Because of their similar nutritional profiles and functions, nuts and seeds are frequently combined in botany and culinary arts. They should be investigated because they differ significantly from one another. Let’s examine the distinctions between nuts and seeds and why they are important or what is the difference between a nut and a seed.
Nuts: What Are They?
According to botanical definitions, a nut is a dry fruit with a tough outer shell, the plant’s ovary wall. Although the distinction between botanical and culinary nuts is sometimes hazy, actual nuts are identified by their solitary seed, hard shell, and outer protective husk. In the culinary world, nuts are occasionally categorized as seeds, legumes, or drupes (fleshy fruits with thin skin and an interior stone or pit containing a seed).
Seeds: What Are They?
An embryo, an endosperm, and a seed coat—stored nutrients to support the developing plant—are all present in a botanical seed, the plant’s embryonic stage. While some seeds do not lose their seed coat and are therefore inedible, others do and can be consumed. Coriander, nutmeg, mustard seed, and many other seeds are used as spices. Additionally, some items that are popularly called nuts but are seeds include macadamia nuts and Brazil nuts.
Seeds that most people consider to be nuts
In botanical terms, peanuts are not nuts, despite their name. Like lentils and peas, peanuts grow underground in pods. This indicates that it is categorized as a legume rather than a nut. The word “pea” in the name represents this.
According to the botanical definition, many foods we eat are seeds, not nuts! Foods that are susceptible to this include:
- almonds
- Brazil nuts
- cashews
- pecans and macadamias
- Walnuts, pine nuts, and pistachios.
- This collection of seeds is commonly referred to as tree nuts.
Seeds or Nuts?
We need a working definition to help clarify the distinction between nuts and seeds. This is the cause of the confusion. A nut is a dry fruit with a hard shell (pericarp), one cell, and one seed. Given that it has a seed—which we just mentioned—why isn’t it a seed? To begin with, nuts tend to stick to their shells; only a nutcracker or other mechanical device can break through this adhesion.
Along with the fruit, the seeds are consumed as the plant’s means of propagation. The plant’s embryo is contained in one or both of the nut’s seeds.
In contrast, seeds are tiny plants covered in a layer called the seed coat that stores nourishment to support the growing plant. While certain seeds, like sesame and poppy seeds, require their outer husk to be removed before consumption, others do not.
Seeds are high in protein, vitamin B, minerals, fat, and dietary fiber; nuts are abundant in protein, vitamins, and minerals. To make matters more confusing, after determining whether something is a nut or a seed, there is another entity known as a drupe. Drupes and nuts are frequently combined. Drupes and nuts are commonly combined. A drupe is a fruit with a pulpy inside and a hard shell that holds a seed inside. Drupes, peaches, and plums are consumed for their fleshy pulp rather than their seed. On the other hand, the fruit’s seed, sometimes known as a nut, is occasionally consumed. Almonds, coconuts, pecans, and walnuts are a few examples.
Legume, Nut, and Seed
So what distinguishes a seed from a nut from a legume? Despite having a name that includes the word “nut” and tasting and looking similar to nuts, peanuts (also known as groundnuts) are legumes. Legumes are fruited by numerous pods, which resemble peanut shells. When the fruit is ready to be harvested, it splits. Nuts contain a single fruit within their shell. Legumes include all bean kinds, carob, and peas. In summary:
- Nuts are hard-shelled fruits with one or two seeds and a dry fruit inside. When the fruit is ready to eat, the shell must be wrenched off rather than separated.
- Plant embryos have an innately nutrient-rich seed coat, which is present in seeds. While some seeds require their outer husk to be removed before consumption, others do not. It is usually simple to split and remove by hand if the outer husk is removed.
- Drupes are fruits with a hard seed that can be eaten, like walnuts and almonds, or thrown away, like rock fruit.
In summary
Comprehending the distinctions between nuts and seeds facilitates the appreciation of their distinct attributes and dietary advantages. A healthy and balanced diet is enhanced by including nuts and seeds, whether you nibble on almonds, add chia seeds to your yogurt, or eat a handful of walnuts.