Tips for correctly storing the raw cashew nuts

Raw cashews may be difficult to find, but roasted cashews are readily available, both salted and unsalted, if you are watching your fat intake, dry roasted cashews which have low fat content are the best.

Raw cashews are not prone to spoiling, unlike peanuts and pecans. Cashews are rich in monounsaturated sugar, protein and vitamin. Large quantities of raw cashews when not in immediate use must be properly stored to prevent them from going rancid because of their high oil content.

Storage Challenges faced by Farmers

Africa accounts for about 50% of world production of raw cashews. With cashew farms in Ghana producing part of this output. Like other farming products in Africa, cashew production faces challenges of storage and processing. Cashew farms in Ghana are faced with the challenge of keeping the nuts safe till raw cashew nut suppliers come for them.

Ways to store raw cashews

A cool, dry, dark place is recommended to store cashew nuts. A safe place where the nuts can remain for two to four weeks, possibly in airtight jar.

You can freeze cashew nuts by putting them in plastic freezer bags, maybe labeled to keep record of how long it has been in the freezer. Cashews contain very little water (about 5%) so crystallization of water is not a problem, so cashew can last up to a year in the freezer, but six months in the fridge.

If properly stored, raw cashews will retain it taste for as long as is kept. It is advised to keep the freezer temperature at 0 degrees which will keep it safe for the period of storage.

Rancid cashew will develop bitter and unpleasant taste.

Refrigerator

Proper storage in refrigerator at right temperature kept constant throughout the storage period. It is the best way to keep cashew nuts edible, fresh, and still retain its palatable taste over a long period of time. The shelf life of cashew nuts can be extended with good refrigeration.

How long cashew nuts last?

How long cashew nuts last, depends on proper storage, which may have to do with how long you want it kept, either short term, that only dry, dark place is needed or long time preservation, that refrigeration in the freezer is the most ideal, the choice must be made to determine how to get your nuts preserved.