If you look a little more closely, you will discover them everywhere in nature: the hazelnut bushes. In September and October the nuts are ripe and fall to the ground. Now all they have to do is get out of the damp grass and into the dry pantry.

Hazelnuts are best stored in a box in a dry place

Harvest hazelnuts properly

When the hazelnut bush has finished creating its nuts, it lets them go. We have to wait patiently and carefully so as not to miss this moment.

  • Green-shelled nuts are unripe, so do not pick them
  • Pick up freshly fallen nuts from the ground daily
  • Nuts left on damp soil for a long time can become mouldy

Pick nuts by hand

Not all nuts that fall from the tree are in perfect condition. That's why it's important to take a close look at each individual nut and immediately sort out nuts with cracks, breaks and holes.

Damaged nuts are not suitable for storage, as mold can easily form at the fracture points. If the nuts are otherwise in perfect condition, they can be eaten immediately.

Dry hazelnuts properly

Fresh nuts contain a lot of moisture and should never be stored in plastic bags due to the risk of mold. In the first step, they have to be dried for four to six weeks.

  1. Place the nuts on a tray to dry, avoiding the individual nuts touching if possible.
  2. Place the nuts on a windowsill above the heater or in a dry and well-ventilated attic.
  3. Turn the hazelnuts several times a week so that they dry evenly.

Reserve dried hazelnuts

Dry nuts are not stored in the refrigerator, since the humidity in them is too high. The nuts would quickly go moldy and would no longer be edible.
A dry storage location must be found for dried nuts, where they not only remain usable until they are used, but also do not suffer any loss of quality.

tips

Potato or onion bags with holes in them are ideal storage containers for the dry nuts because the air can circulate well.

Freeze hazelnuts

You can also store hazelnuts well in the freezer after drying:

  • Core the hazelnuts
  • Leave the nuts whole, grate or grind
  • Weigh in portions and freeze

durability

Properly dried and optimally stored hazelnuts have a shelf life of one year. Fortunately, the end of the possible storage period coincides with the new harvest season. Gaps in the supply do not have to be.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Vegetable garden