Buffet planners keeping an eye on the price per kilo
You want enough cashews for the buffet, so compare the price per kilo rather than relying on the ‘value pack’ label. Also check that the quantity suits what you actually need.
Who should consider this choice?
Households planning to use up leftovers
You’re choosing a quantity to suit the buffet and what you’ll eat or use later. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing nuts in a dry place in a well-sealed container, so think about how you’ll store an opened bag too.
Hosts considering flavour and their guests
You’re choosing between unroasted, roasted and salted cashews, and checking the ingredients and allergen information. The Dutch Food Allergy Foundation says that the cashew allergen remains stable when heated.
What should you look for when buying?
First work out how many cashews you need and what you’ll do with any leftovers. Then compare the preparation, seasoning and information relevant to your guests.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Price per kilo | Compare the price per kilo and net weight on the same day; also check the total cost for the quantity you need. | If you’re mainly looking for the right quantity for your money, prioritise the price per kilo. Around 38% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Quantity and leftovers | Work out how much you’ll need for snacking and recipes separately, and decide how you’ll store an opened bag. | If you don’t want to open more than you can use, factor in both the buffet and any leftovers. Around 23% of consumers prioritise the quantity they need. |
| Preparation and seasoning | Check the preparation description, ingredients list and salt content of the exact product; don’t assume another pack has the same properties. | If you’re choosing cashews for a dish or as a seasoned snack, focus first on the preparation and salt content. Around 23% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Suitable for your guests | Check the current label, keep whole nuts out of reach of young children, and don’t serve cashews to anyone with a cashew allergy. | If allergies or young children are a factor, first decide what you can serve safely. Around 16% of consumers prioritise whether a product is suitable for their guests. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming a value pack has the lowest price per kilo
A larger bag isn’t automatically the cheapest option per kilo. The preparation and ingredients may also vary between products.
Compare the price per kilo, then check the preparation, ingredients and quantity you need.
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Assuming unsalted means no added oil
‘Unsalted’ doesn’t tell you whether oil has been added. For example, Jumbo lists sunflower oil in the ingredients of the unsalted pack reviewed. Duyvis Original and Duyvis Sea Salt have different product information.
Read the ingredients for the exact product you’re buying, and don’t assume the same details apply to another flavour or product range.
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Buying more than you can store and use
Opened nuts should be stored in a dry place in a well-sealed container. Otherwise, you may end up wasting any you don’t use.
Plan how you’ll use the cashews later before buying a large bag, and follow the label and storage instructions.
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Assuming a bowl of cashews is suitable for every guest
Heating cashews doesn’t make them safe for someone with a cashew allergy. Whole nuts can also pose a choking risk for young children.
Ask about any relevant allergies, check the product information and make sure the way you serve the cashews is suitable for your guests.
Brands and product ranges to compare
Albert Heijn
The AH Terra pack reviewed is a 500 g option of unroasted, unsalted cashews for snacks and dishes.
- Albert Heijn’s product information says the cashews are unroasted and haven’t been fried in oil.
- ‘Soft and creamy’ is Albert Heijn’s description, not an independent taste assessment.
Jumbo
The unsalted products reviewed come in 200 g and 500 g packs, giving you two sizes within the same product range.
- The ingredients lists state that the products contain 99% cashews and sunflower oil.
- For these products, unsalted doesn’t mean no oil has been added. Also check which quantity is right for your buffet.
ALDI
Trader Joe’s roasted, unsalted cashews were reviewed as a smaller 250 g pack.
- The product information describes this variety as roasted and unsalted.
- An NVWA warning for a specific 170 g pack of unsalted cashews doesn’t automatically apply to this 250 g roasted pack without evidence that it’s from the affected batch.
PLUS
The 200 g pack of unroasted, unsalted cashews reviewed is suited to smaller quantities and provides an unseasoned base.
- The ingredients list states that the product contains cashews.
- The product information says it may contain peanuts; this doesn’t prove that the pack is suitable for every guest with an allergy.
Duyvis
Cashews Original and Cashews Sea Salt are two different 125 g products reviewed for snacking.
- Duyvis says Cashews Original is oven-roasted without added oil.
- Jumbo’s product information lists sunflower oil and 2,3 g of salt per 100 g for the Sea Salt variety. The details for Original don’t automatically apply to Sea Salt.
Lidl
Lidl sells cashews in its Alesto range, including Way To Go cashews.
- Lidl describes Way To Go as Fairtrade.
- This is Lidl’s claim about this product range, not an independent assessment of its flavour, value for money or the whole Alesto range.
Cashews at Joybuy
This Joybuy selection includes cashews in larger and smaller packs, with different preparations for a buffet, snack or recipe.
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Three Squirrels Purple-Shell Cashews 500g
A 500 g pack to serve as a snack at the buffet.
The product description says these are roasted cashews with salt.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable for guests with a cashew allergy.
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Be&Cheery cashews with purple skin 180 grade 500g
The 500 g pack provides a larger quantity to share at the buffet.
The product description says these are cashews with purple skin and salt.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable for guests with a cashew allergy.
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Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large Cashew Nuts 160g
A smaller pack to serve as a snack or use in a recipe.
The product information states that the pack contains 160 g and is made from 100% cashew kernels.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable for guests with a cashew allergy.
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Duyvis Dry Roasted Cashews 125 g
A small, ready-to-serve snack pack for the buffet.
The product information says these are 125 g of roasted cashews, with salt as an ingredient.
The allergen information lists cashews, gluten, wheat and peanuts. Contains cashews and isn’t suitable for guests with a cashew allergy.
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Verse Klassenoten Salted Cashew Nuts 150 g
A smaller pack for serving salted cashews as a snack.
The product description says these are roasted, salted cashews with sunflower oil; the pack contains 150 g.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable for guests with a cashew allergy.
Frequently asked questions
How do you work out how many cashews to buy?
Work out the quantity you need for recipes and for the snack table separately. Compare the total with the net weight of each pack, then round up to the number of packs you need. The pack sizes reviewed are 200 g, 250 g and 500 g; this is a planning method, not a portion recommendation for each guest.
How should you store an opened bag of cashews?
Store nuts in a dry place in a well-sealed container and follow the label. For opened unsalted cashews, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives general storage guidance of six months in a kitchen cupboard and one year in the freezer. Don’t treat these timeframes as a guarantee for nuts that have been sitting out on a buffet, and throw them away if they’re rancid or mouldy.
Does roasting make cashews safe for someone with a cashew allergy?
No. The Dutch Food Allergy Foundation says the allergen remains stable when heated. Don’t serve cashews to anyone with a cashew allergy, even if they’re unsalted or roasted.
Does a product recall apply to all cashews from the same brand?
No. Always check the exact product and batch details. The NVWA warning concerned 170 g packs of unsalted Trader Joe’s cashews with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. Don’t eat cashews from that batch, and don’t extend the warning to a different pack without evidence that it’s from the affected batch.
Do the prices shown also apply to an order around Christmas?
Not necessarily: prices and offers may depend on when you buy or arrange delivery. PLUS states that the price at the time of delivery applies and that offers are only valid for deliveries within the promotional period. So check the price again when you place your order.