Nut vs. Kernel — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 7, 2024
Nuts are hard-shelled fruits of some plants with a single seed, whereas kernels are the edible parts inside the hard outer shell of a seed or fruit.
Difference Between Nut and Kernel
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Nuts are characterized by their tough outer shell, which encloses the seed. True botanical nuts, such as acorns and chestnuts, are indehiscent, meaning they do not open to release their seed when ripe. Kernels, on the other hand, refer to the innermost part of a seed or fruit that is surrounded by a hard shell or a husk.
Nuts are often consumed as snacks, used in cooking, or extracted for their oil, offering a rich source of nutrients, including proteins, fats, and vitamins. Kernels are found in a variety of plants, including nuts, grains, and seeds. For example, the kernel of a walnut or a pecan is the edible part that we eat, while in grains like wheat or corn, the kernel refers to the whole seed, including its germ, endosperm, and bran.
While the term "nut" often refers to any large, oily kernel found within a shell and used in food, in botanical terms, not all nuts are true nuts, and not all seeds with edible kernels are considered nuts. For instance, peanuts are legumes with a soft outer shell, and their kernels are not botanically considered nuts. Kernels are crucial in agriculture and food production, as they are the source of many foods and ingredients, including cooking oils, flour, and animal feed. The quality and characteristics of kernels, such as their oil content and nutritional profile, are important factors in their commercial value and use.
Both nuts and kernels play significant roles in human diets and cuisines around the world, offering a variety of flavors, textures, and nutritional benefits. However, the distinction between them lies in their botanical definitions and the context in which they are used, with nuts being the whole fruit and kernels being the edible part inside.
Comparison Chart
Definition
A hard-shelled fruit of some plants containing a single seed.
The edible part inside the hard outer shell of a seed or fruit.
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Botanical
True nuts are indehiscent and do not open at maturity.
Refers to the innermost edible part of a seed, grain, or nut.
Examples
Acorns, chestnuts
Walnut and pecan interiors, wheat and corn seeds
Usage
Eaten as snacks, in cooking, or for oil extraction.
Used for food, ingredients, cooking oils, and flour.
Nutritional Value
Rich in proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Varies widely, often rich in nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and oils.
Compare with Definitions
Nut
Often consumed roasted, raw, or as part of dishes.
Cashew nuts are a common ingredient in stir-fry dishes.
Kernel
Source of food and oil.
Sunflower kernels are a healthy snack and can be pressed to extract oil.
Nut
In culinary terms, refers to many seeds that are not botanically true nuts.
Peanuts are considered nuts in the culinary sense but are actually legumes.
Kernel
Refers to the meat of a nut.
Pecan kernels are often used in baking pies.
Nut
A fruit composed of a hard shell and a seed, which is generally edible.
Almonds and walnuts are popular nuts used in various cuisines.
Kernel
In computing, refers to the core component of an operating system.
The Linux kernel manages system resources and hardware interaction.
Nut
Source of oil and butter.
Nut oils, like walnut oil, are prized for their flavor and nutritional value.
Kernel
The whole seed of grains such as wheat, corn, and barley.
Corn kernels are processed into a variety of food products.
Nut
Botanically, a simple dry fruit with one seed (rarely two) where the seed case wall becomes very hard at maturity.
The acorn is a true nut.
Kernel
The inner, edible part of a seed, nut, or fruit stone contained within its hard shell.
The kernel of a peach is contained within the pit.
Nut
An indehiscent fruit having a single seed enclosed in a hard shell, such as an acorn or hazelnut.
Kernel
A softer, usually edible part of a nut, seed, or fruit stone contained within its shell
The kernel of a walnut
Pine kernels
Nut
The usually edible seed of such a fruit.
Kernel
The central or most important part of something
This is the kernel of the argument
Nut
Any of various other usually edible seeds enclosed in a hard covering such as a seed coat or the stone of a drupe, as in a pine nut, peanut, almond, or walnut.
Kernel
A grain or seed, as of a cereal grass, enclosed in a husk.
Nut
A crazy or eccentric person.
Kernel
The usually edible seed inside the hard covering of a nut or fruit stone.
