How to Soak Cashews (2024)

Published: · by Laurel Perry · About 4 minutes to read this article. · This post may contain affiliate links

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Learn how to soak cashews with 3 easy methods! Soak them overnight or in just 15 minutes. Creates perfect cashews for cream, dips, sauces, cheese, and more!

How to Soak Cashews (1)

Raw cashews are a dairy free and vegan staple! After being soaked, they can be blended with water to create everything from creamy pasta sauces, incredible sour cream, vegan cheese, cashew milk, and more!

Anytime you need a substitute for dairy in a recipe, cashews can step in and create an incrediblecreamy texture.

If you've ever had a recipe that called for soaked cashew, here is the definitive guide on how to soak them properly... in as little as 15 minutes!

Three easy methods to soaking cashews:

  • Overnight soak - the traditional method. Takes the longest.
  • Hot water soak - uses hot water to cut down on soak time.
  • Boiling - boil the cashews and you're ready to go in 15 minutes!

How to Soak Cashews (2)

Pictured: Vegan French Onion Dip made with soaked cashews.

When are the cashews fully soaked?

Before we dive into the methods, it's helpful to know when the cashews are finished soaking. Each method provides a range of time that the cashews will be finished in, but the easiest way is to taste one. The cashew should be plump and soft all the way through. If the center is still crunchy, keep soaking.

How to soak cashews overnight:

The traditional method for soaking cashews is an overnight soak.

Start by placing your cashews in a large bowl. The more cashews you need for a recipe, the larger your bowl should be. Pour plenty of filtered water over the cashews. The cashews will absorb some of the water as they soak, so more is better. I like 2-3 cups of water for every cup of cashews.

Cover and place in the fridge to soak for 6-8 hours.

How to Soak Cashews (3)

Benefits:

  • The most consistant results.
  • Easiest! Place them in the fridge and forget about it overnight.

Drawbacks:

  • Takes the longest.

How to quick soak cashews:

If you are short on time, try a hot water soak.

Place your cashews in a large bowl and bring water to a boil in a pot or tea kettle. If your faucet gets hot enough, you can also use tap water.

Cover the cashews with plenty of hot water. Let soak for 30-40 minutes.

To speed up things even faster, place a plate over the top of the bowl to trap in the heat.

How to Soak Cashews (4)

Benefits:

  • A quicker method.
  • Fairly hands off

Drawbacks:

  • Cashews may not soak as evenly.

The quickest way to soak cashews:

Boiling the cashews is hands down the quickest method soaking method.

Place the cashews in a medium-sized pot. Cover with water and bring it to a boil. Once it is at a rolling boil, turn off the heat, cover and let the cashews soak for 15 minutes.

How to Soak Cashews (5)

Benefits:

  • Fastest method!
  • Great for when you forget to soak cashews and you need them now.

Drawbacks:

  • Cashews may not soak as evenly.

How to Soak Cashews (6)

Pictured: Cinnamon Raisin Cupcakes with Cashew Cream Cheese Frosting

Benefits of Soaking Cashews?

Soaking cashews creates an incredible creamy texture for recipes, but it also boosts nutrition! Soaking nuts (of any kind) helps remove phytic acid, allowing our bodies to get more nutrients from the nuts, and makes them easier to digest.

Win, win!

Can you soak roasted cashews?

You can soak roasted cashews, but know that their roasted flavor will carry over into the next recipe. For the most neutral flavor, choose raw cashews.

Can you soak cashews too long?

Yes, if you soak them in the same water for too long, which is usually several days, they can go rancid. The water will get slimy and smell off.

An easy way to avoid this is to soak only the amount you need for a recipe. If you do soak too much, see tips on storage below.

Storage:

Soaked cashews can be drained (a must!) and stored in the fridge for 2-3 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.

Soaked Cashews Recipes:

How to Soak Cashews (7)

Pictured: Cashew Sour Cream

More kitchen tutorials!

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How to Soak Cashews (8)

How to Soak Cashews

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  • Author: Laurel
  • Prep Time: 0 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cup 1x
  • Category: Side
  • Method: No cook
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Learn how to soak cashews with 3 easy methods! Soak them overnight or in just 15 minutes. Creates perfect cashews for cream, dips, sauces, cheese, and more!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 cup cashews
  • 3 cups water

Instructions

Overnight soak:

  1. Place your cashews in a large bowl. Pour the water over the cashews. Cover and place in the fridge to soak for 6-8 hours.

Hot Water Soak:

  1. Place your cashews in a large bowl and bring the water to a boil in a pot or tea kettle. If your faucet gets hot enough, you can also use tap water.
  2. Cover the cashews with plenty of hot water. Let soak for 30-40 minutes. To speed up things even faster, place a plate over the top of the bowl to trap in the heat.

Boil Soak:

  1. Place the cashews in a medium-sized pot. Cover with water and bring it to a boil. Once it is at a rolling boil, turn off the heat, cover and let the cashews soak for 15 minutes.

