Buying pistachios, the smart way

Finding shelled, unsalted, raw pistachios (SURPs), a key ingredient in our 2010 winning cookie, is not the cakewalk that bakers might assume.

SURPs aren't stocked at Cub Foods, Rainbow Foods, Kowalski's Markets, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's and several natural foods co-ops. We Are Nuts, my go-to supplier for the six cups of sliced almonds required for last year's winning cookie, doesn't keep them on hand, either.

When I did find them, prices varied. I started in the bulk section, where shoppers can purchase as many or as little as they choose. (Math tip: A pound of SURPs yields just over three cups of nuts; the recipe calls for one cup).

At Lunds and Byerly's and Mississippi Market, the bulk price of $14.99/lb. works out to about $5 per cup. The Minnetonka branch of Lakewinds Natural Foods stocks an organic version at $15.59/lb., or $5.20 per cup. Non-organic SURPs go for $16.49/lb. at Valley Natural Foods ($5.49 per cup). At the Wedge Co-op, organic SURPs run $18.69/lb., or approximately $6.25 per cup.

Others, however, may choose to pay slightly lower prices -- but purchase greater quantities -- by opting for pre-packaged nuts. At Bill's Imported Foods, SURPs are sold in pre-measured, 1-pound bags for $12.99. That quantity is more than enough for three batches of our prize-winning cookie; at that price, each batch has a pistachio tab of about $4.33. Not bad.

My $12.99 purchase from Bill's Imported Foods, located in the Lyn-Lake neighborhood in south Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, at Holy Land Grocery, Bakery & Deli, SURPs are sold in premeasured increments that hover around two cups per package. Price is identical to Bill's -- $12.99/lb. -- and each container falls somewhere in the $8 range, with the same $4-ish price per cup.