Peanut vs Cashew: Difference and Comparison

Nuts are widely used around the world in a number of ways that people can’t even imagine. From desserts to confectionery, from body butter to even eatable butter, nuts are used in a variety of things.

Peanuts and cashew are known to be very nutrition-filled and rich in a lot of aspects.

Key Takeaways

  1. Peanuts are legumes that grow underground, while cashews are seeds that grow on trees.
  2. Peanuts are less expensive than cashews due to their easier cultivation process and higher yield.
  3. Cashews have a creamier, buttery texture and a mild taste, while peanuts have a more distinct, earthy flavor.

Peanut vs Cashew

Cashews are creamier and sweeter, while peanuts have a nuttier flavor. Cashews are slightly higher in calories than peanuts but also higher in fiber, protein, and essential minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus. Peanuts are higher in fat and contain more vitamin E and folate.

Peanut vs Cashew

Peanuts are very versatile. They are bean-shaped and dark brown, beige, and red in color. Peanuts are very rich in nutrients and fats.

A lot of products are made using peanuts like peanut oil, peanut butter, body lotions, creams and are even used extensively in sweets and desserts. 

Cashews are termed luxurious food items. They are very expensive and grow in coastal areas. Cashews are kidney-shaped and are white, beige, and cream-colored.

Just like peanuts, cashews are rich in protein and fat and have a water content of 5.5%.

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonPeanutCashew
ClassificationThese come from the Arachis Genus family of plants.These come from the Anacardium Genus family of plants.
AppearanceThese are dark brown, red, or beige colored.They are beige and white in color.
Water contentThe water content of peanuts is 6.5%The water content of cashew is 5.5%
CaloriesThere are 567 calories per 100 gms of peanuts.There are 553 calories per 100 grams of cashew.
Fats and ProteinsThey are richer in both.They are less rich in both.
Pin This Now to Remember It Later
Pin This

What is Peanut?

Peanuts or groundnuts are widely available and used majorly on a daily basis. These are little bean-shaped nuts.

Also Read:  Icing Sugar vs Powdered Sugar: Difference and Comparison

Its out shell is brown, resembling a sort of muddy color, while the nuts have a reddish-brown coating and beige-colored insides.

It is a matter of the fact that many food products that we consume daily include peanuts in one way or the other.

Starting from the roots, it is known that peanuts belong to the plant family known as the Arachis Genus. Also, the scientific name of peanuts is Arachis hypogaea.

Since ancient times, peanuts have been consumed in a roasted form, and with time humans learned how to extract oil from it. Groundnut oil is widely used for food preparation, salad dressing, and even to light up a fire.

Apart from this, a peanut is consumed in a number of different ways that include salads, peanut butter, protein bars, protein shakes, confectionery, sweets, and even dips.

Peanuts are also known to be used in skincare products like body lotion and body butter as it gives the skin proper moisture. In terms of cost, peanuts are very cheap and are available at every time of the year at a low cost.

Some people buy it with shells, whereas others buy with the shell removed. It can be eaten raw, roasted, and cooked. Peanuts have 567 calories in hundred grams of their content and around 6.7% water content per nut.

peanuts

What is Cashew?

Cashews are the most loved nuts in the world, according to many surveys. These very closely resemble the shape of kidneys or ears.

Cashews have an uneven surface and are mostly white or creamish. These belong to the family of plants called the Anacardium Genus.

Also Read:  White Onions vs Yellow Onions: Difference and Comparison

A very nutrient-rich food item, cashews are used in several ways, whether it is in food or skincare.

Cashews can be mainly found in sweets like Indian milk sweets, biscuits, cookies, pastries, cakes, custard, and milkshakes.

It even has a very renowned product made just by cashews that is cashew butter and is consumed on a worldly basis.

There are also many people who are allergic to nuts and therefore must take care of consuming them in minor quantities or avoiding them completely depending upon the severity of the allergy. 

Cashews are very expensive, especially when compared to peanuts. These are also included in energy bars, and protein shakes due to their high nutritional value.

100-gram cashews contain as much as 553 calories.They are also not left behind in terms of water content and have about 5.5% of water content.

There is no denying the fact that cashews are slightly less rich in protein and fats, and so people who are trying to build muscle choose peanut-containing protein shakes instead of cashews.

cashew

Main Differences Between Peanut and Cashew

  1. Peanuts are from the plant family known as Arachis Genus, while cashews are from the plant family known as Anacardium Genus.
  2. Peanuts are bean-shaped and red, dark brown, and beige. On the other hand, cashews are kidney-shaped and cream, beige or white in color.
  3. These nuts also consist of water. The percentage of water in peanuts is 6.5, whereas the percentage of water in cashews is 5.5.
  4. These are also very rich in calories. Peanuts have 567 calories in 100 grams, whereas cashews have 553 calories in 100 grams.
  5. Peanuts are known to be much richer in proteins as well as fats as compared to cashews.
Difference Between Peanut and Cashew
References
  1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01447.x
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161589007007687
dot 1
One request?

I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️

Sandeep Bhandari
Sandeep Bhandari

Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want to save this article for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own articles box!