The humble Pistachio (Pistacia vera) is a nut for the ages. Packed to the brim with valuable nutrients, it only makes sense to add this delectable treat to your kitchen pantry. Buying pistachios is easy as pie, as you’ll soon find out.
A Basic Introduction to the Flavorful and Healthy Pistachio Nut
The noble pistachio is part of the cashew family of nuts. Pistachios can be found flavoring cakes, ice creams, sauces, and puddings. In other words, they are more than just an afternoon snack. In fact, it’s been found that pistachios can have a positive effect on everything from cardiovascular issues to extending our lifespan. Pistachios are filled with not only nutrients but antioxidants as well. The more prevalent nutrients found in pistachios include:
- Protein
- Fiber
- Potassium
- Co-Enzyme 10
- B6, Thiamin
- Copper
- Phosphorus
They also offer excellent support for your cardiovascular system:
“Tree nuts, including pistachios, can be part of a heart-healthy diet. Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may lower the risk of heart disease.”
Once you delve deeper into the modest pistachio, you’ll find that this tiny nut is an asset to just about all our bodily systems. From our cellular health to our cardiovascular health, adding pistachio to your shopping list isn’t just a smart thing to do, but a crucial one.
Buying Pistachios is Both Easy and Rewarding
When it comes down to buying pistachios, know that you’ll have more than enough choices. First of all, you’ll most definitely find this nut at your local supermarket. If for some reason you’re having trouble locating them in your area, you can get help by contacting the American Pistachio Growers Association. Besides your local supermarket you can find pistachios at the following locations:
- Online sites like Walmart, Target, and Amazon
- Farmers Markets
- Certain health food stores
- International supermarkets
- Purchase directly from pistachio growers
Pistachios Originated in West Asia Before Becoming a Sought After Global Food
The pistachios we enjoy today originated in the Middle East. In fact, ancient Persians gave the humble pistachio an affectionate nickname, “the smiling nut”. This is due to the “smile” the pistachio gets after its shell cracks. By the 19th century, this healthful snack was grown for commercial consumption in the West and Australia.
Buying Pistachios is a Simple Affair Once You Know Where to Find Them
When it comes down to buying pistachios in your local grocery, you’ll be happy to know that they are plentiful food. If your supermarket has a nut section in the produce department, you’ll most definitely find them there.
However, that’s not the only place. If your supermarket has an international section that hosts foods from all over the world, there’s a good chance you’ll find them in that aisle as well.
Next, roll your shopping cart over to the goodies and snack aisle. Here, you’ll find pistachios in the nut section of the snack aisle. Not only that, but don’t forget to check the end caps at the checkout line, as there’s a high probability of seeing a few bags of pistachios hanging next to the peanuts, chocolate bars, and candies.
Finally, know that the baking aisle may have chopped or ground pistachio nuts that have been prepped for baking, as well as canned pistachio filling.
Things to Consider Before Buying Pistachios
If this is your first time buying pistachios, it’s quite possible you could be overwhelmed by the wide variety. After all, these nuts aren’t cheap, so which do you try first? To illustrate, here is a sampling of the type of pistachios which are available to you:
- Dry-roasted salted and shelled
- In-shell, dry roasted, salted with sea salt
- Raw shelled pistachios
- Raw in-shell pistachios
- Pistachio paste
- Pistachio powder
- Closed shell pistachios
- Cracked shell pistachios
When laid out in such a way, you can easily decide which type you’ll like best when buying pistachios. For instance, if you love the taste of salted chips and nuts then the dry roasted, salted, and shelled would be the best choice. If you wish to include this tasty nut in a smoothie, the maybe unsalted raw, shelled pistachios would be your best choice.
An Expensive Nut, Just How Much Do They Cost?
While pistachios aren’t exactly a luxury food, they’re not cheap either. The nutrient-dense pistachio is a flavorful nut that is high in demand and high in price. The reason buying pistachios can take a bite out of your pocketbook is due to the growing process. Growing top-notch costs farmers a pretty penny. In order to recoup their expenses and get a profit means the prices can get rather high. If the environment isn’t conducive to pistachio farming, you can expect the prices to go up even further. The average price for pistachios is around $20 per pound. However, better deals can be found on sites like nut.com, Walmart, and Amazon.
- Great Value Roasted, Salted, and Shelled Pistachios, 12 ounces: $9.98
- Setton Farms Dry Roasted Pistachios, 2 pounds: $19.99
- Nuts.com Roasted, Salted Pistachios, 1 pound: $12.99
When buying pistachios, you’ll soon note that some are more expensive than others. For instance, shelled pistachios are much more expensive due to the added process of shelling the nuts. Also, organic pistachios are more expensive since the growing process is more expensive and complex.
The most expensive pistachio is the Turkish pistachio. For instance, the Anterp Gold Series will cost you $19.00 per pound. However, you may think it is worth the price once you taste them, as they are known as the most flavorful pistachio nuts in the world, a taste described by enthusiasts as rich and robust.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, a brief but concise article about buying pistachios. As you can see, this delicious nut is in high demand, which means there are multiple places to purchase them. Pistachios can be found at your local grocers, online, at farmers’ markets, and even from local growers. Indeed, there’s no shortage of this healthy, nutrient-packed nut. The pistachio comes with many health benefits which makes it more than worth its price. These benefits include helping to develop a strong immune system, contributing to longevity, and promoting cellular health as well as cardiovascular benefits. All in all, it can be said that buying pistachios is an important addition to anyone’s well-stocked pantry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, most definitely. Buying pistachios may seem expensive at first glance, but their health benefits outweigh the costs.
When you buy pistachios, you’re not only getting a tasty snack filled with fiber, but you’re also getting a snack packed with Co-Enzyme 10. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells, and Co-Enzyme 10 feeds them so they stay healthy. Co-Enzyme 10 is plentiful in pistachios.
Yes. Though some shoppers might be afraid to purchase green pistachios thinking it’s mold, such is not the case. Here, the green color signifies the high antioxidant content.
When buying pistachios to serve as a snack, paying attention to the Pistachio Principle can actually help you lower your caloric intake when consuming these little nibbles. The Pistachio Principle states that those who buy and snack on in-shell pistachios consume up to 41 percent fewer nuts than those who gobble-shelled pistachios.
Yes, pistachios are a good source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, and have been shown to have a number of health benefits, including improving heart health and reducing the risk of certain diseases.
