# Should my nuts be cold? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195 "2019-05-19T19:13:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/1 "2019-05-19T19:13:48Z")
I usually buy a big bag of walnuts at Costco. I’ll open the bag, put some in a serving bowl and stash the remainder on the pantry. They usually last about a month or two. While I was at the store today, I considered buying almonds too. My wife was looking the bag and read, “refrigerate after opening”. Hmm. Screw that then. But in reading the walnut bag it says the very same thing. Been eating them for years and never refrigerated them and never had a problem. So should I? And what’s the harm in not? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/2 "2019-05-19T19:24:39Z")
Just want to mention that we keep walnuts and pecans in the freezer until we are ready to consume them. We remove what we need and return the remainder to the freezer. They keep for a year or longer. We primarily use them in baking. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/3 "2019-05-19T19:32:40Z")
I freeze nuts. They last forever. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/4 "2019-05-19T21:17:19Z")
Nuts have oil; oil gets rancid. End of story. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/5 "2019-05-19T21:27:38Z")
Yours keep for a month or two on the counter. Mine keep for years in the freezer. If you expect to finish them within a month, why bother chilling them? If you want to keep them longer, then yes, your nuts should be cold. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/6 "2019-05-19T21:35:38Z")
I find that, if my nuts are cold, a few minutes of gentle handling warms them right up. _ducks and runs_ ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/7 "2019-05-20T01:23:45Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Nuts have oil; oil gets rancid. End of story. This is the answer. That said, I always keep my nuts in the cupboard, and consume them before they get rancid. But you should be able to go at least a month, in my experience. I don’t think I’ve ever had them last much longer than that before I’ve eaten them, but I don’t recall any rancidity. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/8 "2019-05-20T01:56:27Z")
Oh, ok. Thanks. I’ve never timed it but I think a bag lasts me about a month so I guess I’ll be ok. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/9 "2019-05-20T02:38:20Z")
Moved to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/10 "2019-05-20T08:11:36Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Yours keep for a month or two on the counter. Mine keep for years in the freezer. If you expect to finish them within a month, why bother chilling them? If you want to keep them longer, then yes, your nuts should be cold. You could always put them under a nitrogen blanket, but that strikes me as a lot of effort to achieve what you could get by keeping them in the freezer. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/11 "2019-05-20T09:48:57Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I find that, if my nuts are cold, a few minutes of gentle handling warms them right up. Do what Jamie Oliver does: Put 'em on the counter and give 'em a good bash! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/12 "2019-05-20T12:31:18Z")
Shelled pecans go in the freezer. I’ve never put almonds or peanuts in the fridge. Don’t normally freeze walnuts because they are used very quickly. We usually buy just enough for a recipe. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/13 "2019-05-20T16:19:34Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > This is the answer. That said, I always keep my nuts in the cupboard, and consume them before they get rancid. But you should be able to go at least a month, in my experience. I don’t think I’ve ever had them last much longer than that before I’ve eaten them, but I don’t recall any rancidity. As do I. We don’t use them that quickly, but walnuts don’t seem to go south all that fast. I just keep them closed up with a fat rubber band and they seem to last quite a long time. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/14 "2019-05-22T19:23:03Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I find that, if my nuts are cold, a few minutes of gentle handling warms them right up. > > _ducks and runs_ [Or, you could try this if it’s a particularly cold day…](https://www.amazon.com/Mens-Thermal-Underwear/b?ie=UTF8&node=5888820011)😃 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-nuts-be-cold/834195/15 "2019-05-22T19:24:49Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Shelled pecans go in the freezer. > > I’ve never put almonds or peanuts in the fridge. > > Don’t normally freeze walnuts because they are used very quickly. We usually buy just enough for a recipe. Peanuts, regardless of the name are not nuts; they’re legumes.