Pistaschio Nuts

[burdee]

At a recent wedding we received small bags of pistaschio nuts as a parting gift. I had heard those nuts were nutritious and I like most nuts. However, when I tried them, I noticed a powdery coating on the shell. I thought they tasted like they were lightly salted and roasted, but I still wondered what that powdery coating was. I tried those nuts during the week my hubby was home cross-contaminating my cutting board with dairy (which I don't tolerate) So I don't know whether I reacted to those pistaschios or not. I tried another on this morning and now I'm worried ....

Are forms of wheat used to coat some nuts? I notice a 'powdery' coating on macadamia nuts in jars by Mauna Loa, but I know those are safe. What's your experience and/or knowledge with pistaschio nuts? Are they always, sometimes or rarely gluten-free?

BURDEE

[Nantzie]

I was actually wondering about this the other day because I like pistachios too. I figured I better find out for sure before I buy some, but just kept putting it off until I saw your post.

I emailed the CA Pistachio Board and they said that if the ingredients just say pistachios and salt, then it should just be salt. However, they said that you should check the individual label, and check with the individual manufacturer to be sure.

I know that in the salting process of things like this, they don't use big grains of table salt like we do. So it may be that they use a liquid salt solution that would evaporate in the roasting process, leaving the powdery coating (evaporated liquid salt?). I was hoping that the Pistachio Board would be a little more specific than what they were about this.

I'm guessing that if the pistachios come flavored, you'd have more to worry about. But if they're just the regular, roasted and salted ones, they should be okay.

Hope that helps...

Nancy