Guide · May 3, 2019
Cashew Nut Buying Guide: Grades, Roast and Origin
This cashew nut buying guide gives you five checks to run before you buy: size grade, whole or broken, roast and salt, origin and date, and storage. Each one takes under a minute at the shelf. Together they tell you more than the price tag does.
Start with the size grade
Trade buyers sort whole cashew kernels by size. The usual way is a count of kernels per pound. A lower number means bigger kernels. A grade labelled 180 has about 140 to 180 kernels in a pound. A grade labelled 320 has about 300 to 320. A grade labelled 450 has smaller kernels still, about 400 to 450 to the pound.
You may see these written with a "W" in front, as in W180, W240 or W320. The W stands for whole. Bigger is not better for every use. Large kernels suit snacking and gifts. Mid sizes such as W320 work well for stir fries and cooking. Smaller grades cost less and suit sauces and baking.
Whole, split or pieces
Look at the shape before the label. Whole kernels keep the curved kidney form. Splits are kernels broken in half along the natural seam. Pieces are smaller bits. All of them taste the same, but they are priced differently. If you plan to chop or blend the nuts anyway, splits and pieces are a fair way to save money.
Pick up the pack and tilt it. A lot of fine dust or crumbs at the bottom means rough handling or old stock. Kernels should look pale ivory to cream. Dark spots, shrivelled skin or a grey tone are reasons to put the pack back.
Roasted, salted or raw
Raw kernels are pale and mild. Dry roasted kernels are golden and have a deeper, toasted smell. Oil roasted and salted kernels taste stronger and often hide small flaws, so check the colour before you trust the flavour. Even golden brown is a good sign. Patches of dark brown or black mean the roast was uneven.
Read the ingredient line. Plain cashews should list cashews and, if roasted in oil, the oil. Salt, sugar, flavour powders and coatings are extras. If you cook with the nuts, buy plain kernels and add salt yourself so you control the taste.
Cashews are not sold in the shell to shoppers. The shell holds an oil that can irritate the skin, which is one reason the nuts are shelled and processed before sale. Buy kernels from a seller who handles them in sealed packs.
Read the origin and the date
Good packs print the country of origin, the packer's name and address, and a best before date. If a pack gives only a brand and a picture, ask the seller for the rest. Packs from Vietnam, India and parts of Africa all appear on shelves, and raw nuts are often shelled in one country and packed in another. So the label should say where the kernels were processed and packed.
Check the best before date and pick the pack with the latest one. Fresh cashews smell sweet and slightly buttery. A sharp, paint-like or sour smell means the oils have gone off. If you can open a sample, taste one. Stale kernels taste flat or bitter.
Look at the seal too. The pack should be airtight, with no holes and no moisture inside. A tin or a pouch that is puffed or dented is not worth the risk.
Store them well at home
Cashews are rich in oil, so heat, light and air spoil them. Keep opened packs in a closed jar or a clip-sealed bag, away from the stove and sunlight. In Vietnam's warm, humid climate, the fridge is a safer place for a pack you will not finish within a few weeks. For longer storage the freezer works too. Let kernels come back to room temperature before opening the container so no water collects on them.
Buy a size you will finish. A small fresh pack beats a large old one. Write the date you opened it on the lid.
A short checklist for the shelf
- Grade stated, such as W240 or W320, and matched to how you will use the nuts.
- Pale, even colour and little dust in the pack.
- Roast even, ingredient line short.
- Origin, packer and best before date printed clearly.
- Seal intact and pack airtight.
Cashews are also a common tree nut allergen, so keep them away from anyone with a nut allergy. This is general information, not medical advice.
A place on this register is not for sale.