The World has Literally Gone Nuts and so has Clean Slate

I know as a Professional Home Organizer, you might wonder why I would write a blog about nuts. Well… because I am always in pantries and kitchen and always teaching my clients how to beautify and store food products. I also have a passion and background in nutrition. So, pull up a chair, a cup of coffee with perhaps some homemade almond or cashew milk in it, and enjoy a few tips and tricks all about nuts (and seeds while I’m at it)

Not all nuts are equal

This is the first and most important rule when it comes to nuts and seeds. They are not all created equal. Nuts come in the form of the following:

• Raw, 

• Roasted

• Roasted and salted

• Roasted and then other unnecessary oils added

• Organic or inorganic

• In the form of nut butter with added sugars and oil

• In the form of nut butter with nothing but the nuts

How to choose the best nuts for taste and health

When choosing nuts in any form, whether in a plain nut, or a nut butter it is important to look at the source, where the nuts are coming from.

How it is packaged: is it vacuumed sealed and what is the expiration date?

What is on the list of ingredients, becoming a label reader is key!

Best nuts for every day:

• Walnuts

• Almonds

• Macadamian nuts

• Pine nuts

• Pumpkin seeds

• Sunflower seeds

• Hemp seeds

• Chia seeds

• Flax seeds

• Cashews

• Brazil nuts

• Pistachios

• Hazelnuts

• Pecans

• Sun nut butter, almond butter, cashew butter

I did not put peanuts on this list because technically the peanut is a legume however peanuts are always grouped with other nuts. Peanuts can grow a toxic mold called aflatoxin (all nuts can grow this mold however Peanuts are most prone to it) on them so it is extra important to buy organic. And of course, peanut butter falls into this category as well. Avoid buying peanut butter from the grocery store that sells fresh ground nut butter. While you might think its a health product, due to the warm environment,  and the grinding of the machine, it often has large amounts of Aspergillus and this mold is a source of aflatoxins.

What to look for

Nuts themselves are one of the best foods to eat because a little goes a long way, they store nicely (when properly stored) and they are versatile from using in smoothies to salads to baked goods, nut, and seed milk and toppings. Healthwise they are full of protein and good essential fats and amino acids that are an excellent heart-healthy fat. 

Look for nuts in dark and vacuumed sealed packages if possible.

If buying in bulk, make sure to smell the nuts first, they can go rancid quickly. Make sure you get them from a grocery store that you know moves their nuts quickly.

Look for nut and seed butter that does not have anything else added to them (except maybe salt) Organic is always best.

Look for nut and seed butter that is sold in glass jars instead of plastic if possible.

Look for raw and unpasteurized if possible (this means no heat was used in making the nut butter) it's in the purest form.

What to Avoid

Avoid nuts from Planters company and any nut brands with added oils like cottonseed, soybean, or canola oil. Avoid nuts and nut/seed butter with any added sugar or corn syrup or corn starch. Jiff and skippy always put added oils and sugars in their products.

Favorite way to store nuts

All nut butter should be stored in the fridge once opened (tip for getting the oils to mix, shake and then store in the pantry upside down prior to opening and it will help combine the oil and the nut butter).

All nuts should be stored in glass containers that are airtight for the longevity of the nuts. Mason jars are a less expensive choice. The Container Store has other options but unless you go through nuts quickly, they should be in a glass with an airtight lid that screws on.  If you do use them quickly, I love the Home edit stackable containers. They come in a variety of sizes and because they stack, you can maximize space in a pantry or any type of cabinet.

I always store all nuts together in a Idesigner clear bin in a deep pantry, on a clear Home edit stackable shelf in a cabinet, or in a labeled basket in the walk-in pantry. 

Some recommend storing nuts in the freezer. Walnuts are the most sensitive nut and can be stored in a glass container in the freezer. I go thought my nuts so quickly that it is a non-issue and we eat them before they can go rancid (shelf life is usually about 4- 6 weeks)

I hope the takeaway from this is that nuts are great to have on hand in your kitchen and easy to store and very versatile. For decades, people were scared of nuts due to their high fat and calorie content. Don't let that make you shy away from nuts. The health benefits of a simple nut are amazing and they should be part of an everyday diet within moderation and as long as there are no nut allergies.

Happy nut eating!