Hosts planning drinks and keeping an eye on quantities
You’re buying nuts to serve with drinks and want to choose a pack that suits how much you expect to serve. Also think about how you could use any leftovers later.
Who is this relevant for?
Households looking to use up leftovers
You’re looking for a pack that works for drinks with friends as well as for later use. The product ranges described here include different pack sizes from AH and PLUS. It’s still important to seal the pack properly and follow the storage advice for the product you choose.
Hosts who pay attention to ingredients
You’re choosing between unsalted nuts and coated party nuts, while keeping any guests’ allergies in mind. Peanuts and tree nuts are separate allergen categories, so check the information on the packaging.
What should you look for when buying?
First choose the type of product you want to serve, then work out how much you need, and finally check the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and pack size | Compare the pack size with how much you expect to use for drinks and how you’ll store any leftovers. | If I don’t want to be left with unused contents, I choose a pack size that suits the occasion and any later use; around 27% of consumers put the expected value of a larger pack first. |
| Storing leftovers | Check whether the pack can be resealed and follow the storage advice on that exact pack. | If I have nuts left over, I want to know how to store the pack as instructed; around 20% of consumers prioritise getting the quantity right. |
| Flavour and texture | Check whether you’re buying whole nuts, a nut mix or coated peanuts, and look at the flavour variety. | If I want to serve a particular flavour or texture with drinks, I start by choosing the type and variety; around 20% of consumers make this their main consideration. |
| Ingredients and preparation | Read the ingredients and check separately whether the nuts are unsalted, unroasted or roasted. | If I’m looking for an unsalted mix, I also want to know how the nuts have been prepared; around 20% of consumers choose mainly according to the ingredients they want. |
| Allergens | Read the allergen information and any precautionary warnings for the exact flavour and pack. | If a guest has an allergy, I check the product information before serving anything; around 13% of consumers give the suitability for guests with allergies the greatest importance. |
Common pitfalls
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Choosing a nut mix without reading the label
Mixes can contain different types of nuts, and a warning about possible cross-contamination may be relevant even if a particular nut isn’t listed as an ingredient.
Read the ingredients and precautionary warnings for the exact flavour and pack before serving. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains the allergen information requirements for prepacked products.
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Assuming a larger pack is automatically the right choice
A larger pack contains more, but that doesn’t mean it will suit the quantity you need. Extra contents also mean you’ll need a plan for any leftovers.
Choose a pack size based on how much you expect to use, and check how to store the product after opening.
A larger pack means a higher upfront cost and could leave you with unused contents.
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Confusing unsalted with unroasted
Unsalted and unroasted describe different qualities. For example, AH’s product information lists baked or roasted ingredients and sunflower oil, while the 500 g PLUS mix is described as unroasted.
Check both the preparation method and the ingredients if you’re looking for a particular type of product.
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Treating the best-before date as a fixed shelf life after opening
A date on an unopened pack doesn’t tell you how long the product will keep after opening. Instructions can vary from one product to another.
Follow the storage advice on the pack you choose; don’t assume it gives a general shelf life after opening.
If you don’t follow the product advice, you could lose perfectly good leftovers or throw them away unnecessarily.
Relevant brands to consider
Duyvis
Worth considering for Borrelnootjes: peanuts with a crispy dough coating, available in different flavours. Duyvis describes these products as peanuts with a crispy coating, so they aren’t a pure mix of tree nuts.
- The brand description specifies the product type and range of flavours.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety; a flavour description isn’t an independent assessment.
Albert Heijn
The 500 g AH Unsalted Nut Mix is an almond-rich mix for serving with drinks or using later.
- According to the product information, the mix contains 43% almonds, 35% hazelnuts, 15% walnuts and 5% Brazil nuts, with sunflower oil. The pack lists 20 portions of 25 g.
- The mix isn’t entirely unroasted and has a different composition from a mix containing cashews. This information applies to this product, not the entire AH range.
Jumbo
The 500 g Unroasted Nut Mix Value Pack is an unsalted mix of walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews and almonds.
