Uninvited guests: What lurks inside your cashew nuts
Although cashews are very healthy, it's better to be cautious when eating them, not only because they are pretty caloric. In these seemingly harmless nuts, you can find uninvited guests who can quickly ruin the pleasure of crunching.
5 August 2024 11:08
Cashews are a source of healthy fats and fibre, B vitamins, vitamin K, and minerals such as magnesium, copper, and phosphorus. One can confidently say that these small nuts are a great snack and a treasure trove of health. However, they can surprise you not only with their taste or versatility in the kitchen. One person painfully found this out.
Worms in cashew nuts
An Instagram user showed how she splits cashews in half. Inside, she finds an unpleasant surprise—unappetizing insect larvae. As she mentioned in the comments, she never thought to check cashews before and usually just tossed them into a blender to make homemade cashew butter.
The "extras" were not only in one nut. Commenters, however, approached the issue with considerable humour.
Grandma used to say that if there's a worm, it means it's healthy and natural.
The worm's problem is not mine.
My opinion on this matter is that since I have been happily consuming cashews with worms and nothing happened to me, it roughly means you can ignore their presence. If I hadn't seen this video, it wouldn't have even occurred to me to check them, so I won't be doing it since everything has been fine so far, and besides, as many experts noted, an extra portion of protein adds to health 🙂
Time to clean up
The insects found by the woman are likely pantry moth larvae. They could have been brought in with other products or flown in from a neighbour's place. Pantry moths are not always the result of a messy kitchen; often, it's just bad luck. There are also cases where a contaminated product batch is the source, so you get the moths for free.
How to get rid of moths?
If moths have already settled in the kitchen, radical actions will be necessary:
- Inspect supplies: Search the cabinets and throw away any products where you notice the presence of moths or their larvae.
- Clean cabinets: Thoroughly wash the cabinets with water mixed with vinegar and dish soap. The smell of vinegar will deter moths.
- Moth traps: Place adhesive traps in areas where you store food products. They will help catch flying insects.
- Aromatic deterrents: Place bay leaves, allspice, cloves, lavender, or mint in the cabinets. Moths cannot stand these smells.
Getting rid of pantry moths requires consistency and attention to the cleanliness of kitchen supplies. Remember to check your products and store them in airtight containers regularly.
