Nuts are one of the cornerstones of a complete emergency food storage diet, as they contain crucial fat and protein, both of which can be difficult to store long-term. Nuts will keep for long periods of time at room temperature, which makes them a favorite of preppers and outdoorsmen alike.
You do need to make sure they are stored correctly, though, since while they have a long shelf-life, they are still prone to mold or rancidity in the wrong conditions.
Here are some of the most effective ways to keep nuts lasting on the shelf:
Soaking and Dehydrating
One of the most surefire ways to store nuts long term is to dry them; but soaking first can actually remove a lot of impurities which can lend to their shelf life. Not every nut has the same soaking time, but it is common to simply wash well, soak overnight in fresh, filtered water, and dehydrating until completely dry. Then, store in an airtight container or vacuum sealed pouches and/or in mylar bags.
Nut butter
Roasted nut butters like peanut or almond are a great way to keep nuts on the shelf. Simply roast in the oven for an hour, and blend up with a good food processor to make your own, or find brands you trust that you can afford to stock up on. When shopping for nut butter, obviously there’s the kind filled with preservatives and trans fat that will last a long time, of course, and if that is what you can afford, there are worst things for sure! But, a simple nut butter that contains simply nuts and salt can often be found at very affordable prices too and will last you a long time as well.
Canning
While there are differing opinions on the long-term safety of canned nut meat, it is still possible to do. It seems there might be a slight risk of salmonella, but others deny this claim, so it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it for you. And yes, it can be, well, canned, the way many other foods are which helps preserve it for very long periods of time.
Vacuum Canning
You can actually store nut meat in cans, as well, if you use a vacuum canner like the kind attached to many commercial vacuum sealers. In a vacuum, nut meat has a much better chance of not developing mold or going rancid, giving it a longer shelf life.
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