How To Tell If Peanuts Are Bad
If there is any signs of mold means the peanuts have gone bad. If the peanuts are sour or if they smell rank, they’re most likely bad. Similarly, they’re probably bad if they’re discolored or have any other signs of spoilage. Peanuts are not poisonous but they can cause allergic reactions.
The changes in peanut flavor and odor tells you your peanuts are going bad, or already are. When it comes to looking at bad peanuts, you can distinguish between them based on smell and taste.
Like any other food, peanuts also can turn sour, so identifying spoiled peanuts should be your first concern. Bad peanuts, free of bacterial contamination, do not cause illness, but they do not taste good. Always store peanuts in an air-tight container and keep it away from heat so it does not go bad, as it not only tastes bad once it is been bought, it may also make you ill.
To keep your peanuts from going bad fast, as is the case for a lot of foods, keeping them in a dark, cool, and dry area is essential. Raw peanuts should be stored in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry, in an appropriately sealed, airtight container for up to 4 months. Keeping peanuts in a container is also likely to be a good idea if you are planning on keeping them outdoors, as this will help to keep animals and insects away from the food.
Before storing peanuts, be sure that your peanuts are airtight packaging or in a freezer bag, and squeeze any air out of the bag. If you are really going to keep your peanuts in the freezer, be sure to tightly seal them inside of a zipperlock freezer bag, or whatever tight-fitting freezer-safe container. Anyway, if you have to know how to keep peanuts like this fresh, you will want to pack it into an airtight package and seal it tight.
If you would like to store your cooked peanuts for a longer period of time, you can place them into your freezer, where they will last up to several months. Again, if your peanuts are roasted or flavorful, stick to the cold storage method if you want to ensure they will still taste good more than a couple weeks later. When stored properly, you can expect that your peanuts, shelled or not, will last for six months to two years if frozen. When sealed in a can or bottle, peanuts can have a shelf life as long as two years, even at room temperature, four years in the fridge, and, surprising, eternally in the freezer.
Even jars of peanuts that you bought from the supermarket that have not been opened, will last forever if kept in the fridge, never spoiling. Even if your peanuts last up to several years when stored correctly, they will eventually sour if they are not consumed. Peanuts can be good for several months, but unless you consume them before they become rancid, you need to replace them. Unlike other foods, peanuts will not turn rancid fast, and you cannot immediately smell it.
| Storage Places | Shelf life |
| Seal | Seal it an airtight bag to store them for 6 months |
| Refrigerator | To store them for an year, put them in the fridge |
| Freezer | In the freezer, the peanuts have a shelf life of 12 months |
If you smell a peanut with a acidic taste, or an odd chemical-like odor, it is a sign the peanut has gone rancid. When you notice the odor of milk being acidic, you may suspect the peanuts that you had are already spoiled. While the signs of peanuts being spoiled are not as evident as they are with other root vegetables, you can still tell whether your peanuts are still quite fresh if you are paying attention.
If you fail to spot the signs of spoiled peanuts I provided above, you may still eat them. In case you are wondering, raw peanuts are safe to eat, but they do not taste quite as good as cooked ones, so you may not like them too much.
While peanuts are a relatively simple food to preserve, you still need to keep in mind that the smell and taste of the peanuts are different than fresh ones. Regardless if you are using fresh or roasted peanuts, they will lose quality within a short time anyway. While peanuts can last a long time, at a certain point, they will still spoil, showing certain telltale signs in their smell, texture, and flavor.
If you’re interested in How Long Does Vacuum Sealed Food Last At Room Temperature, take a look at my other article.
If you ate some peanuts before realizing that they are going bad, you should not experience any negative effects except a slight odor and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Lesson Learned, Peanuts can be problematic for your health if you consume them in bad condition, that is also in a massive amount, so avoid doing so and continue to munch on fresh, good peanuts rather than the rancid, soggy ones.
Once the canned or unopened bottles of peanuts begin to smell bad or have changed in texture and flavor, you need to throw them out to avoid any potential health issues. There is no legitimate reason to keep unopened canned or bottled peanuts in your freezer, as the food lasts years when stored in your pantry or refrigerator.
Keeping them airtight containers, far away from scented food and high temperatures, will keep them from spoiling and turning rancid. Any non-plain peanuts — such as those that are roasted, salted, or flavoring — should always be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator or freezer, because seasonings may contribute to rot. To prevent roasted peanuts from going bad, experts suggest keeping them airtight jars so air does not escape, and placing those jars in a freezer. Unshelled peanuts can be stored in a fridge or freezer to prolong their shelf life; store the peanuts in an airtight sealed container, or put the original bag into a heavy-duty, resealable freezer bag.
If you’re interested in How Long Does Vacuum Sealed Cheese Last At Room Temperature, take a look at my other article.
If you follow the steps we listed above, you will be able to store peanuts for months, and although they do have an excellent shelf life when properly stored, looking for different signs like mold and a foul smell will help you recognize poor quality peanuts. If you are not properly storing your peanuts, they are sure to turn rancid because of their oils contained within, or lose crunch if you are not keeping them airtight containers. Boiling the peanuts not only takes away its crunch and makes them soggy, it will take out part of their oil content as well. Cold temperatures will slow the deterioration process, but you will still be able to eat the roasted peanuts in 1 to 2 weeks if kept properly.
What happens if you eat expired peanuts?
Although eating poor peanuts can be horrible, it is not fatal. Multiple servings of rotten peanuts won’t harm you; they’ll leave a terrible taste in your mouth. But peanuts can be problematic for your health if you consume them in bad condition in access amount.
Click here to view the visual Story version of this article.
How to tell if peanuts are spoiled?
You can tell if your peanuts have gone bad if they smell sour instead of emitting their usual nutty smell. Other signs of rancidity include any mold layer or discoloration on the peanuts and the seeds being soggy and parched instead of solid and rigid.
How long does it take for peanuts to go bad?
After shelling your peanuts, you can place them in an air-tight container at room temperature, in a pantry, or on a kitchen counter for about one month. You can also store your peanuts for a longer period in a refrigerator (3-6 months) or in a freezer for at least one year.