Buy and Store - California Walnuts (2024)

How to Buy, Care & Store

Learn how to select, care and store walnuts for maximum flavor and freshness.

California walnuts are harvested late August to November and then stored in cold storage to maintain freshness. Walnut handlers shell walnuts as needed throughout the year to fill orders from retailers globally.

IN-SHELL WALNUTS

Available in bags and in bulk bins, typically in the produce section. Buy for holiday decorating, festive snacking, and for social after-meal cracking sessions. Most readily available during the fall and winter months, so if you like to have in-shell walnuts on hand throughout the year, be sure to stock up in the fall!

SHELLED WALNUTS

Available in bags and in bulk bins. Look for them in the produce section, snacking and baking aisles at your local supermarket. Sold as halves, halves and pieces, pieces and chopped, among other forms. Shelled walnuts are available in supermarkets and club stores year-round.

COLD STORAGE = FRESH TASTE!

You can maintain the fresh taste of California walnuts by keeping them cold. Walnuts go rancid when exposed to warm temperatures for long periods of time. Heat causes the fat in walnuts to change structure, which creates off odors and flavors. Fresh walnuts smell mildly nutty and taste sweet. If your walnuts smell like paint thinner, you know they’re rancid. And if they’re rancid, you should throw them away!

WHERE TO STORE WALNUTS

When you bring walnuts (shelled or in-shell) home from the store, the best place to store them is in your refrigerator or freezer, depending on when you’re going to use them. If you’re going to use the walnuts right away, place them in your refrigerator. If you’ll be storing them for a month or longer, store them in your freezer.

HOW TO STORE WALNUTS

If you buy walnuts in sealed packaging, you can store the walnuts in their original packaging in the refrigerator or freezer. Once you open the bag, transfer the walnuts to an airtight container to maintain freshness and then place them back in the refrigerator or freezer. If you buy bulk walnuts, either in-shell or shelled, place the walnuts in an airtight container for long-term cold storage.

When storing walnuts in your refrigerator, store them away from foods with strong odors (e.g. fish, cabbage, onions). Walnuts can absorb the flavors of other foods.

ONE FINAL TIP

Regardless of if you have shelled or in-shell walnuts, wait to chop or shell them until you’re ready to use them. The same applies for ground walnut meal; don’t grind walnuts until you’re ready to add the walnut meal to your recipe. This will help maintain great flavor.

Buy and Store - California Walnuts (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between walnuts and California walnuts? ›

It is important to note that all these names refer to the same tree and thus the same fruit with the same great taste. There is no genetic difference between an English walnut and a California walnut. The real difference in walnut taste, shape, color, and size is due to the difference in walnut cultivars.

What month are walnuts harvested in California? ›

Harvesting begins in late August, when the drying green hulls start to split (allowing the in-shell walnuts to be removed), and continues until late November. First, the orchard floor is swept clean. Then, mechanical shakers vigorously rattle each tree and thousands of walnuts fall to the ground.

Should walnuts be refrigerated? ›

Answer. Most shoppers are not aware that it is important to store walnuts in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain freshness, instead of the pantry. Proper storage is important to protect the essential plant-based omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in walnuts.

What are the best walnuts on the market? ›

Meanwhile, check out this article on the best walnuts online.
  1. Lagom Gourmet Chilean Walnut Kernels. ...
  2. Tulsi California Walnuts Kernels Premium. ...
  3. Nutraj California Inshell Walnut. ...
  4. MEVABITE Organic Walnuts in Shell. ...
  5. Amazon Brand - Solimo Premium Dried Walnut Kernels. ...
  6. Fruitri Premium Kashmiri Walnut Without Shell.
Feb 19, 2024

Which walnut is better, Chilean or California? ›

Chilean walnut is the best quality walnut in the world. Chilean walnuts are bright in color and almost free of bitter taste It is a fact that walnuts are very beneficial to heart health and metabolism and are very rich in nutritional value. Structure of the walnut resembles brain.

What is the healthiest type of walnut? ›

They also pack plenty of vitamin A, iron, minerals, and fiber. Black walnuts have higher levels of antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and other health-promoting compounds than the more common English walnuts, making them useful in reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Should you pick walnuts or let them fall? ›

Depending on when you pick your walnuts (September through to October here in Provence) you'll find the husks surrounding the shells either green or dried out and black/ brown. It's best to pick up the walnuts as quickly as they fall to discourage mold growth.

What state grows the most walnuts? ›

Over 99% of walnuts grown in the United States come from California! Our fertile soils and temperate weather allow these trees to thrive.

Do walnut trees ever stop producing walnuts? ›

Cultivars that are prone to alternate bearing tend to over-produce one year and yield few or no nuts the next.

Can we drink water after eating walnuts? ›

You can drink water after that but keep a gap of 10 minutes at least. This is because if you drink a glass of water immediately after, it won't let the stomach acids act upon the nuts and therefore extract the nutrients it provides. So it is advisable that you keep a gap of 10 minutes before drinking water.

How many walnuts to eat per day? ›

How many walnuts should you eat in a day? A 2021 article on the effect of walnut consumption found that consuming 30–60 grams of walnuts daily is beneficial for heart health. 30–60 grams is the same as 1–2 ounces or a 1/4–1/2 cup of walnuts.

Does soaking walnuts make them healthier? ›

Soaking not only facilitates the absorption of these nutrients but can also enhance their potency. Omega-3 fatty acids, known for their heart-healthy properties, are more readily absorbed when walnuts are soaked, boosting cardiovascular benefits.

Which is better, Kashmiri walnut or California walnut? ›

Difference between Kashmiri Walnuts and California Walnuts

Kashmiri walnuts are not big in size or looking good walnuts, however Kashmiri walnuts are the original breed of walnuts and they are nutritious compared to the hybrid American walnuts. Goingnuts brings you the finest organically grown walnuts from Kashmir.

How can you tell good quality walnuts? ›

Touch the walnuts. Freshly shelled walnuts should be firm to the touch and should not feel moist. Soft and moist walnuts should be discarded.

Why is American walnut so expensive? ›

American Walnut is not as abundant as some other wood species. It grows in specific regions and is sourced from sustainable forests. Limited availability and the cost associated with harvesting and transporting American Walnut can drive up the price of the wood and, consequently, the bed frames made from it.

Which variety of walnut is best? ›

The English walnut is the most common variety of cultivated walnut, favoured all over the world for its large nut, relatively thin shell and mild, sweet flavour.

Which is better Kashmiri walnuts or California walnuts? ›

Difference between Kashmiri Walnuts and California Walnuts

Kashmiri walnuts are not big in size or looking good walnuts, however Kashmiri walnuts are the original breed of walnuts and they are nutritious compared to the hybrid American walnuts. Goingnuts brings you the finest organically grown walnuts from Kashmir.

What are the benefits of Californian walnuts? ›

Grown and harvested in the sunshine state of California, a handful of California walnuts (approx. 28g) contain 4g protein, 2g fiber, and 2.5g plant-based omega-3 ALA. And all these nutrients have proven to be beneficial for our heart, brain, and gut health.

Which walnuts are good to eat? ›

Black walnuts have the highest protein content among tree nuts and also have good amounts of vitamin A, iron, minerals, and fiber. They have higher levels of antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and other health-promoting compounds than English walnuts.

References

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