The 'How to Cook' Blog

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Even if you're not a full-fledged vegan or vegetarian, you may still be a serious nut lover...

...And Rightly So! People are "nuts" about nuts!

If it's been a struggle to find good quality nuts at your grocer or in your area, you can always check online at places like nutsite.com for a wide variety of good quality, fresh nuts and seeds.

There are often times I will buy nuts in bulk. However, sometimes the nuts in the bins at the bulk stores look, well, not so great. Ensuring the quality of your nuts is very important.

Nuts, although they are hearty and can last in your pantry for a while, they are actually a perishable item. The reason? Well, nuts have inherent oils in them, which can go rancid after a time. How quickly will depend on the type of nut or nut oil, and the atmospheric conditions in your home.

* Check out this quick video I did for you today explaining the Health Benefits of Nuts, as well as How to Find Good Quality Nuts and Seeds, and How to Store Them Properly:

I prefer to store all of my nuts and seeds in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container. This keeps the oils from spoiling and going rancid. Now, if you don't know what rancid is, that just means the oil has gone bad...it's decaying, so to speak. How will you know? Well, you won't get a pleasant smell from the bag. You can often tell if your nuts are rancid just by the smell.

The other way to determine this is when you taste them. If the nut has a horrible flavor you don't recognize, then they are likely rancid. There is nothing you can do at this point...you will have to throw them away. They are not usable for anything, which is a shame because nuts can be very expensive depending upon the type of nuts you prefer.

Now that you know how to store the nuts and ensure their quality. Be sure to check out nut recipes here on my site, or on The Food Network for delicious alternatives!