Nut
An enthusiast; a buff
A movie nut.
Kernel
The central or most important part; the core
"The kernel of his practical religion was that it was respectable, and beneficial to one's business, to be seen going to services" (Sinclair Lewis).
Nut
(Informal) A difficult endeavor or problem
Painting the closet was a tough nut to crack.
Kernel
A small amount of something, especially when potentially developing into something else
Detected a kernel of anger in his remarks.
Nut
(Slang) The human head.
Kernel
The core, center, or essence of an object or system.
The kernel of an argument
Nut
A ridge of wood at the top of the fingerboard or neck of a stringed instrument, over which the strings pass.
Kernel
(botany) The central (usually edible) part of a nut, especially once the hard shell has been removed.
Nut
A device at the lower end of the bow for a stringed instrument, used for tightening the hairs.
Kernel
(botany) A single seed or grain, especially of corn or wheat.
Nut
A small block of metal or wood with a central, threaded hole that is designed to fit around and secure a bolt or screw.
Kernel
The stone of certain fruits, such as peaches or plums.
Nut
The cost of launching a business venture.
Kernel
A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh.
Nut
The operating expenses of a theater, theatrical production, or similar enterprise
"The [theater] has simply failed to attract enough paying customers per week to meet its nut" (Variety).
Kernel
(computing) The central part of many computer operating systems which manages the system's resources and the communication between hardware and software components.
The Linux kernel is open-source.
Nut
Vulgar Slang A testicle.
Kernel
(computing) The core engine of any complex software system.
Nut
To gather or hunt for nuts.
Kernel
(calculus) A function used to define an integral transform.
The Dirichlet kernel convolved with a function yields its Fourier series approximation.
Nut
Vulgar Slang To ejaculate.
Kernel
(mathematics) A set of pairs of a mapping's domain which are mapped to the same value.
Nut
Any of various hard-shelled seeds or hard, dry fruits from various families of plants.
There are many sorts of nuts: peanuts, cashews, pistachios, Brazil nuts and more.
Kernel
For a given function (especially a linear map between vector spaces), the set of elements in the domain which are mapped to zero; (formally) given f : X → Y, the set {x ∈ X : f(x) = 0}.
If a function is continuous then its kernel is a closed set.
Nut
Such a fruit that is indehiscent.
Kernel
For a category with zero morphisms: the equalizer of a given morphism and the zero morphism which is parallel to that given morphism.
Nut
(hardware) A piece of hardware, typically metal and typically hexagonal or square in shape, with a hole through it having internal screw threads, intended to be screwed onto a threaded bolt or other threaded shaft.
Kernel
The set of members of a fuzzy set that are fully included (i.e., whose grade of membership is 1).
Nut
(slang) The head. 19
Kernel
(slang) The human clitoris.
Nut
(slang) A crazy person.
He was driving his car like a nut.
Kernel
(chemistry) The nucleus and electrons of an atom excluding its valence electrons.
Nut
(colloquial) An extreme enthusiast.
A fashion nut — a gun nut — a sailing nut
Kernel
To enclose within a kernel
Nut
An extravagantly fashionable young man.
Kernel
To crenellate
Nut
The glans structure at the extremity of the penis or of the clitoris.
Kernel
The essential part of a seed; all that is within the seed walls; the edible substance contained in the shell of a nut; hence, anything included in a shell, husk, or integument; as, the kernel of a nut. See Illust. of Endocarp.
'A were as good crack a fusty nut with no kernel
Nut
A testicle.
I kicked him in the nuts.
Kernel
A single seed or grain; as, a kernel of corn.
Nut
Semen, ejaculate.
Kernel
A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh.
Nut
Orgasm, ejaculation; especially release of semen.
He just needs a good nut to make him feel better.
Kernel
The central, substantial or essential part of anything; the gist; the core; as, the kernel of an argument.
Nut
Monthly expense to keep a venture running.
Kernel
To harden or ripen into kernels; to produce kernels.
Nut
The amount of money necessary to set up some venture; set-up costs.
Kernel
The inner and usually edible part of a seed or grain or nut or fruit stone;
Black walnut kernels are difficult to get out of the shell
Nut
A stash of money owned by an extremely rich investor, sufficient to sustain a high level of consumption if all other money is lost.
