Shelled almonds last four months in the pantry, eight months in the refrigerator and ten months frozen. Undoubtedly, almonds spoil if stored incorrectly. Improper storage conditions include exposure to heat, light and oxygen. Under such circumstances, almonds will produce oil that causes them to spoil.
Almonds have a limited shelf life due to the presence of fatty oils in their fleshy part. Shelled fresh almonds can last four months if kept outdoors, eight months in the refrigerator, and ten months in the freezer. Shelled almonds can last six months outdoors, sixteen months in the refrigerator and twenty months in the freezer. Almonds can stay fresh longer if kept in the refrigerator or freezer.
Almonds have natural antioxidants that promote long shelf life. In fact, they can retain their quality longer than many other nuts and can be moved from one year to the next while maintaining certain safeguards and controlled conditions. To extend the shelf life of roasted products, packaging is essential. Shelled almonds come with an expiration date.
When not open, they can stay in the pantry for 4 months. If you open them, you should refrigerate them so that they last approximately 8 months. If you want them to last even longer, freeze them and that will take 10 months. Since most shelled almonds are found in grocery stores, they don't come with an expiration date.
If you store almonds in the right conditions, you can eat them for months after the expiration date. Not only are almonds an excellent and hearty snack, but they are packed with health benefits in a small, compact size. Imagine baking a huge cake to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, or achievement just to throw it away because your almonds are spoiled. Salmonella outbreaks due to raw almonds have also been reported in Australia (200) and Sweden (201).
If shelled almonds appear yellowish when cut or have a honeycomb pattern, it means that the almonds are stale. Product characteristics in this case can help determine the shelf life of almond seeds in the refrigerator. Almonds are a big part of your diet, but to get their full benefits, you need to store them properly. Since this date is simply an estimate of how long packaged almonds can last, they don't necessarily go bad when the date arrives.
That means you need to make sure that your almonds are not exposed to hot temperatures, changes in temperature, or humidity. According to the California Almond Board, the shelf life of almonds depends on how they are produced, processed and packaged. However, raw almonds were responsible for two outbreaks of salmonella in the United States and Canada between 2000 and 2001 (which occurred mainly in Canada) and between 2003 and 2004. And when it comes to almond snacks, it's much better to check the label than to rely on that estimate. You just found a package of almonds in your closet and you wonder if they are still edible.
If you need to store seasoned almonds for snacks for longer periods, follow the instructions on the label. Almonds should be stored in an airtight container and it is best to store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
