How Many Calories for Pistachios?
1 small handful (~30g, about 49 kernels) of pistachios contains around 174 calories (581 kcal per 100g). Pistachios is classified as NOVA 1 (unprocessed).
Nutrition per 100g
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Per serving |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 581 kcal / 2406 kJ | 174 kcal |
| Protein | 24.9g | 7.5g |
| Carbohydrates | 10.2g | 3.1g |
| of which sugars | 7.2g | — |
| Fat | 46.4g | 13.9g |
| of which saturated | 5.9g | — |
| Fibre | 11.6g | — |
| Salt | 0.01g | — |
Serving size: 1 small handful (~30g, about 49 kernels) · Source: Tesco product page, October 2025
Glucose impact
Very Low
Glucose risk
Pistachios have a GI of approximately 15, among the lowest of any common food. With only 10.2g of carbohydrate per 100g and very high fat (46.4g) and fibre (11.6g) content, carbohydrate absorption is extremely slow. Research has shown that eating pistachios alongside higher-GI foods can actually reduce the overall glycaemic response of a meal. In a 30g serving, you consume just 3.1g of carbs.
Processing level
Plain pistachio nuts (Tesco Pistachios 200g, Tesco Whole Foods Pistachio Nuts, Tesco Wholefood Pistachio Nuts In Shell) are a single-ingredient whole food — NOVA 1. Roasted and salted pistachios (Tesco Roasted & Salted Pistachios) contain just pistachio nuts and salt, making them NOVA 3 (processed). No Tesco pistachio product examined contained ultra-processed additives.
Pistachios at Tesco
Source: Tesco product page, October 2025
1 UPF marker
*Prices were correct at the time of collection and may have since changed. Check Tesco.com for current pricing.
What to watch for when shopping
Pistachios are one of the cleanest nut options at Tesco. Even the roasted and salted varieties contain only 2 ingredients (pistachios, salt). No Tesco pistachio product examined was ultra-processed. The main watch-out is salt intake — roasted/salted pistachios contain 1.00g salt per 100g versus virtually zero for plain. For best value, Tesco Pistachios 200g at £2.60 (£13.00/kg) is cheapest. In-shell pistachios are a good strategy for portion control — the shell-cracking process slows consumption by roughly 40% compared to shelled nuts.
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