Cashews vs. peanuts

Nuts are a popular and healthy snack, especially for those on the go. Two of the most popular tree nuts are cashews and peanuts.

Cashews and peanuts can be found on their own or as part of a trail mix or snack; often you’ll even see them on a plate at a bar.

With cashews and peanuts, it can be hard to tell what the main differences are, as they look quite similar and have similar texture and flavor profiles.

So what is the difference between cashews and peanuts?

Cashews are slightly larger, banana-shaped, and grow with an inedible shell, while peanuts are smaller with an edible shell. Both are very nutritious and packed with protein.

Read on to learn more about cashews and peanuts, including their flavor, texture, uses, and nutritional benefits, as well as a final comparison between the two nuts.

What are cashews?

Cashews come from the tree known as anacardium occidentale, which is considered a tropical tree. Most cashews are grown in Brazil, India, Vietnam, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

On this tree grows what is called a cashew apple, but the cashews we know of do not come from this apple, but instead grow inside a drupe just below the apple.

The drupe is a kind of shell that protects the cashew. When you open the drupe, the cashew comes right out.

The cashew is edible, but the drupe it comes in is toxic to eat and should be thrown away.

You may be surprised to learn that cashews are not really nuts. Because the cashew comes in the drupe, it is not classified as a nut, but rather as a drupe seed. However, cashews are so often classified as a nut that they basically fit into the category.

They are often classified as nuts because they are used in a similar way to other nuts, such as hazelnuts or chestnuts, and have similar nutritional qualities.

What do cashews look like?

Cashews are small nuts, about 1 ½ inches in height and diameter, that are crescent- or kidney-shaped.

Raw cashews are light cream in color, while roasted cashews are a darker tan in color.

Some cashews come flavored and will of course have a different color depending on the spices and seasonings used to flavor them.

What do cashews taste like?

Cashews taste very similar to other nuts, so the flavor can be classified as rich, nutty, buttery, and almost creamy.

However, this is only for raw cashews and there are many different types of cashews on the market. You can get raw cashews with and without salt.

Roasted cashews still have a nutty flavor, but have a deeper flavor from roasting and taste almost slightly sweet compared to raw cashews.

There are also many brands now making flavored cashews, including herbs and spices or sweet ingredients like honey. Some of the flavors are pomegranate and vanilla, sriracha, jalapeno, chocolate, caramel, pickle, chili and lime etc.

As you can see, the options are endless.

What is the texture of cashews?

The texture of a cashew depends on whether it is raw, roasted, or soaked in liquid.

Cashew is smooth and hard to the touch. However, when biting into them, raw and roasted cashews are crunchy. Roasted cashews tend to get a bit crunchier in the roasting process.

However, cashews are often boiled or soaked in water so they can be easily digested or turned into another food.

When soaked in a liquid, they become extremely soft and almost buttery to bite into. This ability to change texture makes cashews an extremely versatile food.

What do cashews smell like?

You’re probably wondering how cashews smell compared to other types of nuts.

Just like their flavor, raw cashews smell nutty, rich, and buttery. When roasted, the smell of cashews just intensifies and becomes even more nutty and buttery.

However, the smell of cashews can change if they are flavored with herbs and spices, as we have mentioned above.

Depending on how they are flavored, you can expect the cashews to smell sweet, salty, spicy, etc.

How are cashews used?

Cashews can be used and consumed in many ways.

First, they make a great protein-rich snack on their own to take on the go. You can also find them roasted in different types of trail mixes and snacks. They can be found in many Asian recipes, such as Chinese cashew chicken.

Cashews can be made into cashew butter, which is a lot like peanut butter. There are many different varieties, such as salty, unsalted, creamy, or crunchy.

In recent years, cashew milk has also become very popular. You can even make it at home! You just have to soak the cashews in water and, once softened, blend them with a little water, strain the pieces and you will have a delicious dairy-free milk.

Since cashews become so malleable when soaked in water, they can be made into many different foods, both savory and sweet.

They have become a popular ingredient in plant-based vegan diets as they are a great source of protein and can be used for sauce bases that typically use milk and cheese.

For example, you can make cheese, alfredo, or cream by mixing soaked cashews with other ingredients. Cashews also work great as a binding agent in recipes. They can be added to protein balls and meatballs, or even used to create a crust for a dessert.

As you can see, cashews are extremely versatile and can be used in many different types of foods.

Cashew Nuts Nutrition Facts

Cashews offer many nutritional and health benefits when added to your diet.

In just a 1-ounce serving, cashews offer 5 grams of protein, 12 grams of healthy fat (which helps keep you full longer), and 1 gram of fiber.

Cashews are also full of minerals and vitamins like vitamin K, vitamin B6, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and iron.

Specifically, in such a small serving, cashews provide 20% of the daily value for magnesium, 15% of the daily value for zinc, 13% of the daily value for phosphorus, and 11% of the daily value for iron.

One of the best benefits associated with cashews is their high copper value, which not only helps build a strong immune system, but also supports brain development and energy. In a 1-ounce serving of cashews, there is 67% of the daily value for copper.

They also contain antioxidants, polyphenols, and carotenoids, which help reduce inflammation in the body, fight free radicals that can be harmful to the body, and fight disease.

In general, cashews are an excellent and nutritious option to add to your diet.

Are cashews easily accessible?

The fact that cashews grow in tropical areas does not mean that they are inaccessible to the average citizen. Fortunately, cashews are now grown all over the world and can be found both in grocery stores and on the Internet.