Kernel
A single whole grain of a cereal;
A kernel of corn
Nut
On stringed instruments such as guitars and violins, the small piece at the peghead end of the fingerboard that holds the strings at the proper spacing and, in most cases, the proper height.
Kernel
The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience;
The gist of the prosecutor's argument
The heart and soul of the Republican Party
The nub of the story
Nut
En, a unit of measurement equal to half of the height of the type in use.
Nut
(climbing) A shaped piece of metal, threaded by a wire loop, which is jammed in a crack in the rockface and used to protect a climb. (Originally, machine nuts [sense #2] were used for this purpose.)
Nut
The best possible hand of a certain type, for instance: nut straight, nut flush, and nut full house. Compare t=the best possible hand available.
Nut
(firearms) The tumbler of a gunlock.
Nut
(nautical) A projection on each side of the shank of an anchor, to secure the stock in place.
Nut
(archaic) A small rounded cake or cookie.
Nut
(mostly in the form "nutting") To gather nuts.
Nut
To hit deliberately with the head; to headbutt.
Nut
To orgasm; to ejaculate.
Nut
(slang) To hit in the testicles.
Nut
(slang) To defeat thoroughly.
Nut
No.
Nut
The fruit of certain trees and shrubs (as of the almond, walnut, hickory, beech, filbert, etc.), consisting of a hard and indehiscent shell inclosing a kernel.
Nut
A perforated block (usually a small piece of metal), provided with an internal or female screw thread, used on a bolt, or screw, for tightening or holding something, or for transmitting motion. See Illust. of 1st Bolt.
Nut
The tumbler of a gunlock.
Nut
A projection on each side of the shank of an anchor, to secure the stock in place.
Nut
Testicles.
Nut
To gather nuts.
Nut
Usually large hard-shelled seed
Nut
Egyptian goddess of the sky
Nut
A small (usually square or hexagonal) metal block with internal screw thread to be fitted onto a bolt
Nut
Half the width of an em
Nut
A whimsically eccentric person
Nut
Someone who is so ardently devoted to something that it resembles an addiction;
A golf addict
A car nut
A news junkie
Nut
One of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens;
She kicked him in the balls and got away
Nut
Gather nuts
Common Curiosities
What is the difference between a nut and a kernel?
A nut is a hard-shelled fruit with a seed inside, while a kernel is the edible part inside the seed or nut.
Why are peanuts not considered true nuts?
Peanuts are legumes, not true botanical nuts, because they grow underground and their shells are not hard.
How are nuts and kernels harvested?
The methods vary widely, from manual picking and shelling to mechanical harvesting and processing.
Are all kernels from nuts?
Not all kernels come from nuts; they can also come from seeds and grains.
What makes a nut a "true nut" botanically?
True nuts are indehiscent fruits that do not open at maturity to release their seeds.
Are kernels found only in nuts and seeds?
Kernels are also found in grains and some stone fruits, not just nuts and seeds.
Can you eat the shell of a nut?
Generally, nut shells are not edible and are removed to access the edible kernel inside.
How are kernels used in food production?
Kernels are used to produce a variety of food products, including cooking oils, flour, and snacks.
How do you store nuts and kernels to keep them fresh?
Store them in a cool, dry place; some may require refrigeration to extend freshness.
Why are some kernels toxic, like apricot kernels?
Some kernels contain harmful substances that can be toxic if consumed in large quantities.
Can allergies to nuts include kernels from seeds and grains?
Nut allergies specifically refer to nuts, but some individuals may have allergies to seeds and grains as well.
Is the nutritional value of nuts and kernels the same?
While both are nutritious, the specific nutritional value varies depending on the type of nut or kernel.
What role do nuts and kernels play in a healthy diet?
They are important sources of nutrients, including healthy fats, proteins, and vitamins.
Can the term "kernel" refer to anything outside of food?
Yes, in computing, a kernel is the core part of an operating system managing resources and hardware interaction.
What is the process for extracting oil from kernels?
The process typically involves crushing the kernels and using mechanical or chemical methods to extract the oil.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
