Raw Nuts

[PansyLo]

So I've been wondering, how do I know that the nuts and seeds I buy are raw?

Are there specific raw nuts that say they are raw bought from a certain place? Are most nuts and seeds from a supermarket fine as long as they're not the roasted kind or blanched almonds etc?

I've just been buying bags from the healthy food type section, just plain unroasted 100% nut type nuts but I don't actually know how raw they are... am I buying the right thing?

I tried googling it which only lead to further confusion.

[MysticTree]

Raw nuts are very confusing.

Yes you can buy from specific raw places and the nuts will apparently be raw.

Cashews are the most difficult thing for me to believe are truly raw and I eat them occasionally and I get them from any old supplier because I don't entirely trust the people who say theirs are 100% raw!

Almonds, unroasted and not blanched I get from my supermarket - they sprout but I avoid them if the packaging says produce of USA - those will almost certainly have been pasteurised.

Nuts still in their shells are good. Shelling is the process that most often uses heat so if they still have shells on you can pretty much reckon they are raw.

I use mostly almonds and sometimes walnuts and cashews if I'm making something special with a frosting or suchlike.

sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds I get from the super market too. They sprout so that is raw enough for me.

[DebB]

Georgina ~ Have you gotten pumpkin seeds to sprout? I never have been able to do that. Even Sprout People say they're called "soaks" because they don't actually sprout. I'm just wondering. I'm talking about the green pumpkin seeds, hulls removed.

I'm with you - I find the whole "raw nut" thing sort of a mess.

[MysticTree]

Georgina ~ Have you gotten pumpkin seeds to sprout? I never have been able to do that. Even Sprout People say they're called "soaks" because they don't actually sprout. I'm just wondering. I'm talking about the green pumpkin seeds, hulls removed.

I'm with you - I find the whole "raw nut" thing sort of a mess.

ones with hulls on are more reliable but the attempt to sprout of the ones with hulls off is enough to tell me that they are raw enough for my definition.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

So I've been wondering, how do I know that the nuts and seeds I buy are raw?

Are there specific raw nuts that say they are raw bought from a certain place? Are most nuts and seeds from a supermarket fine as long as they're not the roasted kind or blanched almonds etc?

I've just been buying bags from the healthy food type section, just plain unroasted 100% nut type nuts but I don't actually know how raw they are... am I buying the right thing?

I tried googling it which only lead to further confusion.

l find it's best to avoid shops for nuts, because from my experience the industry is full of riff raff and information control merchants. l don't trust `em. l prefer to find a local farm and pick them myself, or find someone who grows them in their backyard, that way you will know it raw. But as MT says, there are places that you can still buy raw nuts, even raw almonds.

That reminds me...time to buy some more chestnuts and hazelnuts for sprouting. From a local farm of course.

[DebB]

Yeah, I've only tried the pumpkin seeds with no hulls... They're so yummy to toss into things! My husband likes snackin' on them.

[BeingK8]

That reminds me...time to buy some more chestnuts and hazelnuts for sprouting. From a local farm of course.
Tell me about doing this, please! Do you have links? Maybe you've posted this or know of a thread?

[PansyLo]

Thanks for the answers guys :)

This is something I may be able to improve my sources on given time. Are nuts bought in a supermarket or health food store acceptable in the mean time? Often you get big baskets of them loose with shells on, I will try and buy these but I'll need to buy a nutcracker first!

[Tannim]

I'll need to buy a nutcracker first!
channel locks or other pliers work great

[Indoor]

Or a hammer ;) for the bigger nuts(walnuts).
I agree with the 'in shell' nuts for two reasons: most of them are raw, and most of the time they are fresh. The funny thing is that the shell keeps them fresh longer than plastic. And the store I buy nuts from sells both types shelled and in shell. The shelled ones are a little stale.
The only downside to 'in shell' nuts is time and patience. And it makes a bit of a mess. But it's worth it ;)

[DebB]

Thanks for the answers guys :)

This is something I may be able to improve my sources on given time. Are nuts bought in a supermarket or health food store acceptable in the mean time? Often you get big baskets of them loose with shells on, I will try and buy these but I'll need to buy a nutcracker first!

I'm a firm believer in doing the best you can with what's available. Sure - I'd love to be 100% raw, organic, local, etc. - but I'm not and probably never will be because it would be way out of our budget. Organics here in WA are up to 4-5 times what non-organics can be! Example this week, cauliflower 69¢# or organic @ $2.99#. I bought the non-organic...

Anyway - I do the best I can and keep on truckin'!

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Tell me about doing this, please! Do you have links? Maybe you've posted this or know of a thread?

Read this long topic to get some ideas. Glad you have an interest in this.
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?64973-Sprouting!

[SunshineMN]

K8, if you're in the US a great place to get raw chestnuts is Badgersett (http://badgersett.com/nuts/ordernuts.html). :)

[Raw Angel Mom]

Yeah, I've only tried the pumpkin seeds with no hulls... They're so yummy to toss into things! My husband likes snackin' on them.

I succeed to sprout them. It takes a few days, the water need to be change often because they tend to go bad easy.

[PansyLo]

Organics here in WA are up to 4-5 times what non-organics can be! Example this week, cauliflower 69¢# or organic @ $2.99#. I bought the non-organic...

WOAH. Organic is a bit more expensive here but often only the sake of 30p or so. If that's the case I get organic. It's limited availability though. If it's there I get it if not then regular will do with a few exceptions (can't stand non organic blueberries, store bought organic are bad enough compared to wild). It would probably be equally expensive to seek out organic options of things that aren't available at the supermarket.