There are all kinds of cashews, raw, roasted and flavored, available all year round and at a very reasonable price compared to other nuts.

While nuts like pine nuts can cost around $2 an ounce, cashews are more than half that price, averaging around 50-60 cents an ounce.

What are peanuts?

Peanuts, known scientifically as Arachis hypogaea, grow from a ground plant that was originally found in South America.

They may go by various names, such as peanuts, peanuts, or ground peanuts.

They get these names because peanuts grow close to the soil of the plant from which they came (although the plants can measure up to 5 meters). Peanuts grow so low that they almost look like the root of the plant.

Peanuts grow with an edible shell, unlike the cashew, and the actual peanut is inside. Although the shell is edible, it is only eaten in certain settings.

However, despite their misleading name, peanuts are not actually considered nuts, but rather legumes (the bean family and the different seeds).

But, like cashews, many people consider peanuts to be nuts, as they have similar nutritional and culinary characteristics that make them fit well into the nut category.

What do peanuts look like?

Peanuts can be sold in two ways: shelled or shelled, so their appearance can be described in two ways.

The outer shell is a few centimeters long and about 2.5 cm thick, with crisscross ridges around it. It is light beige, almost camel.

The inner peanut is a small circle with a point at one end. The outside of the peanut is a reddish-brown color that is almost like a peanut skin, and when halved or bitten, it is a dark beige.

Like flavored cashews, flavored peanuts will look different depending on what is used to flavor them.

What do peanuts taste like?

Peanuts taste similar to other tree nuts and even cashews. Peanuts taste nutty, a little earthy, and depending on how they’re prepared, a little salty.

Like other nuts, peanuts can come roasted, unroasted, salted, unsalted, and flavored. Like most things, the flavor will depend on its preparation.

Unsalted peanuts taste more bitter and earthy, while salted peanuts taste similar, but salty. Roasted peanuts have a richer, deeper flavor.

Just like cashews, peanuts can come in all sorts of flavors, including pickle, ranch, honey roasted, and even pizza or salted caramel.

Each of these flavored varieties will have the characteristic earthy flavor of a peanut, but with an overwhelming flavor sensation that is used depending on which herbs and spices are used.

Flavored peanuts can be sweet or salty and savory, depending on their flavor.

What is the texture of a peanut?

Peanuts have two different textures in that they have an outer shell and an inner kernel.

The outer shell is soft, malleable, and a bit fibrous when peeled. You can easily bite or tear it. And yes, people eat the shell of the peanut.

The inner core, or what we know as a peanut, is very hard and crunchy. It has a smooth exterior, but it is difficult to break with your fingers.

What do peanuts smell like?

Like cashews, peanuts smell quite similar to other nuts. However, depending on whether they are roasted or flavored, the smell can vary.

The unroasted peanuts smell slightly nutty and earthy, while the roasted peanuts still smell nutty and earthy, but also have a hint of butter.

Flavored peanuts will smell like whatever was flavored. If you have pickled peanuts, you can expect them to smell like vinegar and dill, while salted caramel peanuts will smell like sweet and butter.

The range of peanut odors is wide and, again, depends on the type of peanut you eat.

How are peanuts used?

Peanuts can be used in many different ways. First, they can be eaten on their own or, like cashews, in a trail mix or snack.

Many Asian recipes, such as peanut chicken, kung pao dishes, or Chinese chicken salad, include peanuts for crunch. Peanut oil is also very popular in the kitchen.

The most popular way to consume peanuts is in the form of peanut butter. Peanut butter has taken over many desserts including cookies, candies, and cakes. It is added to smoothies and oatmeal, eaten on toast or in a peanut butter sandwich.

There are many different types of peanut butter: sweetened, unsweetened, salty, unsalted, crunchy, and creamy, so there is a variety of peanut butter for everyone.

Like cashews and other nuts, peanuts also work well as binders in desserts and foods like protein balls or bars.

Peanuts Nutrition Facts

Peanuts offer many different nutritional benefits when added to your diet.

Peanuts are high in protein, offering about 8 grams of protein in a 1-ounce serving. They are also high in healthy fats, such as omega 3 and omega 6, which are great for keeping you full and energized.

Peanuts are high in vitamins and minerals, including biotin, copper, folate, B vitamins, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Specifically, in a 1-ounce serving, peanuts provide 52% of the daily value for copper, 24% of the daily value for phosphorus, 27% of the daily value for magnesium, and 11% of the daily value for B vitamins.

Peanuts are also associated with aiding weight loss, heart health, and gallstone prevention due to the antioxidants they offer.

Are the peanuts easily accessible?

Peanuts are very accessible throughout the world, even though they originate from South America.

Compared to other nuts and products like cashews, peanuts are usually the most affordable on the market, averaging around 12-15 cents per ounce.

Cashews vs. Peanuts

Now that we’ve looked at cashews and peanuts separately, let’s compare the two nut-like products to see their similarities and differences:

Nutritional Comparison of Cashews and Peanuts (per 3 oz)

At first glance, cashews and peanuts are quite similar to each other. The calories are similar, as are the sugar, protein, and potassium content. However, there are some important differences between the two.

Where we see the biggest difference is in the vitamins and minerals. Cashews have a higher content of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and vitamin K.

However, peanuts are higher in niacin (B3), vitamin E, and protein.

Since all of these vitamins and minerals perform different functions and provide different health benefits to a person, it is up to the consumer to decide which one is best for them, as there really is no “best” option.

They have similar flavors and uses, so it’s up to you to decide which one is best for you to add to your diet. And hey, why not both?