Are Cashews keto?
Not keto-friendly 7.5 g net carbs per 18 nuts (28 g) — 38% of a 20 g keto day.
Short answer: Not in normal portions. 18 nuts (28 g) of cashews: 7.5 g net carbs — 38% of a strict 20 g keto day — with 12.3 g fat and 5.1 g protein.
Cashews are the starchy outlier among nuts, with roughly three times the net carbs of pecans per gram. Cashew-based "keto" sauces and cheeses are often higher in carbs than people expect.
How cashews fits a keto carb budget
On a 20 g day, one serving uses 38% of your budget, leaving 12.5 g for everything else. Measure portions rather than eyeballing them.
Worked example. 28 g of cashews = 8.5 g total carbs − 0.9 g fibre = 7.5 g net carbs, 12.3 g fat, 5.1 g protein and 155 kcal.
If you still want some, plan it: a strict day is 20 g, and how net carbs are counted explains why the fibre here does not rescue it.
Nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per 18 nuts (28 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 553 kcal | 155 kcal |
| Fat | 43.9 g | 12.3 g |
| Protein | 18.2 g | 5.1 g |
| Total carbohydrate | 30.2 g | 8.5 g |
| Fibre | 3.3 g | 0.9 g |
| Net carbs | 26.9 g | 7.5 g |
Where the energy comes from:
How to eat cashews on keto
- Macadamias blend into creamy sauces just as well.
Lower-carb swaps
| Swap | Net carbs / serving | Saves |
|---|---|---|
| Macadamia nuts (10–12 nuts) | 1.5 g | 6 g |
| Pecans (19 halves) | 1.2 g | 6.3 g |
Compared with other nuts and seeds
Cashews ranks #12 of 12 nuts and seeds in our database by net carbs per 100 g (lowest first). Fat-dense and convenient, but net carbs vary five-fold between types.
| Food | Net carbs / 100 g | Per serving |
|---|---|---|
| Flax seeds | 1.6 g | 0.2 g |
| Brazil nuts | 4.2 g | 0.4 g |
| Pecans | 4.3 g | 1.2 g |
| Pumpkin seeds | 4.7 g | 1.4 g |
| Macadamia nuts | 5.2 g | 1.5 g |
| Walnuts | 7 g | 2 g |
See all nuts and seeds ranked by net carbs →
Frequently asked questions
How many net carbs are in cashews?
Cashews has about 26.9 g of net carbs per 100 g (30.2 g total carbohydrate minus 3.3 g fibre), and about 7.5 g per 18 nuts (28 g).
Can you eat cashews on keto?
Not in normal portions. One 18 nuts contains 7.5 g net carbs, 38% of a strict daily limit.
Values are per 100 g of the raw or stated food, rounded, from USDA FoodData Central. Brands and varieties differ — check the label for packaged products.