How to turn stale nuts into a tasty snack - recipe | Waste Not (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with stale nuts? ›

They do go stale and lose their luster and they need to be brought back to life (you know you have a can of them somewhere; don't throw them away!). Toss roasted nuts in a bit of olive oil, sprinkle with flake salt and Air Fry at 400F for 4-minutes (no preheat). Hello co*cktail Snack!

Nuts that have gone rancid (you'll know by the acrid smell), should be tossed immediately! There's no cure for rancid nuts, but stale nuts can be revived and put to good use in baking and cooking. Refresh stale nuts by spreading them out on a parchment covered baking sheet, and baking at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.

There might be a risk associated with regularly eating fistfuls of oxidized nuts, though. Some emerging research suggests a potential link between long-term exposure to oxidized fats and negative health effects, like inflammation and increased cancer risk—but the connection is still unclear.

Put them in an air tight container. If they get stale, put them in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

For nuts that are a little old but aren't inedible or unsafe to eat, use them up in new and creative ways! You could even try adding crushed peanuts on top of overnight oatmeal. If you have too many peanuts, make homemade peanut butter or feed them to outdoor birds.

While those walnuts in the back of your pantry might be past their prime for making transcendent baklava, it doesn't necessarily mean that you need to throw them out. If a nut is only slightly stale, says Kanney, it can usually still be toasted to revive some of its previous glory and (crunch).

To freshen any type of nuts before you eat (or cook with) them, toast on a baking sheet in a 350 degrees F oven for 10 minutes or place nuts in a small bowl and microwave on High for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.

"Nuts have a wide range of fat contents," says LaMarita. Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are lower in fat, so they'll generally last longer than nuts higher in fat, like macadamia nuts, pine nuts, cashews, and Brazil nuts, all of which will go rancid quicker, says LaMarita.

Chili or curry powder, garlic, cinnamon, cumin, salt, pepper, brown sugar, ground mustard or orange peel are just a few flavor boosters. To get the spices to stick to the nuts, use egg whites, butter, coconut oil, olive oil or blanch the nuts in boiling water.

How it works: Arrange the nuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and place in a moderate oven (about 325 degrees with convection or 350 degrees without), stirring halfway through, until fragrant and toasted inside and out. Then immediately transfer the nuts to a plate or bowl.

How do you soften hard nuts? ›

Soak your nuts and seeds anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 or 3 hours, or even overnight in the refrigerator. In general, harder nuts will take longer to soften. If your recipe calls for soaked nuts or seeds and you are low on time, try to squeeze in 20 minutes minimum, or just do a really good job rinsing them.

Just toasting them in a dry pan or oven should be enough to revive them, but they'll also go in any recipe that requires nuts.

Spread the stale snacks out on a cookie sheet and place in a 350o F oven. Let them bake for about 10 minutes and then remove from the oven and let cool completely. Once cooled the snacks should be crispy and refreshed. You can use this method with fresh nuts like almonds, peanuts, walnuts, etc.

Q: Do Nuts Expire? A: Nuts can't expire; however, they can change in taste or go rancid. Nuts contain much-unsaturated fat, an oil that makes nuts likely to go rancid.

A: Nuts can't expire; however, they can change in taste or go rancid. Nuts contain much-unsaturated fat, an oil that makes nuts likely to go rancid. Nuts spoil faster when exposed to light, air, or heat. No fuss; cool, dark, and air-sealed are the three trifectas to storing nuts properly.

Nuts and Berries You Should Never Feed Birds

Nor are any moldy or rotten foods of any kind. Candy, cookies, breads, and cakes with nuts and fruits are also unsuitable for birds are should not be added to feeders, as they contain too many other additives and ingredients that are not healthy for birds.

"Nuts have a wide range of fat contents," says LaMarita. Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are lower in fat, so they'll generally last longer than nuts higher in fat, like macadamia nuts, pine nuts, cashews, and Brazil nuts, all of which will go rancid quicker, says LaMarita.

If the pine nuts lack these spoilage indicators, they may still be suitable for cooking. Toasting the nuts at a low temperature of 160-170°F for 15-20 minutes can enhance their flavor and kill some bacteria.