# I like nuts. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 22, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476 "2012-03-22T04:46:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/1 "2012-03-22T04:46:26Z")
Don’t get me wrong. Open a bag of pistachios and I’m in heaven. Cashews are delicious, walnuts amazing. Even plain old peanuts are a treat. By themselves. But put them in something and it’s ruined. Whether it’s ice cream, brownies, cookies or bars, putting nuts on it takes two awesome things and makes them one mediocre thing. So cut it out. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/2 "2012-03-22T04:48:07Z")
Would you make an exception to that (even a partial exception) in the case of pecan pie? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/3 "2012-03-22T04:49:57Z")
Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/4 "2012-03-22T05:02:33Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Nope. Fine. That leaves all the more for me! I can appreciate that! ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/5 "2012-03-22T05:21:37Z")
How do you feel about peanut butter (or any other nut butter, for that matter)? I’m not talking Skippy of Jif; I mean nuts ground up into a paste with a bit of salt (or not, as your taste buds prefer). ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/6 "2012-03-22T05:27:36Z")
Like I’d rather just have a handful of nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/7 "2012-03-22T12:32:41Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Like I’d rather just have a handful of nuts. This post came to me in the voice of Shaggy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/8 "2012-03-22T12:42:16Z")
Now that he mentioned it, I agree completely with the OP. Plain nuts = goodness. Nuts incorporated into other foods = badness. I feel the same way about pickles. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/9 "2012-03-22T13:31:15Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Don’t get me wrong. Open a bag of pistachios and I’m in heaven. Cashews are delicious, walnuts amazing. Even plain old peanuts are a treat. By themselves. > > But put them in something and it’s ruined. Whether it’s ice cream, brownies, cookies or bars, putting nuts on it takes two awesome things and makes them one mediocre thing. So cut it out. You’re probably better off for that. As long as the nuts don’t have too much salt and you’re not eating too much of them, they’re good for you. Stuff with nuts in it isn’t always as healthy. How do you feel about nuts in savory dishes? Like a Thai stir-fry or a curry with cashews? Kung Pao chicken? What about walnuts in a salad? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/10 "2012-03-22T13:48:03Z")
I mostly agree with the OP. I make exceptions for things like Pecan Pie or peanuts in Thai food. But for the most part, nuts are best on their own. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/11 "2012-03-22T16:07:16Z")
I like nuts, too. I try to eat a low-carb diet, and when that 3 p.m. craving for chips comes on, I instead have a small handful of cashews or hazelnuts. It satisfies the craving for something oily and salty, but it’s far healthier than Doritos. As long as one keeps it to a small handful. But I like nuts in other things, too. Like walnuts in banana bread. Or pecans in chocolate chip cookies. Or pistachios in pistachio gelato. But since I try to avoid these sugary goodies, it’s a moot point. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/12 "2012-03-22T16:08:32Z")
You nuts belong in Cafe Society, not MPSIMS. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/13 "2012-03-22T16:10:21Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > How do you feel about nuts in savory dishes? Like a Thai stir-fry or a curry with cashews? Kung Pao chicken? What about walnuts in a salad? In a salad I can eat around the walnuts and still have a tasty salad. Asian food is generally so awesome on its own that even with the addition of nuts, it’s still great. (I will be the first to admit, I have an addiction to sweet and sour sauce. You could pour it over an old shoe and I’d think it’s delicious.) ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/14 "2012-03-22T16:14:24Z")
I appreciate a good handful of nuts, too. Some people like to dip their nuts into things. I can’t really support that. I like nuts just as they are. And frankly, more than a handful is wasted. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/15 "2012-03-22T16:15:50Z")
I can get you a sack for those if you want, MsWhatsit. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/16 "2012-03-22T16:22:39Z")
Totally, enormously, emphatically disagree with the OP. Walnuts _make_ brownies. Brownies without walnuts are OK, with are a delight. Walnuts kick chocolate chip cookies up a notch. Candied pecans in a salad? Yumminess! Peanuts or cashews in a stir-fry? Yes! Nuts are great by themselves, I’ll give you that, but they’re fantastic as ingredients in all kinds of foods. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/17 "2012-03-22T16:42:40Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Totally, enormously, emphatically disagree with the OP. Walnuts _make_ brownies. Brownies without walnuts are OK, with are a delight. Walnuts kick chocolate chip cookies up a notch. Candied pecans in a salad? Yumminess! Peanuts or cashews in a stir-fry? Yes! Nuts are great by themselves, I’ll give you that, but they’re fantastic as ingredients in all kinds of foods. To me, walnuts in any kind of cooked dish taste like chunks of wood. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/18 "2012-03-22T17:01:06Z")
Nuts on salad. Do it. Do it with the next salad you make. Also put dried cranberries on there and you’ll live a long and happy life. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/19 "2012-03-22T17:15:49Z")
[Obligatory musical link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETFtOirbfCQ&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476/20 "2012-03-22T17:27:31Z")
And, while we’re at it, the [obligatory clip from Best In Show](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGmNqzbsuiY#t=0m17s) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-nuts/616476.md?page=2)