Preserving Nuts

This morning, in going through some boxes to see what I can donate to a giveaway at the church, I opened a box that contained about twelve jars of nuts that I dry packed back in 2011.   I had almost forgotten I had them.  We have moved twice since then, so it's almost like Christmas when I open a box these days, and especially when it's something I want to keep!

I didn't know if the nuts were even any good anymore, so rather than just shoving them under the bed, I opened one.  First, I did the sniff test.  They smelled fine.  I popped a pecan in my mouth, and it tasted as fresh as the day I canned it.  I was very pleasantly surprised, and grateful I had thought to process them.   If you just bring a bag of nuts home from the store, they will quickly go rancid if not frozen/refrigerated, or eaten.  I'm sorry to say that I've learned that from experience.

So how do you dry can nuts?

I used my FoodSaver.  I just poured the nuts into quart jars, used the jar sealer attachment, and let it go.  The FoodSaver pulls the air out of the jar, and seals it.  It has a strong hold if done right, because today I had a bit of a difficult time just getting that lid off.

If you don't have a FoodSaver, there are other ways to do it, but I'm not going to recommend them here.  I've been researching it online, and too many people have commented on how canning jars are not to be used in an oven, and that putting them in the microwave, filled with nuts, causes moisture, and therefore has the potential of mold forming.

You may want to do your own research, but whatever you decide to do, make sure your jar looks dry inside, and you have a tight seal.  You should hear that familiar "pop" that I love when something seals properly.

This is a great way to take advantage of fresh nuts, or sales during the year.  Give it a try!