that rancidity does not appear.
How to keep a walnut shelled
In order to preserve the cleaned specimens for a long period, they must first be sorted out. Those with mold are discarded, cleaned of the remnants of the shell and partitions. Baffles can contribute to bitterness in the product. Also, in the presence of partitions and shells, infection with fungi can occur.
In order for the cleaned crop to be stored longer, it is necessary to leave only whole specimens. Broken ones are susceptible to infection with various diseases, which reduce the safety of the product several times.
Before storage, the sorted product should be washed under running cold water. Then bake in the oven at a low temperature. Only completely dry kernels should be laid for long-term storage. You can replace roasting in the oven with cooking in a pan. But a low temperature regime must be observed in any case.
In total there are 3 methods of storing the product without the shell:
- at room temperature at home;
- in a refrigerator;
- in the freezer.
But experts recommend leaving the nuts in the shell for long-term storage. This increases the shelf life, less chance of becoming bitter and more opportunity to get all the useful substances.
Where to store walnuts
The storage location also depends on the shape. For kernels in the shell, a cellar or basement is perfect. But at the same time, it is important that there is no dampness in the room and even the slightest temperature fluctuations. These factors contribute to the occurrence of fungal diseases and mold. You can save the crop at a certain temperature. For specimens in the shell, this temperature is not lower than -3 ° C.
If you store the peeled kernels at home in a closet or pantry, then it is recommended to sort them out regularly.
You can store walnuts in the refrigerator, but in this case you will have to control that the temperature does not exceed + 10 ° C. Fruits are wrapped in foil or stored in glass or plastic containers. To avoid temperature fluctuations, you need to store the product on the shelf, and not on the door.
You can store walnuts in the apartment only in a dark place. It is not recommended to use the balcony as it can get too cold in winter.
How long do walnuts keep
It is better not to store chopped or whole nuts for too long. But specific dates vary by location:
- at room temperature, peeled kernels lie no more than 2 weeks;
- in the refrigerator, the shelf life is up to six months, if there are no temperature changes;
- frozen kernels, if they are not thawed, are consumed up to a year.
But, depending on the ripeness and condition, walnut kernels have their own wintering nuances.
How long do walnuts keep in shell
The shelf life in the shell, subject to all conditions, is 2 years. But for this, the crop must first be sorted out and dried. The in-shell product has the longest shelf life, so it is best suited to protect the entire harvest and subsequent sale.
If the cellar is dry and the optimum temperature is maintained, then the shelf life increases, even after 3 years, the kernels have an excellent taste and retain useful substances.
How long do green walnuts keep
If the green fruits are not peeled, then the shelf life and benefits are sharply reduced. As soon as the peel turns black, it will begin to spoil the insides. As a result, the taste and useful properties of the product will be lost. The kernels will be affected by mold and rot.
Therefore, it is better immediately after harvesting, a maximum of a week later, to remove the peel, dry the fruits and sort them out. After that, you can leave the kernels in the shell.
Shelf life of shelled walnuts
In this case, it is important which package the product is in. If it is not packed tightly, then its shelf life is not more than a month. With high-quality packaging, the kernels can be stored for 9-12 months without loss of taste and useful properties.
In the freezer in foil, the kernels will last a year if they are not thawed.
Just in the refrigerator, the period is reduced to six months. Even less at room temperature – the kernels are only good for 14 days, regardless of packaging.
Why is a walnut bitter
If fresh kernels are bitter, then the reason is their immaturity. At first, the ripe fruit does not contain bitterness and, subject to all storage conditions, does not begin to taste bitter. The main reasons lie in the oil contained in the kernels. Also, the film can be bitter. If it is supposed to be stored in a cleaned form, then it is recommended to remove the film.
The kernels burn out quickly, so it is important to follow the storage rules. They start to bitter from humidity, cold or heat.
Storage of peeled walnuts at home, if the temperature and light conditions are not observed, will lead to bitterness and mold if the humidity is 70%.
How to remove bitterness from walnuts
There are several ways to remove bitterness:
- pour ice water for 12 hours;
- pour boiling water, but then the product is only suitable for culinary preparations.
If the product is bitter after the washing procedure, then it is no longer suitable, such a product should not be eaten.
Conclusion
It is necessary to store peeled walnuts, as in the shell, in the dark at a low temperature, without dampness. Then they will be preserved for a long time, and bitterness will not appear in them. The best place for placement is a cellar or basement. It is possible to save the product at home for a long time if there is a suitable room. It is allowed for a short time to place the peeled kernels in the refrigerator, in the freezer, but frequent, sharp temperature changes should not be allowed. It is important to save the crop so that the beneficial substances are preserved as much as possible.
