Pine nuts -- price and quality

[saxmaam]

I'm getting ready to order some nuts and I see that pine nuts are mighty pricey. For those of you who have done this before, what online store would you recommend. I'm interested in price, freshness, and rawness, and (oh yeah) price too.

[queenfluff]

I'm getting ready to order some nuts and I see that pine nuts are mighty pricey. For those of you who have done this before, what online store would you recommend. I'm interested in price, freshness, and rawness, and (oh yeah) price too.

I would love to know where the cheapest pine nuts are online too! I have been comparing many online stores myself and honestly, after shipping prices, it is cheaper to get them at my WF.

[Zaphirah]

I sub sunflower seeds and use pinenuts for holidays and special occasions. :p

[saxmaam]

I sub sunflower seeds and use pinenuts for holidays and special occasions. :p

Yeah, I thought about that. But I'm about to harvest basil and make pesto for the freezer. That seems like one recipe that really cries out for pine nuts. So ... I bought some at Whole Foods tonight and I'll see how much each batch costs overall. Maybe it won't be so bad ... maybe it will! :eek:

[SuzyQ]

What about a combination of pine nuts and say, cashews? That way you don't have to use as many pine nuts and you will still get a creamy consistency. I know cashews aren't inexpensive either, so maybe that isn't a great idea. But some type of combination might work. I do this all the time. I rarely use just one kind of nut in any recipe.

[rawstrength]

I get my pinenuts in big 2lb bags from Costco. The are verified raw and they are cheap, too (I can't remember the exact price off the top of my head).
That said, I've made really delicious pesto using walnuts.

[queenfluff]

Yeah, I thought about that. But I'm about to harvest basil and make pesto for the freezer. That seems like one recipe that really cries out for pine nuts. So ... I bought some at Whole Foods tonight and I'll see how much each batch costs overall. Maybe it won't be so bad ... maybe it will! :eek:

I agree - subing for pine nuts in some cases just doesn't cut it. Pine nuts have that super heavy creamy oily taste that you just need for some recipe. I have subed some cashews before but not sunflower seeds. Too nutty tasting.

And to be honest, walnuts are just as expensive as pine nuts and cashews aren't that much cheaper either.