Cashew Grades Explained: Whole Nuts, Splits, Butts and Pieces

Every cashew starts the same way, but by the time it reaches a shop it's been sorted into grades. That's why you'll see listings for whole cashews, splits and pieces, and codes like W320 or W240. The nuts taste the same, but the grade changes the size, the look and the price.

Raw cashews are cleaned, then cooked or steamed so the shell can be opened safely. Our post on how Sri Lankan cashews are roasted explains why the shell has to be handled that way.

The shell is then opened and the kernel is taken out. The kernel still has a thin skin, which is peeled off. Finally the kernels are sorted by size, color and whether they're whole or broken, and that last step gives you the grades.

A cashew kernel is curved and fairly delicate, and it sits inside a shell that's an awkward kidney shape. Opening the shell without damaging the nut takes care, whether it's done by hand or by machine. A cut in the wrong place, or a shell that's too tight or too brittle, can crack the kernel.

A kernel is also naturally made of two halves joined together. Those halves can separate along that line, and that gives you splits. Peeling the skin and handling the nuts afterwards can break more of them. Because whole kernels are worth the most, processors try to protect them, and good equipment and careful handling reduce how many break.

A kernel counts as whole when it keeps the full cashew shape, with no more than a small part broken off. Whole kernels are graded by size using a W number, such as W180, W240 or W320.

The number is roughly how many kernels it takes to make up a pound. So a smaller number means bigger nuts: W180 is among the largest, W320 is a common mid-size, and W450 is smaller. Bigger grades usually cost more. The nuts are also sorted by color, with paler kernels generally graded higher.

Splits: a kernel that has separated into its two halves along the natural line.

Butts: a kernel broken crosswise, with the two halves still joined. It's a large part of a whole nut, but not a whole one.

Pieces: kernels broken into more than two parts. These are often sold as large or small pieces.

Baby bits: very small fragments, mostly used as an ingredient in food products.

Grading standards differ a little between processors and countries, so treat these as general descriptions and check how a seller describes theirs.

Not for taste. A split or a piece is the same nut, with the same flavor and nutrition. What changes is the shape, the size and the price. Whole nuts look best and suit snacking and gifting, which is why they cost more. Splits and pieces are the same cashew in smaller shapes.

For snacking, serving to guests or giving as a gift, buy whole nuts. For cooking, such as blending into a curry gravy, making cashew butter or baking, splits and pieces do the job for less. Our post on ways to use roasted cashews has ideas.

Whichever you choose, compare the price per kilo and read what the listing says the nuts are. Our kaju price guide and cashew price guide show how to do that, and you can browse our cashews to see how our own products are described.

If you enjoyed this, you might also like our guides to how a cashew is grown and processed and raw vs roasted cashews.