- The product page lists 30% walnuts, 30% hazelnuts, 20% cashews and 20% almonds.
- On 12 October 2026, the product page stated that the manufacturer was temporarily unable to supply the product, either online or in store. So the product description doesn’t confirm that it’s currently available to buy.
Lidl
Lidl stocks the Alesto range of nuts and party snacks, and also lists Duyvis Borrelnootjes in 500 g packs.
- The Duyvis varieties listed are provencale and cocktail.
- The Lidl listing says the product is sold in store, but doesn’t say whether a particular branch has it in stock. The range information doesn’t confirm that every Alesto product comes in a large pack.
ALDI
Trader Joe’s Unsalted Nut Mix, 500 g, is a mix of almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
- The Dutch product page confirms the pack size and the types of nuts listed.
- The percentages and preparation method aren’t described in full, so don’t assume the mix has the same proportions as other products or is entirely unroasted.
PLUS
PLUS offers unroasted, unsalted nut mixes in 500 g and 200 g packs.
- The 500 g pack lists the percentages of the four types of nuts used.
- The 200 g pack’s page lists the same types of nuts but doesn’t give percentages. So don’t assume the two packs have exactly the same composition.
Product options at Joybuy
This selection of Joybuy products ranges from nut mixes and portion packs to pistachios and coated party nuts. Compare the pack size and instructions with what you’re looking for to serve with drinks.
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g’woon Unroasted Mixed Nuts, 500 g
A good fit for drinks if you’re looking for an unroasted, unsalted mix of different nuts.
The description lists 30% hazelnuts, 30% walnuts, 20% almonds and 20% cashews. May contain traces of peanuts and other nuts.
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BE&CHEERY Premium Macadamia Nuts, 500 g
An option if you want to serve one particular type of nut with drinks.
The product description lists 100% macadamia nuts, with no added salt, sugar or seasoning. It says the contents should be consumed immediately after opening.
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J.ZAO Classic Daily-Nut Mix, 750 g / 30 Sachets
The individual sachets may be useful if you want to serve or store portions separately.
The pack contains 30 sachets of 25 g. The mix described includes walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and dried fruit. It isn’t a nut-only mix; the cranberries contain sugar.
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J.ZAO Pistachios, 1 kg
A good option if you want to serve pistachios and don’t mind guests having to shell them at the table.
The description lists salted pistachios in shells: 99% pistachios and 1% salt. They need to be shelled before eating.
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Duyvis Oriental Borrelnootjes, 275 g
An option if you want to serve seasoned peanuts with a crispy coating as part of your drinks spread.
The product description lists 49% peanuts and a mild curry flavour. Contains peanuts, gluten (wheat and barley) and soya; may contain milk, nuts and mustard.
Frequently asked questions
How many guests can you serve with 500 g of nuts?
At 25 g per portion, 500 g makes 20 portions; AH also states this for its own Unsalted Nut Mix. That doesn’t make 20 guests a fixed rule: take into account what else you’re serving and how many nuts you want to offer.
How should you store an opened pack?
Follow the storage advice on the pack for the product you’ve chosen. AH says to store its own Nut Mix in a cool, dry place and reseal it properly after use; PLUS advises storing its 500 g mix in a dry, dark place. Don’t use the best-before date on an unopened pack to assume a fixed shelf life after opening.
Do you need to throw nuts away as soon as they reach their best-before date?
Not just because of the best-before date on an unopened pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking, smelling and tasting the product after that date. A best-before date is different from a use-by date; also follow the storage and usage instructions on the pack.
Which allergen information should you check?
Check the ingredients list and any precautionary warnings on the exact pack. The NVWA explains that allergen information must appear on prepacked foods and that peanuts and nuts are listed separately. The product name alone doesn’t tell you whether a variety is suitable for a guest with an allergy.
Can you give whole nuts to young children?
According to the MDL Fonds, whole nuts aren’t safe for children under four because of the risk of choking. So don’t serve these children the same whole nuts from the bowl; remember to consider any allergies separately.