VANILLAGOODS / FRESH MARKET BUYING GUIDE

Sesame seeds: Buying, Storage & Baking Guide

Learn how to choose, store, and bake with sesame seeds, with quality checks and U.S. season guidance.

Nuts & seeds
Sesame seeds: Small bowls of white and black sesame seeds

Look for

Clean, intact; minimal dust or breakage

Feel & texture

Dry; no moisture clumping

Aroma

Nutty and fresh, not paint-like, rancid or musty

What to avoid

Mold, pests, rancid oil odors

How to store

Airtight, cool and dark; refrigerate or freeze for longevity

Typical U.S. season

Varies by region and availability

Growing regions and availability

High-level growing suitability depends on variety, climate and local conditions.

Seasons and growing conditions vary by location and variety. Imported or stored ingredients may be available outside typical growing windows.

Visual buying guide

Sesame seeds, where it grows: Sesame plants with upright seed pods and white flowers in a field

Where it grows

Sesame seeds, pick this one: Clean, dry, uniform sesame seeds

Pick this one

Clean, intact; minimal dust or breakage

Sesame seeds, skip this one: Clumped, oily, discolored sesame seeds

Skip this one

Mold, pests, rancid oil odors

What can you bake with Sesame seeds?

Pralines, nut pastry, cookies

Explore sesame seeds recipes →

More Nuts & seeds

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