Do Pistachios Go Bad?

Pistachio is oval, pale green in color, covered by a reddish film, and enclosed in an easy-to-break peel covering a dark-hued pulp. Pistachio has a sweet and delicate flavor. It is used both in cooking and in the delicatessen, but above all in pastry and confectionery. For these reasons, the pistachio is one of the most popular fruits in the kitchen.

Perhaps you have seen an offer of pistachios and want to take as many as you can, or perhaps you want to try a little to add them to your recipes. In any case, you will need to know everything about how to keep them and how long they last before they go bad. If you need to learn about these topics, keep reading because we will give you all the information you are looking for and more.

How to store Pistachios

Pistachios are one of the most valued fruits, not only for their succulent flavor but also for their high content of nutrients such as calcium, protein, fiber, or vitamins. Pistachios can be used in different ways, either to flavor sauces, salads, meats, or toast them to eat them alone. Whatever the reason, the only way to enjoy all the benefits that this dried fruit can offer is by using them while they are in good condition. For this reason, you need to know how to store them properly.

You have different methods available to preserve your pistachios, but don’t worry, none of them are complicated, so you shouldn’t strain to follow a complex procedure. Everything you have to do can be summarized in the following list of rules:

Keep them sealed

Pistachios are the same as other walnuts; they have oils that when in contact with elements such as high temperatures, air, and humidity, begin to undergo a process in which they turn rancid; that is why you must protect them properly, so their flavor is not altered. You can continue to consume them without problems.

If you have bought the pistachios in bulk or opened the packaging in which they were sealed at the time and it does not allow you to reseal them again, you should pour them into an airtight container a freezer bag with the least amount of air possible.

Keep them in a good place.

Depending on the time you want to consume the pistachios, you have two options: if you are going to use them immediately, you can leave them at room temperature as long as they are properly sealed and you have put them in a dry, cool, and dark place, so the pantry it is ideal for this task. If you want to use them for several weeks, we recommend storing them in the refrigerator.

Can You Freeze Pistachios?

If you have bought more pistachios than you thought to consume for the moment or that you have actually bought a few to use in recipes that you do not make very often but want to keep them anyway, then you will be interested in storing them long term, luckily this is something you can achieve if you freeze the pistachios properly.

The procedure you must follow to freeze the pistachios is the same as that used to refrigerate them. You have to place them in a container that can be hermetically sealed or in a freezer bag, from which you should remove as much air as possible. Once you’ve packed them all, then they are ready for freezing temperatures.

How Long Does Pistachios Last

Pistachios are like many other types of walnut, that is to say, that their duration depends entirely on the methods you use to store them, so as long as you follow all the rules that we have indicated so that they are kept in good condition, you can be sure that there will not be any trouble.

One of the details that determine the duration of pistachios is whether they have their shell or not. The shell is the natural protection of pistachios; therefore, those that keep theirs will last longer than those that do not, regardless of the preservation methods, so we recommend you to consume pistachios as soon as possible if you buy them without the shell.

Those pistachios with no shell can last about a week fresh and five months in good condition when they are at room temperature and about a year if they are refrigerated or frozen.

In the case of pistachios, keeping their shell can last two weeks being fresh and six months in good condition at room temperature. When they are refrigerated, they can last one year, and when they are frozen, they can last two years.

How to Tell If Pistachios Is Bad

Pistachios are not fruits that spoil in a way that cannot be consumed while properly stored. Due to the oil content, they end up going rancid and stop providing the flavor for which they are used for cooking.

Pistachios should not be consumed under any circumstances if they have mold or any organic growth that covers it. Outside of these parameters, what you should do is check if they have a rancid smell to determine if you can use them or not.

If your pistachios do not present any sign that indicates that their quality or integrity is damaged, then you can use them without any fear in your dishes and recipes.

Sources:

Does it go bad

Can it go bad

Still tasty

The spruce eats