If you need them to last as long as possible, opt for cold rooms. Both shelled and shelled hazelnuts last a year or even longer in the fridge, and maintain quality for about two years in the freezer (UOC). Once frozen, hazelnuts should be able to be kept in good condition for up to a year. However, you should keep them protected from air and moisture in the freezer so that they have a full shelf life.
In cold rooms, hazelnuts can maintain their quality for at least one year in the refrigerator, while they can last up to two years in the freezer. Hazelnuts can be frozen for up to 12 months as long as you have kept them airtight. You won't be able to eat raw walnuts the same way, but if you want to bake them or add them to your recipes, they'll be fine for this. Hazelnuts have a fairly long shelf life if you store them in a dry place, such as the kitchen cupboard, or sealed in the fridge.
While it is likely that these hazelnuts can be consumed, they will not taste good and it is likely that they have started to go rancid. If that sounds good to you, it's time to learn how long hazelnuts last, how you should store them, and how to tell if hazelnuts go bad. As with all nuts, cold storage is the best option, but hazelnuts can still last quite a bit on the counter. Hazelnuts, walnuts and dried chestnuts will maintain the quality of eating for up to a year in the refrigerator.
Hazelnuts freeze well, and it's the best way to store them if you want them to last as long as possible. Like all high-fat products that go rancid, it's hard to know the exact point at which hazelnuts spoil. Store shelled hazelnuts at room temperature, either in a vented bag or in a sealed container or bag. Ground to a finer consistency, they can be made into delicious cocoa hazelnut spreads and can also be used to flavor beverages and treats.
Before you do anything with hazelnuts, make sure they're safe to eat, especially if you've kept them in storage for a while. If you know you're going to consume hazelnuts in a few months, storing them at room temperature is perfectly fine. You can store unopened hazelnut packages in a cool, dry place, such as your pantry or kitchen cupboard. Hazelnuts in shell can stay six months to a year in the pantry or in a cupboard, more than a year in the refrigerator and more than two years in the freezer.
Here's a handy little guide on how long hazelnuts last, how to store them, and how to know when it's time to throw them away. Sometimes hazelnuts can smell good, but that's not enough to conclude that it's okay to eat them.
