Cashew nuts are a popular snack and cooking ingredient. They grow on tropical evergreen trees in the same way that coconuts do. Because cashews have a hard shell, they need to be dried before they can be eaten or ground into powder. There are many different grades of cashews available for purchase and it’s important to know how to choose them for your recipes and cooking needs.
What Are Cashews?
Cashews are a fruit. The cashew apple is actually a fruit, not a nut! It’s just that most people call it a nut because of its shape and texture. The actual nut part of the cashew is actually called an acorn or seed, which grows inside of its shell (a.k.a., outer husk).
The cashew apple is sweet and juicy, but it’s not particularly good for eating raw. You can blend it into juice or make it into a cider-like beverage. The nut itself is delicious if roasted or boiled in salt water before eating.
There are many more facts about cashews than we can go over here, but it’s important to note that they’re a power food. The cashew is high in protein, fiber and magnesium. It also contains iron, zinc and potassium. This makes it a great snack for vegans who want to boost their energy levels without meat products or dairy products.
Cashews are also good for heart health. They’re high in unsaturated fatty acids and contain no cholesterol.
The cashew is a tropical fruit that grows on trees in Southeast Asia and South America. It’s similar to a chestnut, but it has a thinner shell and sweet flavor. The nut inside the cashew apple is also edible when roasted.
There are many more facts about cashews than we can go over here, but it’s important to note that they’re a power food. The cashew is high in protein, fiber and magnesium. It also contains iron, zinc and potassium. This makes it a great snack for vegans who want to boost their energy levels without meat products or dairy products. Cashews are also good for heart health. They’re high in unsaturated fatty acids and contain no cholesterol
. The cashew is a tropical fruit that grows on trees in Southeast Asia and South America. It’s similar to a chestnut, but it has a thinner shell and sweet flavor. The nut inside the cashew apple is also edible when roasted.
There are many more facts about cashews than we can go over here, but it’s important to note that they’re a power food. The cashew is high in protein, fiber and magnesium. It also contains iron, zinc and potassium. This makes it a great snack for vegans who want to boost their energy levels without meat products or dairy products. Cashews are also good for heart health. They’re high in unsaturated fatty acids and contain no cholesterol .
Types of Cashews
Cashews are a delicious and nutritious nut that can be used in a variety of ways. Here are the different types of cashews you can find at the store:
- Cashew Nuts: These are whole, unshelled nuts that have been dried and roasted. They’re great for snacking on as-is or adding to trail mix or salads.
- Cashew Kernels: The actual seed inside each fruit, these may be sold either whole with their shells intact (which means they’ll need to be shelled before eating), or already removed from their shell so they can be eaten right away (like when buying salted roasted peanuts). You’ll often see them referred to as “cashew pieces.”
Cashew Butter: This is a spread made from ground cashews, which can be mixed with other ingredients like sugar or honey for a sweet treat. You can also buy unsalted, salted or roasted versions of cashew butter depending on your preferences.
Cashew Milk: This is a nondairy milk alternative made from cashews and water. It’s often fortified with calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients to make it more closely resemble cow’s milk. You’ll find it at most grocery stores near the regular dairy products like milk or almond milk.
Cashew Nuts: These are whole, unshelled nuts that have been dried and roasted. They’re great for snacking on as-is or adding to trail mix or salads. Cashew Kernels: The actual seed inside each fruit, these may be sold either whole with their shells intact (which means they’ll need to be shelled before eating), or already removed from their shell so they can be eaten right away (like when buying salted roasted peanuts). You’ll often see them referred to as “cashew pieces.” Cashew Butter: This is a spread made from ground cashews, which can be mixed with other ingredients like sugar or honey for a sweet treat. You can also buy unsalted, salted or roasted versions
Grades of Cashews
There are three main grades of cashews:
- Raw, unsalted cashews. These are the freshest and most natural form of the nut. They’re great for snacking or adding to your favorite recipes.
- Roasted, salted cashews. These have been roasted in oil or butter and then seasoned with salt (and sometimes other seasonings). They’re perfect if you like crunchy nuts with a little bit of flavor!
- Roasted, unsalted cashews. Like their roasted counterparts above them on this list–but without any added seasonings–these are ideal if you prefer a milder taste experience overall when eating your nuts as opposed to something more flavorful like BBQ-flavored potato chips…or maybe even both at once?
Roasted, BBQ-flavored cashews. These are like the roasted cashews above them on this list–but with a subtle barbeque flavor added in. They’re great if you like crunchy nuts with a bit of spice!
Roasted, BBQ-flavored walnuts. These are like the roasted cashews above them on this list–but with a subtle barbeque flavor added in. They’re great if you like crunchy nuts with a bit of spice! Roasted, salted walnuts. These have been seasoned with oil or butter and then roasted in it until they become crispy and delicious. They’re perfect if you like crunchy nuts with a little bit of flavor!
Roasted, unsalted walnuts. Like their roasted counterparts above them on this list–but without any added seasonings–these are ideal if you prefer a milder taste experience overall when eating your nuts as opposed to something more flavorful like BBQ-flavored potato chips…or maybe even both at once? Roasted, BBQ-flavored almonds. These are like the roasted almonds above them on this list–but with a subtle barbeque flavor added in. They’re great if you like crunchy nuts with a bit of spice! Roasted, BBQ-flavored pecans. These are like the roasted almonds above them on this list–but with a subtle barbeque flavor added in. They’re great if you like crunch
The Different Grades of Cashews
Cashew grading is based on the size, shape, color and defects of the nut. There are many different grades of cashews which are based on these factors. The most common grades are: Extra Fancy (EF), Fancy (F), Select and Standard (SS).
The most common types of cashews are white or yellow; however there are also other colors like brownish red/maroon or blackish green/olive that can be found depending on where they were grown and how long they have been stored for sale to you!
The cashew is a fruit that grows on the outside of an apple-shaped nut. The nut itself is surrounded by a thin layer of red skin and contains an edible white kernel which is covered by another thin layer of red skin.
The cashew is a tropical tree that grows in South America and Africa. The cashew nut itself is not very popular, but it is used in many different cuisines around the world as a flavoring ingredient. It also has many health benefits and can be used to treat several illnesses.
