why can't i find cashews in the shell?

Question

every other nut i know of you can buy in a shell. what's up with that?

Answer 1

A cashew doesn't come in a shell.

http://www.thenutfactory.com/kitchen/facts/facts-cashews.html

Answer 2

The highly unusual cashew fruit consists of both a crab apple (called the cashew apple), and a kidney bean shaped appendage on the end of the fruit called the cashew nut. The apple is shaped like and is the same size as a pear; when ripe, it is a brilliant yellow, red or scarlet color. Like all fruit trees, a flower emerges and the nut grows from the center of the flower.

The receptor or "apple" is a later swelling between the flower and the nut - forming the cashew apple. After harvesting, the cashew apple keeps for only 24 hours before the soft fruit deteriorates. The cashew apple is not commercially important since it spoils quickly, but local people love the fruit. To harvest the nut, the ripe apple is allowed to fall to the ground where it is easily gathered by natives. The apple and nut are separated.

The gray/brown cashew nut hangs like a nose at the end of the cashew apple. The nut shell is 1-1/2 inches long and kidney shaped. The nut is found on the end closest to the cashew apple. The other end is honeycombed with cells. These cells contain a toxic resinous fluid called cardol that blisters the mouth. For many years, the cashew was referred to as the blister nut.

Inside the hard shell is a slightly curved white cashew kernel which is about 7/8 inches long and is wrapped in a thin brown skin called a testa which is removed during the processing. The cashew nut, therefore, has two shells - the hard exterior shell and the testa.

Answer 3

Apparently, cashews are in the same family as poison ivy and sumac. The plant contains powerful chemical irritants, so handling the shells could cause a skin reaction. Better stick with no shell

Answer 4

Cashews are always sold shelled because the interior of the shells contains a caustic resin, known as cashew balm, which must be carefully removed. This caustic resin is actually used in industry to make varnishes and insecticides.

Answer 5

The shell is toxic to be very simple about it.
If you would like more detail go to wiki encyclopedia.

Answer 6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cashew

this will tell you all you need to know about the cashew.