Tag: Nuts vs grains

Many common 'nuts,' including walnuts and pecans, are actually botanically classified as fruits or seeds, while grains are the edible seeds of cereal grasses. This fundamental botanical difference means that despite their similar texture and dietary use in some contexts, nuts and grains are not in the same biological food class.

According to the USDA Forest Service, a true nut is botanically defined as a dry, single-seeded fruit with a hard shell, which is fundamentally different from a grain. This means nuts do not count as grains, though their shared 'seed' classification in broad terms often causes confusion.

According to the USDA Forest Service, a true nut is botanically defined as a dry, single-seeded fruit with a hard shell. Despite their hard casings, nuts do not come under grains, and their classification is a frequent point of confusion for many home cooks and nutrition enthusiasts.

From a botanical perspective, true nuts like hazelnuts are distinct from grains such as wheat and rice. Understanding this fundamental difference is crucial for anyone navigating special dietary needs and addressing the core question: **Are nuts grain free?**