Should You Store Nuts in the Fridge? Experts Weigh In

Nuts are a fast and easy way to add healthy fats (and a boatload of other nutrients) to your diet—so you likely have a stash of several different kinds of nuts in your kitchen. But should you be storing those nuts in the fridge, or are they totally fine in your pantry?

Nutritionists have a definite answer for the best ways to store nuts to help them stay fresh and ready to go for all of your dishes—and it’s probably not where you’re storing them in your house. Check out these tips to help you ensure they stay delicious down to the very last nut.

Should You Store Nuts in the Fridge—and Why?

The short answer: Yes, your nuts should be stored in the fridge. And there’s a good reason why. All those healthy, monounsaturated fats that lead nuts to appear on all kinds of good-for-you food lists can quickly turn rancid when stored at room temperature, which will make your nuts smell and taste “off.” Not exactly what you’re looking for when you’re making a nut-based recipe.

“The unsaturated fats in nuts are more fragile and that is why they can go bad more quickly,” Reed says. Especially in warmer climates (or warmer seasons)—or if the nuts are exposed to light as well—the nuts can go rancid in as little as a month.

Refrigeration can help slow down the process and protect your nuts for longer—and if you really want to protect them, you can pop them into the freezer for longer term storage as well. “The best bet is to store most nuts in the freezer in order to preserve not only the taste and flavor profile, but also the health benefits of their heart-healthy fat content,” Bakovic says.

How Long Can You Store Nuts?

That all depends on the storage method you choose, and the environment in your kitchen—humidity, light, and heat can all shorten the safe storage time for your nuts.

Nuts stored at room temperature can last from one to three months, depending on the type of nut, whether they have been roasted, and whether they’re stored in an airtight container away from light and heat. (Roasting can make your nuts more amenable to storage at room temperature, Reed says.)

Nuts stored in the refrigerator will last up to six months before they may start to turn rancid.

Nuts stored in the freezer will stay good for up to a year, especially if stored in a freezer-safe container and with as much air as possible removed from the container to avoid freezer burn.

Is It Dangerous to Store Nuts at Room Temperature?

Not if you plan to use them all within a month or so—so if you regularly make your own granola or top your oatmeal or salads with nuts, you’re probably fine to keep doing what you’re doing.

But if you won’t go through the package of nuts within that time frame, it’s time to think about storing at least part of your nuts in the fridge or freezer.

More Tips for Storing Nuts Properly

There are a few tricks you can use to ensure your nuts stay as fresh as possible, no matter where you store them. You’ll want to use a well-sealed, airtight container to help reduce exposure to air and humidity, and keep it in a dark and cool environment—the cooler, the better.

Can You Get Sick from Eating Rancid Nuts?

The flavor and smell will definitely be unappealing—and will likely make your food taste sour or bitter. Bakovic recommends tossing them away if the taste or smell is noticeably off—though you can revitalize slightly stale nuts by toasting them in the oven.

You may not end up feeling ill from eating rancid nuts, but over the long term, regularly eating stale or rancid nuts could have an impact on your health. “There is some research that has evaluated the long-term effects of oxidized or rancidified nut consumption and the correlation to inflammation and cancer risk,” Bakovic says. “This is also important to consider.”