Cashews are one of the most delicious nuts rich in vitamins and health benefits. The oil-rich dry nut tastes incredibly amazing and is commonly used as a snack or a flavorful ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisines, and some parts of Europe.
Cashews are primarily known as nuts, but they originally come as hanging seeds from a cashew apple, a false fruit. Where cashew apple is not a fruit most people eat and just leave it on the ground to rot, the seed hanging beneath it, the cashew nut, is a nut that everyone around the world is fond of, and it is used in snacks, like butter, in pesto, as toppings, and as an ingredient in sweets.
It is not recommended that you freshly pick cashews directly from trees. That is because cashew nuts are grown under a shell that has the same toxic substance that poison ivy contains. If cashews are infected by this toxic substance, they will become inedible. Professional pickers carefully pick the cashews and roast the shell to extract the nut and make it able to be used for everyday purposes.
Therefore, even though cashews are sold raw, they are never fully raw as they’ve been roasted along with their shell before.
Cashew’s tempting flavor and its healthy perks are popular for bringing millions of people from all around the world to stores to buy cashews. And if you are not completely familiar with buying cashews, we can help you.
But before we get into how to properly buy cashews, let’s see how beneficial cashew nuts are and what physical and environmental advantages they come with.
Benefits of Cashews
- Cashews help in the control of blood cholesterol. Most cashew’s fat is there because of stearic acids that keep the cholesterol neutral. It is strongly believed that consuming cashews every day in small amounts can reduce cholesterol problems.
- Cashew nuts are high in calcium and magnesium, nutrients that are responsible for the strength of the bones.
- Consumption of organic cashews critically helps in lowering down the risk of heart diseases. Due to its cholesterol-free properties and addition of proteins, fibers, and healthy fats, cashew nuts keep the lining of your artery walls secure and provide enhanced blood flow throughout the body.
- Another amazing pigment in cashews is proanthocyanidin, which is great for the prevention of tumor cells. Cashew nuts have a higher percentage of proanthocyanidin, which is responsible for fighting against colon cancer and protecting your body’s health.
- Cashew nuts have ZeaXanthin, which is another strong antioxidant that your retinas absorb. This creates a safeguarded layer over your eyes that protects you from infections and harmful UV rays.
- Cashew nuts also consist of copper that contributes to the health and shine of the hair. The copper in cashews is responsible for producing more skin and hair pigments, such as melanin, that keeps your skin and hair clean and healthy.
- The copper in cashews also improves metabolism and strengthens your bones. The nervous and skeletal system of your body gets improved a lot because of cashews.
- These nuts also help in the quick healing of the wounds and strengthening your immune system.
- Magnesium in cashews reduces the risk of stroke, more importantly, hemorrhagic strokes, which can weaken the vessel resulting in ruptured brain tissues.
- The percentage of carbohydrates is lower in cashews than other snacks, which means that people with blood sugar, mainly those who have diabetes type A and B, can eat cashews without having a chance to increase their sugar.
How to Buy Cashews – A Guide
Buying cashews is relatively easier than buying many other things, but if you are trying to buy cashews for a specific purpose, things can get a bit complex. There are certain questions that you need to answer, and you will eventually buy the right product.
What kind of cashews do you need?
People buy cashews for different reasons. Some buy roasted cashews to eat as a snack, others buy raw cashews to use as an ingredient in their dishes, like butter, pesto, and more. If you are looking for cashews to eat as a snack, you can buy salted cashews or honey-roasted cashews in small or large quantities. However, if you want to use cashews as an ingredient, you should buy them raw and plain.
How many cashews do you need?
Now, let’s talk about quantity. How many cashews do you need? Maybe you are trying to make a new dish and just need a small quantity for experience, or maybe you are making a keto diet and need a lot of cashews to be involved in your diet for months.
We would advise you to buy fair trade cashews in bulk because buying in bulk comes with a lot of advantages.
First of all, bulk quantities are always cheaper than small quantities. Secondly, buying in bulk minimizes the packaging waste, which eventually works out better for the environment. For instance, when you are buying in bulk, you wouldn’t get fancy packaging or non-reusable plastic containers. Therefore, it would contribute towards the conservation of the environment.
Moreover, cashews are versatile, but their versatility increases when you are buying in bulk. You are free to try out different recipes and make butter, creams, and pestos. Roast it the way you want, whether in honey, salt, or caramel, and eat it as a daytime snack.
How will you store the cashews?
If you are willing to pay extra for a fancy package and reusable containers made of hard
plastic and glass, you don’t need to worry about storage. However, if you are buying a small quantity without packaging, or buying in bulk, you have to have airtight jars and containers at home to store.
Storing cashews in the refrigerator can extend their life up to 6 months, and storing them in the freezer can even make them last more than a year. If you are not keeping
it in a cool environment, keep it at room temperature, because cashews cannot survive in warm places.
Check the quality of cashews thoroughly
When buying cashews, you need to be careful. We advise you to only buy from a reputable store with a great product turnover, so you can get the freshest batch of cashews. Moreover, check the quality of cashews yourself instead of trusting in the words of a store manager. if there is a hole in the package, if there is moisture in packaging, or if the cashews seem out-of-colored or smell unusual, avoid buying them.
Moreover, buy fresh cashews, not the ones that are completely dried out, those have an expiry date coming soon.
Conclusion
Now you know the most amazing benefits of cashews and how you should buy them. Cashews are one of the most delicious and most beneficial nuts, and they are used in multiple forms, traditionally and recreationally. On the internet, you will find amazing cashew recipes (of sweets, salads, and sauces) that people all over the world try and admire. Whether you are concerned about your health, craving for a tongue-loving taste, or looking for a perfect snack to go with afternoon coffees in winters, cashews are it.