Cashews are the category most people eat without thinking much about, which is unfortunate because cashew quality varies more than almost any other nut. A supermarket 16-oz jar of salted cashews and a premium jumbo-grade whole kernel from a specialty retailer are both "cashews" on the label, but they're genuinely different products. Jumbo whole cashews deliver a buttery, almost creamy bite that broken pieces and mass-market jars can't match. Nut Cravings ships premium cashews across raw, roasted salted, roasted unsalted, and jumbo whole-kernel formats, packed fresh in Monroe, NY in resealable bags. kosher certified across the core catalog.
Cashew Grades: Why They Matter
Cashews are graded by size and kernel integrity, and the grade affects both price and eating experience significantly.
Jumbo whole cashews (W180, W210, W240). The largest whole kernels, numbered by how many nuts per pound. W180 (180 nuts per pound) is the largest commercial grade and the most expensive. W240 is a common premium grade. These are the cashews you eat as a snack or serve at cocktail hour where appearance matters.
Standard whole cashews (W320, W450). Smaller whole kernels, still intact but more economical. W320 is the most common retail grade. Good for snacking and for mixed nut assortments.
Splits, halves, and pieces. Broken cashew kernels, sold by grade (SW - scorched wholes, S - splits, LP - large pieces, SP - small pieces). More economical per ounce, used primarily in baking, cooking, cashew butter production, and ingredient-grade applications where appearance doesn't matter.
Our collection focuses on premium whole grades for snacking and gifting, with ingredient-grade pieces available in select bulk formats. Individual product pages list the specific grade.
Cashew Varieties Available
The collection covers the four formats that cover most snacking, cooking, and gifting use cases.
Raw whole cashews, unsalted. Shelled whole kernels, no roasting, no salt. The ingredient-grade format. Use for homemade cashew butter (blend for 5-8 minutes in a food processor), for cashew milk, for cashew cream sauces, for baking, or for toasting at home. Raw cashews also form the base of most plant-based dairy alternatives (vegan cheese, dairy-free cream).
Roasted salted cashews, whole. Oven-roasted jumbo and standard whole kernels, lightly salted. The classic snacking format. Best for cocktail hour, office snack bowls, gift assortments, and straight snacking.
Roasted unsalted cashews, whole. Oven-roasted without added salt. For recipe use, for trail mix building where you control downstream salt, and for buyers on low-sodium diets.
Organic cashews (Crop by Pop line). USDA Organic certified, non-GMO, vegan, kosher. Available in raw and roasted variants. For health-focused buyers who want certified clean sourcing.
For cashew-forward gift assortments (the query "cashew gifts" shows meaningful search volume), browse nut gift trays and gift boxes where cashews appear as a primary component. For mixed assortments that include cashews alongside other varieties, see mixed nuts and bar mix.
Cashew Nutrition
One ounce (about 18 whole cashews) provides:
- 157 calories
- 5 grams of protein
- 12 grams of fat (mostly monounsaturated)
- 1 gram of fiber
- 8 grams net carbs
- 31% DV copper
- 20% DV magnesium
- 15% DV manganese
- 17% DV phosphorus
- 11% DV zinc
- 10% DV vitamin K
- 5% DV iron
The standout nutrients are copper (a full third of daily needs in one serving) and magnesium. Cashews are also notably high in non-heme iron compared to other nuts, which matters for vegan and vegetarian diets.
One nutritional note worth flagging: cashews are higher in carbs than most other tree nuts (8 grams net carbs per ounce versus 1.5 for macadamias or 2 for pecans). For strict keto, cashews need careful portion control. For general low-carb, Mediterranean, and heart-healthy diets, they fit fine.
This is general nutritional information. For specific dietary guidance, consult a registered dietitian.
