Raw Cashews questions!

[kimmm]

Going back to raw food after a loooong hiatus, always seem to navigate back here, knowing in my heart that this is the healthiest place for me to be! Anyway, I have always been a little confused about the cashews- do you soak or not? My other question is, are the raw, unsoaked, undried cashews that have been in my freezer for nearly 2 years still good? I ordered them online and they weren't cheap! Hate to throw them away!
Thanks so much!

[MysticTree]

Soaked I think is the general recommendation.

As to whether the cashews in the freezer are good ... try a couple. They won't kill you but you will soon know if they are not palatable!

[ReneeH]

I believe that Cashews sold as "Raw Cashews" in stores are not "truly" raw because of the processing that they undergo to remove a toxic liquid that is between the outer shell and inner skin. The processing is done with heat.

If you are trying to be a naturalist or purist in your raw journey, there are truly Raw Cashews available to order through Gold Mine or other companies.

[DebB]

I totally agree with Georgina ~ try the cashews (soaked & unsoaked) and see how they taste. Personally - unless they were all frosted over, I would probably eat them.

Soaking cashews depends on the recipe you're using them in. If I'm tossing them on a salad or such, I will leave them unsoaked. If I want to make something creamy with them, then I'll soak them as they blend much more smoothly soaked.

Welcome BACK! *Ü*

[kimmm]

Thanks everyone! I'll give them a try! ReneeH, you are right on the "raw" cashew issue- I purchased these online through a very reputable company and they are truely raw.

[streetsurfer]

From what I've read, the irritant in the outer hull of a cashew is urushiol, the same as is in poison ivy. That is why flash steaming is used to open the hull. That method allows the meat to be removed without contact and contamination by the urushiol. If anyone knows how the "raw" ones are processed out, I'm interested in hearing how. Maybe they can only be done by gloved hands and not machine? Are the raw ones incredibly expensive?

Myself, I doubt the flash steaming of the hull really affects the meat much as far as "cooking" it goes.
Knowing only the very little I do about them, I liken it to the protective feature a pine tree has against forest fires. Pieces of the bark explode off the tree which drives the heat away so the cambium does not suffer damage, thereby allowing the tree to live. This may be a similar designed in feature to protect the cashew so it can survive and naturally reproduce after a fire.

[DebB]

That's interesting streetsurfer ~ The almonds I buy from Azure Standard say that they've been
"flash" steam pasteurized but still considered 'raw'. I can attest to that when an almond tree started growing in our compost pile from these steam pasteurized almonds! *Ü*

[streetsurfer]

Thanks for mentioning the sprouted one in the compost Deb. I was thinking of asking if anyone had tried sprouting to see if the standard steam opened ones were viable or not.

[DebB]

We planted the tree in the garden and it didn't survive the transplant. We should have just left it in the compost pile... I was surprised though - even though Azure did state that these would indeed sprout. *Ü*

[harrymark]

For the breakfast bowl, I used Raw because it is a raw dish. In reality you can use whatever nuts you want, and soak them, walnuts are a good substitute texture-wise for cashews and are mild in taste like the cashews as well.

[RawDad]

Soaking nuts allows the enzyme inhibitors a path out of the nut for more complete digestion when eaten.

I have noticed that cashews get very sweet and almost like candy after I soak them, they can be made into a very sweet icing for pie or cakes. We used that icing to top the persimmon pie raw recipe from our local health food store.

[DebB]

Hi RawDad - Persimmons are in at our Costco and we've been buying cases! Would you please share the pie recipe you mentioned above? Thanking you in advance! *Ü*

[levamssg]

That's interesting streetsurfer ~ The almonds I buy from Azure Standard say that they've been
"flash" steam pasteurized but still considered 'raw'. I can attest to that when an almond tree started growing in our compost pile from these steam pasteurized almonds! *Ü*
You can get truly raw organic almonds directly from almond growers. I get mine from Brewers Organic Almonds. You need to buy 25# minimum. You could contact them directly to ask about their process ... but they are advertised as Unprocessed Almonds. Their contact info is: Randy Brewer at 209 535 8683 website www.almondsbrewerfarms.com (http://www.almondsbrewerfarms.com)