When it comes to nuts and seeds, there’s the expensive and the more expensive. As with spices, you often get tiny packages for outrageous prices. I only buy nuts on occasion, usually for a special treat or to make granola. They taste awesome but aren’t really essential.
I buy nuts and seeds in bulk at Winco, the same store where I get my spices. The prices can vary a lot, but generally, these are the cheapest:
sunflower seeds
pumpkin seeds
peanuts
almonds
cashews
walnuts
Nuts are also supposed to be stored in the freezer to maintain freshness. I don’t do that because they don’t usually last long enough for it to make a difference.
Update in 2019: I still don’t buy a lot of nuts, but I’ve moved and shop at Walmart for most of my food. The Great Value brand has similar prices on nuts as Winco, but you have to buy 1-1 1/2 lbs. at time, which can get expensive. They go on sale around Christmas. Keep in mind that nuts can be found in both the snack and baking aisles. The ones in the baking aisle are generally cheaper because they are not flavored or in fancy small packages like the snack nuts. I do keep them in the freezer now because I have the space.
