Way, Way OT Unsalted Cashews

A guy at work is selling unsalted, ready to eat cashews for $25/ 25#'s. Some of the guys are buying them and are going to try to soak them in a salt brine and then bake a while. Will this work?? Any suggestions on how to get them salty?? Thanks, Chris

Seems like a good deal for 25 lbs. I'm actually a fan of those unsalted, a handful or so a day.

Seems there are many ways to accomplish salting cashews according to the results of doing a search on the web. Every so often I'll get some that are salted, but they are just fine without it too.

Popcorn salt is ground very fine... I'd think there is enough natural oil in the cashews to make it stick (unlike air-popped popcorn which is very dry).

BUT if you start eating them without salt - you'll actually grow to like them that way best. I buy unsalted almonds and walnuts to keep on hand at work... a handful while I'm working is usually my breakfast. I don't even like salted ones anymore.

super99,

I'm not aware of any food allergies that I have except for cashews.

I'm very sensitive to poison ivy, and if I have a serious exposure to it, I have to have shots and pills for an extended period of time to recover from it.

Here's an excerpt from Healthy Living about cashews:

A member of the Anacardiaceae family, the cashew is a nut and is botanically related to mangoes, pistachios and poison ivy. Cashew trees are native to Brazil's ...

Cashews are somehow related to poison ivy. I avoid them at all costs.

Tom in TN

Yes, the double wall shell apparently contains a similar substance to Urushiol which is what is found in poison ivy and causes such sever dermatitis, (medical term for it). Roasting apparently neutralizes it. Not sure how raw cashews are edible, seems those are not roasted, must be another process ?

Processing Cashews

You can't just shell and eat cashew nuts like other nuts. Their shell is full of a horrible, caustic liquid that will burn holes into you!
The challenge is to separate the nut from the shell without getting the stuff on your skin, or worse, into your eyes.
One method is to freeze the shells, and then separate the shell from the nut before it thaws. You still need gloves and long clothes and I'd also use safety glasses, just in case. The nuts can be eaten raw, but please, please make sure they are not contaminated with any of that liquid!
The roasting method requires oil, and a clear mask and long gloves and sleeves and pants and an apron...
Heat the oil to 210°C and then drop the nuts into it for two minutes. No longer or they will become too brittle. Be careful when putting the nuts in because they will squirt that liquid at you as they hiss and jump in the oil...
When they are ready cool them in a bucket of water, get them out of the shell, and dry them. Yum. (Or so I'm told. I have to admit that I haven't tried that method yet...)
Another roasting method is to heat the nuts for a minute in an open pan with holes (so the caustic liquid can drain away). I think you are supposed to do that over an open fire. Don't breathe in the fumes, and if the nuts catch fire douse them with water... After the roasting you have to put the nuts into sawdust or something absorbent to remove the last of the caustic liquid.
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What's the chance of getting a bag shipped to me?

Back in the 50's Dad bought a 40# bag of raw peanuts, whole family loved peanuts and got a good price. We never did figure out how to get them salted and roasted. Finally fed them to the chickens.