December 07, 2021 · Written by Foodtolive Team

How to Roast Cashews at Home

Apparently, you are already familiar with cashews – nuts that stand out for their unique shape and pleasantly sweet taste. Crumbly cashews can be served either raw or roasted – it’s all up to your preference! Now, let’s immerse ourselves in the culinary arts of roasting cashews!

Raw Cashews vs. Roasted Cashews

Cashews are rich in healthy fats, fiber, and protein; it is an excellent source of many important nutrients and antioxidants. Still, does the roasting process affect the beneficial properties of cashews? Which nuts are more useful – roasted or raw?

how to roast cashews nuts in the oven

To have a better understanding of what is more useful – roasted or raw, we shall clarify why they are roasted. Nuts are roasted to improve their taste, flavor, and crispy texture. By definition, roasting is a dry-heat cooking method where hot air surrounds the food and cooks it evenly on all sides. There are two main types of roasting: 1) dry, without adding oil, and 2) with oil. Roasting changes the structure and chemical composition of the nuts. In particular, nuts change their color, and their moisture content also decreases. As a result, it leads to a crispier texture. Although raw and roasted nuts contain approximately the same amount of fats, carbohydrates, and protein, the roasted ones may sometimes exceed the number of fats and calories per gram. Under heat treatment, the product loses its moisture. Therefore, the roasted nut weighs less than raw. Consequently making the fat content slightly higher. [1]

Cashews: Sweet, Delicious and Nutritious Treats

Another point worth noting is that cashews are rich in antioxidants. Some of these nutrients are sensitive to heat and can be lost during the frying process. In other words, the roasting process can damage useful fats. High temperatures and time duration have the greatest impact on the chemical composition of the product. When polyunsaturated fats are exposed to heat, they are more likely to be damaged or oxidized. This can lead to the formation of harmful free radicals that can damage the body’s cells.

Note, however, that if you roast nuts at low or medium temperatures, their fats are less likely to be oxidized.

how to roast cashews nuts in the oven

The question is – which ones should I eat? Basically, both. Healthline reports that raw nuts are very healthy even though they might contain harmful bacteria. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that they can cause illnesses. On contrary, roasted nuts may contain fewer antioxidants and vitamins in comparison with raw. During the roasting, process fats might be oxidized, yet once again, if the nuts are roasted at low temperature, they are less likely to be harmed and won’t form acrylamide. [1]

If you prefer roasted cashews over raw, bear in mind that the former is usually sprinkled with salt. With respect to this fact, we recommend that you roast raw cashews on your own to control the temperature and enjoy a healthier product as a result.

Roast Cashews at Home

Roast Cashews in Oven

Ingredients:
- 1 cup raw whole cashews or cashew pieces
Preparation:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spread the cashews out in a single layer on a baking sheet.
2. Roast them for about 10-15 min, but don’t wander off! Give them a stir every now and then to make sure they don’t burn. Keep a close watch because oven temperatures can be different. You’ll know they’re ready when they turn a lovely golden brown and you can smell that delightful nutty aroma. If you detect any burnt smell, take them out right away.
3. Once they’re done, let the roasted cashews cool down completely.
4. Enjoy them as a snack or use them as a crunchy topping for cereals, salads, and more.
5. To keep them fresh, store them in an airtight container (see notes for more info).
Notes:
- Roasted cashews will be the most aromatic and crunchy during one week. This is the best time to enjoy them as a snack. After one week roasted cashews will still be fresh, and you can use them as an ingredient for cashew butter, cashew pesto, baked goods, or as topper for salads and cereals. We recommend to store roasted cashews in an airtight container in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight or humidity. Refrigerating or freezing will extend their shelf life.
Roast Cashews in Stove

with no oil added

All you need is just to spread your nuts out in an even layer and preheat the stove. Shake cashews until the nuts are fragrant and browned (5 min might be enough). [2]
Roast Cashews in Microwave