Notes

Soak times are based off of whole raw cashews.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
  • Calories: 157
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 3mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 5g
How to Soak Cashews (2024)

FAQs

How to Soak Cashews? ›

Method - add the cashews to a bowl, fill with enough water to cover the nuts, and allow them to soak overnight. Pros - virtually no hands-on work; the cashews will remain raw and thus retain their full nutritional value.

What to do if you forgot to soak cashews overnight? ›

So to quickly soak cashews just the same – we have an alternative method. All you need to do is place your cashews into a pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, squirt some lemon juice in there (totally optional), remove from heat, and cover. Let that sit for about 15 minutes.

How long to soak cashews before dehydrating? ›

Soaking Nuts and Seeds Chart
NUT/SEEDSOAKING TIMEDEHYDRATING TIME
Cashews4-6 hours12-24 hours
Hazelnuts7 hours12-24 hours
Macadamia7 hours12-24 hours
Peanuts7 hours12-24 hours
7 more rows

How do you remove moisture from cashews? ›

After shelling the kernels and shell pieces are separated manually. The kernel after shelling will have moisture content more than 10 %. Therefore, dry the kernels to moisture content about 3.5-4.5%. Dry the kernel in hot chamber at 65-70 degree centigrade in perforated tray for 6-8 hours.

Should you soak cashews in the fridge or room temperature? ›

Add the cashews to a bowl and fill with enough water to fully cover the nuts. Then cover the bowl. Soak overnight or for at least 5-8 hours. The cashews can be left to soak at room temperature on the counter or in the fridge.

Why do you soak cashews in boiling water? ›

Soaking in water makes the cashews softer, which results in a smoother cream. The longer you soak the cashews, the softer they become, the smoother your cashew paste is going to be.

Is soaking cashews necessary? ›

Like many nuts and seeds, cashews contain phytic acid, an anti-nutrient that can hinder mineral absorption. Soaking helps to reduce the phytic acid content, promoting better absorption of minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and calcium.

Can you eat raw cashews without soaking? ›

In addition to phytic acid, cashews also contain a large number of enzyme inhibitors. When too many of these inhibitors are present, it can make the nut hard to digest. Soaking is a way to neutralize some of these enzymes, allowing for proper digestion when you eat the cashews.

How many cashews to eat per day? ›

How many cashews can you eat in a day? The nutty and creamy flavor of cashews can be tempting, and it's easy to end up consuming too much in one sitting. Try to consume no more than one ounce (28.35 grams) of medium cashew a day to reap health benefits. A single serving of cashews contains about 18 nuts.

Which nuts should not be soaked? ›

Nagar recommended consuming a variety of nuts without the need for soaking, such as almonds (4), walnuts(2), cashews(1-2), pistachios, and pecans daily ensures a diverse intake of nutrients, as different nuts offer unique nutritional profiles.

Can soaked nuts go bad? ›

You can certainly eat soaked nuts without any further ado. In fact, I rather like soaked walnuts, which taste a little juicier and less bitter than fresh. But soaked nuts are a little soggy and can get moldy if not refrigerated and consumed within a couple of days.

How to store nuts after soaking? ›

Store soaked and dehydrated nuts in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. This helps to maintain their freshness and prevent them from becoming soft or rancid. Refrigeration can further extend their shelf life.

How to quickly soak cashews? ›

This is done by pouring boiling water over your raw cashews and letting it sit for 1-2 hours. If you are in so much of a rush that you don't have time to quick soak them and wait the hour, you can do the super speedy method by boiling them on the stovetop for 15 minutes.

Why are my cashews purple after soaking? ›

Apparently, when you soak your cashews for too long, they turn slightly purple which doesn't mean they've gone bad, it just means they're oversoaked and probably soggy.

Do you have to soak raw cashews before roasting? ›

You do not need to, but soaking them before roasting them could result in a crunchier texture. And if you are seasoning the cashews, soaking them first will help the nuts absorb the flavors. If you choose to soak them, fully submerge them in room temperature water for about 3 hours.

Should cashews be soaked before eating? ›

Like many nuts and seeds, cashews contain phytic acid, an anti-nutrient that can hinder mineral absorption. Soaking helps to reduce the phytic acid content, promoting better absorption of minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and calcium.

What are the benefits of eating cashews soaked in water? ›

Speaking of the benefits of soaked cashew nuts, nutritionist Ekta Sood, Diet Dazzle said, “Soaking cashews before consumption can improve their digestibility, increase nutrient availability, enhance creaminess, reduce anti-nutrients, and improve flavour.”

Do you need to soak raw cashews before blending? ›

However, if you have a less powerful blender, I do recommend soaking cashews for at least 4 hours. Just place the cashews in a bowl, cover them with water, and set them aside. After they've soaked, drain and rinse the cashews and proceed with the recipe below. Otherwise, your cream will be grainy.

Should you soak cashews before making cashew butter? ›

The easiest way to make homemade cashew butter is to soak the cashews first. Not only will it soften the cashews, it dissolves the natural inhibitors that put our digestive systems into overdrive. It allows our bodies to derive optimal nutrition from the cashews in the digestive process.

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