What is the difference between raw cashews and roasted

Raw almonds are heat pasteurized, which raises the temperature enough to kill any harmful micros, but not enough to be considered roasted. Cashews are the only nut typically not sold in their shell, and for a good reason. The shell is toxic, much like poison ivy. Raw cashews, like almonds, have been put through a heating process for safe removal from their shell.

Both almonds and cashews go through a quick heating process but are still labeled and sold in the U. Some nuts, like almonds, can undergo a blanching process that removes their brown outer skin. Blanching entails quickly being submerged in boiling water, a cold bath, and a trip in a roller for skin removal. To summarize, raw nuts are uncooked while natural nuts still have the skin on, and blanching removes the skin of the nut.

Thiamine levels also decreased during roasting, and like alpha-tocopherol, they decreased more at higher temperatures. Riboflavin levels were not affected Overall, every type of nut and each nutrient responds differently to roasting, depending on the nut type and the roasting conditions. Although some vitamins are lost during roasting, keep in mind that nuts are not the main sources of these vitamins.

The exception to this is almonds, which are high in vitamin E 8. The rich flavor, color and aroma of roasted nuts is due to compounds that are formed in a chemical reaction called the Maillard reaction. This is a reaction between the amino acid asparagine and the natural sugar in the nuts. The Maillard reaction may also be responsible for the formation of the harmful substance acrylamide. This substance is known to cause cancer in animals when consumed in very high doses. It may have potential cancer-causing effects in humans, but the evidence is scarce 25 , Roasting temperature has a greater impact on acrylamide formation than the duration of roasting Almonds are most susceptible to the formation of acrylamide, since they contain high amounts of the amino acid asparagine.

Levels of the compound nearly doubled in pistachios when they were roasted at the same temperature as almonds, and no acrylamide was detected in roasted macadamia nuts, walnuts or hazelnuts Potentially harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella and E.

If the soil is contaminated with bacteria, the nuts will easily come into contact with the bacteria. Contaminated water might also introduce harmful bacteria, either during harvest or post-harvesting. In fact, Salmonella has been detected in raw nuts, including almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts and pistachios 31 , 32 , It was not detected in pecans.

However, the amount of Salmonella detected was low, so it might not cause illness in healthy individuals In the US, consuming raw almonds has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak, while consuming in-shell hazelnuts has been associated with an outbreak of E. In order to reduce Salmonella , all almonds in the US today are required to be pasteurized While roasting nuts reduces the number of bacteria on them, Salmonella was detected in one sample of roasted pistachios in one study.

Another study found no Salmonella or E. Furthermore, nuts may contain the toxic carcinogen aflatoxin, which is produced by fungi that sometimes contaminate nuts and grains. The best way to avoid aflatoxin contamination is through control of humidity and temperature during drying and storage, rather than roasting Raw nuts are very healthy, but they might contain harmful bacteria.

However, even if they do, it is unlikely to cause an illness. Roasted nuts, on the other hand, may contain fewer antioxidants and vitamins. Some of their healthy fats may also become damaged and acrylamide might form, though not in harmful amounts. If you want to eat roasted nuts, keep in mind that some roasted nuts sold in stores are seasoned with salt, and some are even sugar-coated.

Instead of buying nuts roasted, buy them raw and roast them yourself, preferably in the oven. That way you can better control the temperature and roast larger quantities of nuts at a time.

If you want to enhance the flavor by oil roasting the nuts, keep in mind that some oils are not suitable for roasting. Oil roast them yourself and choose a heat-stable oil, such as coconut oil. However, roasting nuts may damage their healthy fat, reduce their nutrient content and lead to the formation of a harmful substance called acrylamide. On the other side, raw nuts are more likely than roasted nuts to contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella.

Importantly, how nuts are roasted can have a big impact on their nutrient content. The nuts should come out with a lightly roasted color. Also, make sure not to store them for too long, since they have a limited shelf life. Only roast nuts that you are planning to eat over the next few days. The final recommendation is simple — include raw or roasted nuts in your diet for better health.

Sprouted nuts are raw nuts that have been soaked in water in order to germinate, or begin to sprout. This article reviews the benefits of eating…. Pistachios are edible seeds that contain healthy fats, protein, fiber, and antioxidants.

Here are 9 evidence-based health benefits of pistachios. Nuts are packed full of beneficial nutrients that may reduce your risk of many diseases.

Here is a detailed review of the 9 healthiest nuts on the…. Roasted nuts are digested much more effectively, satisfying your hunger more quickly than raw nuts. Although prepared differently, there are very few nutritional differences found between raw and roasted nuts. Dry-roasted and raw nuts contain comparable levels of carbs, fat and protein. However, roasted nuts have higher caloric value and more fat. For a better idea, check out the nutritional information for several popular nut types:.

The cause of this slight nutritional variance is the roasting process, where the nuts lose moisture and mass. When deciding whether you prefer raw vs. While both roasted and raw nuts have similar nutritional values and help minimize heart disease, raw nuts do present a significant potential health concern. Raw nuts like almonds and pistachios have been reported as carrying salmonella.

Dry or oil roasting nuts is known to reduce the risk of contamination from salmonella and other harmful bacteria. Check out our huge variety of nuts including peanuts , cashews , almonds , Brazil nuts , macadamia nuts and more. Nuts are available in small and large amounts at an incredibly affordable price.