Ingredients:
- 1lb cashews, whole
- salt (optional)
Preparation:
1. Put your cashews in an even layer on a flat glass or ceramic plate.
2. Put in the microwave and roast for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. To understand whether the nuts are already roasted, periodically taste them.
4. Once cooked, place cashews in a dry place.
Honey-Roasted Cashews

turn them into a dessert

Ingredients:
- 1lb cashews, whole
- salt
- cayenne pepper
- smoked paprika
- 2tbsp. honey
- 1 tbsp. fresh rosemary
- virgin oil
Preparation:
1. Preheat your oven to 284°F (140°C).
2. Line the tray with parchment paper.
3. Whisk honey, salt, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and oil.
4. Place cashews and sprinkle them with rosemary.
5. Toss the nuts every 5 minutes. [3]

Roasted Cashews Nutrition Value

Similar to raw cashews, roasted nuts strengthen the immune system, reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood, protect cells from free radicals, and unlike other nuts, roasted cashews contain a minimum amount of allergens. They are a wonderful source of vitamins E, B, A, PP, and minerals – magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, glycine, lysine, and polyunsaturated Omega-3 acids. The substances the cashews contain can destroy bacteria that are harmful to the teeth’ enamel.

roasted cashews health benefits

As far as nutrition facts are concerned, the smallest measurement unit (1oz) contains160 calories, 14g of total fat, 2.5g of saturated fat, 280mg of sodium, 8g of carbohydrates, 7g of net carbs, 1g of fiber, 5g of protein, 20mg of calcium, 0.5mg of iron (see diagram on the left). [4] Thus, cashews are a balanced set of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and fiber, which help to strengthen the immune system, speed up metabolism, and maintain the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. Another useful property of cashews is the ability to stabilize blood pressure.

Cashews also contain copper that is responsible for producing melanin (a natural skin pigment). Besides, copper is involved in the development of bone and connective tissue. Unsaturated fatty acids make up 75% of all fats. Oleic acid prevails among other acids – this is a substance that normalizes heart function and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Roasted Cashews Health Benefits for women

Cashews are extremely useful for women. They contain many vitamins and minerals, so they effectively help maintain women’s beauty and health. In particular, the good content of fatty acids in cashews significantly improves the skin condition making it soft and radiant.

Roasted Cashews Health Benefits for men

For men, cashews are helpful in reducing high cholesterol levels, minimizing the risk of blood clots, reducing blood pressure, and strengthening the heart muscle. Furthermore, cashew nuts are considered to be a strong aphrodisiac, so they can boost libido.

Other Ways to Use Roasted Cashews

Cashew Butter – minimum effort, maximum pleasure
Toast cashews on a baking pan for about 15 min until golden. Then cool the nuts for about 10 min. Grind cashews in a food processor adding just a few teaspoons of coconut oil to make your butter creamier.

Rosemary Cashew Flour Biscuits
Cashew Pesto – vegan-tolerant sauce to cover your bases (bread, pasta, meat, fish, etc.)
Prepare raw cashews, 2 bunches of basil, 50g parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon salt, olive oil, 2 cloves of garlic. Rinse basil and garlic. Roast cashews on medium heat without adding oil. Grind cashews, basil, garlic, and olive oil in a food processor until creamy. Season with salt and pepper, add grated parmesan.
What is more, cashews can serve as a topping for your cereal, yogurt, salads, smoothie bowl or you can even stir them into homemade granola! There are a number of unique recipes the Food to Live Team has prepared for you. So we call your attention to the short video recipe with cashew nuts as the main ingredient: HOW TO MAKE VEGAN CASHEW CREAM CHEESE

how to roast cashews nuts in the oven

In conclusion, the cashew nut is a universal item rich in essential antioxidants and minerals. Indians believe that cashews belong to the category of grace. On top of that, regular consumption allows you to gain mental and physical peace. So don’t confine yourself to such a generous gift of nature. Instead, treat yourself to homemade roasted cashews.

References