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Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are popular as healthy snacks and tasty additions to many recipes. They are reliable sources of fiber, protein, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. But the rich fat and oil content in most nuts and seeds also makes them vulnerable to rancidity. Storing nuts in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers helps preserve their freshness and extend shelf life. Here’s why:
- Oxygen Reduction: Oxygen can lead to rancidity, which affects the flavor and nutritional value of nuts. Oxygen absorbers remove excess oxygen from the packaging.
- Moisture Control: Mylar bags provide a barrier against moisture, which can also cause spoilage and promote mold growth.
- Light Protection: Opaque Mylar bags (without windows) protect nuts from light, which can degrade quality over time.
- Longer Shelf Life: This method can significantly extend the shelf life of nuts, allowing you to store them for months or even years without losing quality.
What about moisture?
Source: aqualab.com
Most tree nuts tend to have a high fat content and low moisture content. Although raw nuts have a higher moisture content, typically, processed nuts are dried to a target water activity level (aW) of between 0.50 and 0.65, and often lower. This level is below the minimum required for bacteria and most fungi to grow, and is well below the FDA's 0.85 aW standard for low-moisture foods*. Owing to their low moisture content, desiccant is not necessary for long-term storage; the most salient threat to nut safety is oxygen.
It is worth noting that unshelled nuts and seeds typically have longer shelf life than those that are shelled. Further processing, such as roasting, tends to reduce shelf life further.
* This applies to most processed nuts and seeds, and does not include chestnuts and coconuts, which have a very high moisture content.
IMPAK has what you need
Many food wholesalers and retailers have already discovered the cost-saving and space-saving benefits of flexible packaging for nuts and seeds. IMPAK has a wide selection of high-barrier Mylar bags that are perfect for this application. Choose from pouches with zipper closures, tear notches, bottom gussets (stand up pouches), and even spouts for easy pouring. We also have unbeatable prices on effective oxygen absorber packets, the most important part of keeping nuts and seeds fresh and tasty.
Contact us to find out more about how best to package your particular product, or to get information on custom-printed packaging.
