Pistachio storage conditions
Pistachio storage conditions are at a temperature of 0 to 10 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 70-65%. The shelf life of pistachios depends on factors such as oxygen inhibition, pistachio moisture level, relative humidity of the environment and storage temperature, control of insect activity. Despite the high percentage of fat, pistachios are prone to spoilage due to hydrolytic or oxidation activities.
The use of raw materials and appropriate systems can maintain the quality of pistachios. Nowadays, the use of multi-layer plastic bags containing OPP, which is coated with acrylic on one side and polyvinyl alcohol on the other side, and the use of FFS machines It is widely used for packing and storing dried pistachios.
What is the best way to keep pistachios?
Probably the best and most effective way to store pistachios is in containers that prevent your pistachios from absorbing moisture and getting old. You can also store them in the freezer or refrigerator for extra freshness. Insects cause damage to pistachios, certainly the orange heartworm is one of these pests that is controlled by methyl bromide fumigation.
The method of keeping fresh pistachios
Drying of fresh pistachios
To keep pistachios fresh, remove the pistachio skin, remove the skin until 24 hours after picking the pistachios, because if more time passes, the pistachio skin will become stained. If you do not use gloves when removing the skin, after finishing the work, grease your hands with liquid oil and then use dishwashing liquid.
To remove pistachio shells, put them in water, empty pistachios will float on the water and pitted pistachios will sink. To dry the pistachios, put them in the sun so that the less smiling ones become fully smiling.
It takes three days to completely dry pistachios. The moisture content of fresh pistachios is 20% and this value should reach 5%. If the pistachios are completely crunchy, they are dry. Dried pistachios are durable and stable and are not prone to decay.
Fresh pistachio freezing
To store fresh pistachios in the freezer, put them in plastic and glass containers and then store them in the freezer. Of course, half an hour before consumption, take it out of the freezer so that it comes out of the frozen state. Almost the pistachio taste is preserved in this method.
Keeping raw pistachio
Raw pistachios are better preserved in a hard shell, and raw pitted pistachios should not be used for long-term storage. Pistachios with a hard shell can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 years. Another way to store raw pistachios is paper envelopes, because nylon bags are not suitable for storing this product.
Pistachio maintenance
The tip for storing salted pistachios and how to store fresh pistachios with the skin for a long time is to put the pistachios with the skin in closed containers. It is better to keep the container dry and clean in a dark and moisture-free place.
Do not store salted pistachios next to ingredients such as garlic and onion, because it changes the taste of pistachios. To store pistachios, you should use them in an environment with glass or plastic containers with tight lids. In the right conditions, pistachios can be stored for up to three months, by removing the pistachio skin, the shelf life of pistachios increases.
It is possible to store pistachios with or without skin in the freezer. Storing salted pistachios in the freezer is the best way to store them, which can be stored for up to three years with proper packaging.
Keeping salted pistachios in the refrigerator destroys insect eggs. The ideal temperature for keeping pistachios in the refrigerator is 4 degrees or less. Pistachios can be stored in the refrigerator for about a year.
Keeping dry pistachios at home and warehouse
The storage time of dry pistachios (with 5% humidity) is 1 year at 20 degrees Celsius and 70-65% humidity.
Keeping pistachios in a high concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen less than 0.5% and low temperature (from 0 to 10 degrees Celsius) makes pistachios stable and preserve their taste.
Vacuum and nitrogen gas injection systems can be used to store pistachios. Pistachios are not sensitive to cold and can be stored at temperatures below freezing. The use of nitrogen gas in pistachio storage warehouses before packing is to increase pistachio storage time. Low water in dry pistachio and its storage method neutralizes the metabolic activity and slows down the pistachio respiration rate.
The best place to hold pistachios
Pistachios should be stored in different packages such as cartons, wooden boxes, plastic bags, and hemp bags.
Pistachios absorb moisture from the air, which increases the rancidity of pistachios, so airtight packaging is recommended for storing pistachios. Pistachio kernels can stay in the refrigerator for three months, but packing in suitable containers will extend the shelf life of frozen pistachios to more than one year.
Use a controlled atmosphere (oxygen below 8% and carbon dioxide above 1%) in packing pistachios. Low oxygen and high carbon dioxide is a useful tool to control insects in fresh and dry fruits. Dry fruits such as pistachios can be stored in these warehouses for more than 12 months.
Among the important issues in pistachio packaging, we can mention preventing the entry of harmful insects, preventing the packages from being placed in an environment with high humidity, removing or reducing the oxygen of the packages by vacuum packaging and gas injection, which postpones the rancidity reaction. They throw.
