For vegan dishes, choose a variety with a suitable ingredients list. Unroasted, unsalted cashews are a good choice if you want to add your own seasonings. A seasoned variety may be suitable for snacking, but check the ingredients and processing details for that specific pack. Choose a pack size that suits how much you use, and seal it securely once opened.
If you buy cashews regularly, check the ingredients of the specific variety and choose an amount you’ll use up. The packs we looked at vary in weight and how the nuts are prepared; Albert Heijn and Jumbo provide product-specific ingredients information.
For sauces, curries, baking or creamy dishes, an unroasted, unsalted base can be handy, as you can add your own seasonings. Albert Heijn and PLUS list cashews as the only ingredient in the varieties mentioned; Eetspiratie describes cashews as an ingredient for cooking and baking.
If you only use cashews now and then, choose a pack size that suits your usage rather than buying based on the packaging alone. The 200 g PLUS variety is a smaller vegan option. Once opened, store nuts in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark, dry place, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
First decide what you’ll use the cashews for and how much you’ll get through. Then check the ingredients, how they’re prepared and how the variety should be stored.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and usage | Compare the net weight with how much you usually use and can store. | If I want to avoid leaving a large bag open for a long time, I’ll choose a pack size that suits my usage; around 31% of consumers prioritise a suitable quantity. |
| Vegan ingredients | Read the ingredients and check whether the exact variety is labelled vegan. | If I’m buying for vegan use, I want to be able to check the ingredients of that exact variety; around 25% of consumers give plant-based ingredients the highest priority. |
| Cooking or snacking | Check whether the nuts are unroasted or roasted, and whether salt, oil or seasonings have been added. | For a neutral base, I want to add my own flavour, while a seasoned variety may be ready to eat as a snack; around 19% of consumers choose mainly according to whether a product is suitable for cooking or snacking. |
| Storage after opening | Follow the label and use a resealable pack or storage container. | If I won’t use up the pack quickly, I want to be able to seal and store it properly once opened; around 13% of consumers prioritise having a manageable amount in stock. |
| Origin information | Check which origin or certification information applies to the specific product range. | If I want to take product-specific origin information into account, I’ll check what’s stated on the exact pack; around 12% of consumers give verifiable origin information the highest priority. |
A bigger bag also means you’ll need to store more nuts properly after opening. The 200 g PLUS pack we looked at is a smaller option; the right size depends on how often you use cashews.
Choose a quantity that suits your usage, and check how to seal the pack after opening.
These are different product characteristics. For example, Jumbo lists sunflower oil in the unsalted multipack we looked at, while the unroasted AH Terra variety has different ingredients.
Check the ingredients, preparation method and vegan labelling separately on the pack of the exact variety.
Nuts can absorb odours and are susceptible to mould. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing them in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark, dry place.
Seal the bag or storage container carefully after use, and follow the instructions on the specific product label too.
AH Terra Unroasted Cashews come in a 500 g pack for anyone looking for an unroasted base.
Jumbo offers unsalted cashews, among other options, in a 500 g multipack.
PLUS Unsalted Unroasted Cashews come in a smaller 200 g pack.
Lidl features its Alesto nut range and also describes Way To Go cashews as fairtrade.
ALDI offers Trader Joe’s cashews in a 500 g pack, in salted and unsalted varieties.
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted with no added oil; the Oven Roasted pack we looked at is a smaller snack-size option.
This selection on Joybuy includes larger packs for stocking up and smaller packs for snacking or baking. They vary in weight, salt content and how they’re prepared. Check the ingredients of the exact variety before choosing it for vegan use.
Image unavailable
A larger pack for stocking up and snacking; the product information also mentions baking and cooking.
The ingredients information lists 99% cashews and salt. Contains cashews and is not suitable for people with a cashew allergy.
Image unavailable
The product description suggests this larger pack for snacking and baking.
The ingredients information lists cashew kernels and salt; the net weight is 500 g. Contains cashews and is not suitable for people with a cashew allergy.
Image unavailable
A smaller pack for anyone looking for roasted, unsalted cashews to snack on, cook with or bake with.
The product name says roasted and unsalted; the ingredients information lists cashews. Contains cashews and is not suitable for people with a cashew allergy.
Image unavailable
The product description suggests using these for snacking, adding to yoghurt or muesli, baking and desserts.
The ingredients information lists cashew kernels as the only ingredient; the pack contains 160 g. Contains cashews and is not suitable for people with a cashew allergy.
Image unavailable
A smaller pack of salted cashews for anyone looking for a seasoned snack.
The ingredients information lists cashews, sunflower oil and salt; the pack contains 150 g. Contains cashews and is not suitable for people with a cashew allergy.
No. The Jumbo multipack we looked at is unsalted but contains sunflower oil. AH Terra and PLUS have separate varieties labelled unroasted and unsalted. Check both how the nuts are prepared and the ingredients on the pack you’re buying.
No. The vegan-labelled varieties from AH Terra and PLUS contain cashews and list possible other allergens. Check the allergen information separately from the vegan label; the NVWA says that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods.
Store the nuts in a tightly sealed container or pack in a cool, dark, dry place. For opened unsalted cashews, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing them for 6 months in a kitchen cupboard or 1 year in the freezer; also follow the label. Don’t eat nuts that are mouldy or clearly rancid.
For the creamy dish described by Eetspiratie, soaked and blended cashews are used. Choose an unroasted, unsalted base if you want to add your own seasonings, and follow the specific recipe for preparation and quantities.
No. The NVWA warning concerns Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews in a 170 g pack, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026, due to possible metal fragments. Do not eat a pack matching that description; the warning does not automatically apply to every pack size.
