On average, inshell walnuts are stored for up to 12 months. If not harvested, dried or stored improperly, walnuts can deteriorate prematurely, and if stored properly, they can retain their taste and health benefits for much longer. How to properly collect, dry and store walnuts can be read in our articles.
When buying a walnut in the market or in a store, it is impossible to be sure of the correct storage. Therefore, it is logical that nut lovers and processors want to know how to distinguish fresh walnuts from last year’s or not get spoiled.
The first thing that should alert you is the low price. At a low price, they usually sell a nut with a dark or dry kernel, a greedy nut from which it is difficult to get a kernel, last year’s nut and even a nut two years ago.
! Even at a normal price and above average, you can fall for such a nut.
Only harvested walnuts have a high moisture content, they are heavy and elastic, the shell of a cracked walnut does not crumble and you need to manually finish it to get the kernel. Of course, this only applies to freshly harvested nuts that have not gone through the drying process.
! A greedy nut or a nut that has been soaked can also be heavy.
Last year’s nut is more fragile, it breaks easily, while the shell and the kernel crumble.
In appearance, the shell of last year’s walnut is darker than fresh.
! Also, a fresh walnut can have a dark shell if it is long was in a green or already blackened pericarp.
Last year’s nut loses weight during storage, so it is much lighter in weight than fresh one. If the nut is harvested too early, overdried, or stored improperly, the kernel can shrink. In this case, when shaking the nut, you can hear how the kernel beats against the shell.
Last year’s nut, if stored or soaked improperly, may smell damp and moldy.
When buying an inshell walnut, you need to pay attention to the color of the shell, the weight of the walnut and the smell. It is imperative that you crack a few nuts to check how the nuts are splitting, what color the kernels are, and whether they are moldy or damaged. It is advisable to check the nuts from each batch, and preferably from different parts of each bag, because unscrupulous sellers can pour a bad nut on the bottom, and a good one on top. Fresh walnuts are more flavorful and healthier. Last year’s nut can be eaten, provided that it is stored correctly, there is no mold and foreign smell and taste.