Where Cashews Come From
Cashews are grown in tropical regions, primarily Vietnam (the largest global producer), India, Ivory Coast, and Brazil. The cashew tree is actually related to poison ivy and mango, and the kernel we eat is the seed of the cashew apple fruit. The processing is labor-intensive because cashew shells contain a caustic oil (urushiol, the same irritant in poison ivy) that must be carefully removed before the kernel is edible. This is why cashews are generally more expensive than almonds or peanuts and why whole-kernel grades carry meaningful premiums over broken pieces.
Our cashews are sourced from Vietnam and select other origins, steam-processed for shell removal, and quality-graded before roasting and packaging.
How Cashews Get Used
Straight snacking. Jumbo roasted salted or unsalted by the handful. The default use case.
Cashew butter. Roast raw unsalted cashews at 325°F for 10 minutes, blend in a food processor for 5 to 8 minutes with a pinch of salt. Creamier than peanut butter, lower in fat. Keep refrigerated for 2 to 3 weeks.
Cashew milk. Soak raw cashews overnight, blend with water, strain. Creamiest plant-based milk by a significant margin.
Cashew cream. Soak raw cashews, blend with minimal water for a thick cream texture. Dairy-free substitute for heavy cream in soups, pasta sauces, and desserts.
Vegan cheese. Soaked cashews blended with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and seasonings. Forms the base of most commercial and homemade vegan cheeses.
Indian cooking. Cashew paste is a core ingredient in kormas, butter chicken-style sauces, and many North Indian curries. Soak raw cashews and blend to a paste for authentic texture.
Thai and Southeast Asian cooking. Cashew chicken, stir-fries with whole cashews, cashew-topped noodle dishes.
Baking. Cashew flour (ground roasted cashews) works as a gluten-free flour substitute in cookies, pancakes, and gluten-free baking.
How to Store Cashews
Cashews have moderate oil content, better shelf life than pecans or walnuts but shorter than almonds. Proper storage matters.
- Pantry, sealed in resealable bag: 3 to 4 months for roasted, 4 to 6 months for raw.
- Refrigerator, sealed: up to 12 months.
- Freezer, airtight container: up to 18 months without quality loss.
Signs they've gone rancid: sharp, paint-like smell on opening the bag. Fresh cashews should smell mildly sweet, buttery, and slightly earthy. Any off-smell means discard.
Cashew Gifts and Assortments
Search volume shows a meaningful segment of cashew shoppers are looking for cashew-focused gifts rather than cashews for personal use. For gifting applications, our cashew-primary gift formats work especially well for:
- Cashew lovers specifically (people who strongly prefer cashews over mixed assortments)
- Office gift exchanges where cashews are the crowd-pleaser default
- Corporate gifting to recipients whose preferences you don't know (cashews have the broadest appeal across the nut family)
- Kosher and dietary-specific gifting (our certification applies)
Browse nut gift trays and gift boxes for gift formats that feature cashews as a primary component.
Cashew FAQs
Q Are Nut Cravings cashews kosher?
Yes. Our cashews are kosher certified across raw, roasted, and organic variants.
Q What's the difference between jumbo and standard cashews?
Jumbo cashews are larger whole kernels graded by count per pound (W180 and W240 are jumbo grades). Standard cashews are smaller whole kernels. Both are whole, but jumbo delivers a more premium eating experience.
Q Can you eat raw cashews?
Yes. The raw cashews sold commercially have been steam-processed to remove the caustic shell oil. True "raw" cashews straight from the tree are not safe to eat without processing, but that's not what you'll find at any retailer.
Q Are cashews keto-friendly?
Not ideal. At 8 grams net carbs per ounce, cashews are one of the higher-carb nuts. They fit moderate low-carb diets but require portion control on strict keto. Macadamias and pecans are better keto picks.
Q Where do Nut Cravings cashews come from?
Primarily Vietnam, with some sourcing from India and other origins. Individual product pages list origin where specified.
Q Do cashews go bad?
Yes. Store sealed pantry 3 to 6 months, refrigerated up to 12 months, or frozen up to 18 months.
Browse the full cashew collection above, or visit the Nut Cravings homepage for other nut varieties.
