Sprouted cashews are raw cashews that have been soaked in water, initiating the germination process, the first stage of plant growth.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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The Sprouting Process: Unlike true sprouting where a visible sprout emerges, most commercially available "sprouted" cashews have only undergone the initial soaking phase. This typically involves submerging raw cashews in water for a period ranging from 3 to 12 hours.
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Why Sprout Nuts? Sprouting is believed to offer several potential benefits:
- Improved Digestibility: Soaking may break down phytic acid, an antinutrient that can inhibit the absorption of certain minerals. This can potentially make the cashews easier to digest.
- Enhanced Nutrient Availability: The reduction of phytic acid can also lead to better absorption of vitamins and minerals present in the cashews.
- Altered Texture: Sprouting can result in a slightly softer and creamier texture compared to raw cashews.
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Important Note about Cashews: Raw cashews as sold commercially have been steamed to remove the toxic oil urushiol found in their shells. Therefore, sprouted cashews begin as steamed cashews that are then soaked. This is important because true raw cashews are unsafe to eat.
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How to use sprouted cashews: They can be consumed as a snack or can be further processed into cashew butter, cashew milk, or used as an ingredient in various recipes.
In essence, sprouted cashews are raw cashews that have been briefly soaked in water to begin the germination process, potentially offering improved digestibility and nutrient availability.
