Cashew Peeling Machine
High whole-kernel yield, dry-peeled
Automatic dry-peeling machines that remove the brown testa skin from dried kernels with gentle air-and-friction action — protecting whole W-grade kernels.
The TTQ Cashew Peeling Machine removes the thin brown skin (testa) from dried cashew kernels using a gentle combination of compressed air and soft friction rollers — a dry-peeling method that avoids the yield loss and hygiene issues of water peeling. Kernels arrive from the dryer at around 3% moisture; the machine peels them at roughly 80–90% first-pass skin removal, and un-peeled kernels are simply recirculated. Dry peeling is what protects the whole-kernel (W180–W450) grades that command the highest export price.
Technical specifications
| Function | Removes testa (brown skin) from kernels |
|---|---|
| Method | Dry peeling — compressed air + soft rollers |
| First-pass peel rate | ~80–90% (balance recirculated) |
| Throughput | 120–180 kg/h (1 head) to 420–480 kg/h (4 head) |
| Drive | 5 HP (3.7 kW) on every head count |
| Air supply | Clean compressed air required — 30 HP (1 head) to 100 HP (4 head) |
| Control | Standard machine-mounted control panel |
| Build | Stainless contact parts, food-safe |
Figures are typical and configurable — we confirm exact specifications against your capacity and grade targets.
Where the grade premium is protected or lost
Protects whole grades
Gentle air-and-friction peeling keeps W180–W450 kernels intact for top export prices.
Dry — no water, no soaking
Dry peeling avoids re-wetting kernels, protecting flavour, colour and shelf life.
Recirculating design
Partially peeled kernels loop back automatically for a clean finish without hand-work.
80–90% first pass
A high first-pass peel rate cuts labour and speeds the line to packing.
Model & capacity comparison
Every model TTQ builds for this stage, side by side. Pick by throughput and footprint — each links straight to a quote.
Peeling machines — models
Dry testa (skin) removal by air and gentle friction. Add heads to scale throughput while protecting whole W-grade kernels.
| Model | Capacity | Power | Footprint (L×W×H) | Crew | Ref | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Head | 120–180 kg/h | 5 HP (3.7 kW) | 8.5 × 1.0 × 2.6 m | 1 | TTQ-PEL-01 | Quote → |
| 2-Head | 240–300 kg/h | 5 HP (3.7 kW) | 8.5 × 1.0 × 2.6 m | 1 | TTQ-PEL-02 | Quote → |
| 3-Head | 360–420 kg/h | 5 HP (3.7 kW) | 8.5 × 1.0 × 2.6 m | 1 | TTQ-PEL-03 | Quote → |
| 4-Head | 420–480 kg/h | 5 HP (3.7 kW) | 8.5 × 1.0 × 2.6 m | 1 | TTQ-PEL-04 | Quote → |
Specifications are indicative and configurable; TTQ confirms exact figures against your capacity, grade targets and factory layout. Model codes shown are TTQ quotation references.
Peeling removes the testa — the reddish-brown skin bonded to the kernel — and it is where whole white kernels are either produced or destroyed. The machine matters, but so does everything that happened in the two stages before it: a kernel that was dried and rewetted correctly peels cleanly, and one that was not will break no matter what it is fed into.
Specifications by head count
| Model | Capacity | Power | Supply | Dimensions (L×W×H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 head | 120–180 kg/h | 5 HP / 3.7 kW | 380V / 3ph / 50Hz | 8.5 × 1.0 × 2.6 m |
| 2 head | 240–300 kg/h | 5 HP / 3.7 kW | 380V / 3ph / 50Hz | 8.5 × 1.0 × 2.6 m |
| 3 head | 360–420 kg/h | 5 HP / 3.7 kW | 380V / 3ph / 50Hz | 8.5 × 1.0 × 2.6 m |
| 4 head | 420–480 kg/h | 5 HP / 3.7 kW | 380V / 3ph / 50Hz | 8.5 × 1.0 × 2.6 m |
All models hold 80–85% white wholes with a broken rate under 10%. Power and footprint are common across the range — head count buys throughput, not a different machine.
How it works
Mechanical section
a rotary cage with brushes abrades the testa loose without pressing hard enough to crack the kernel.
Pneumatic section
conveyors carry kernels past air jets that blow the loosened skin clear and separate it from the kernel stream.
Separation
unbroken kernels, broken kernels and skin leave on different paths, so grading downstream starts from a cleaner input.
Speed control
an inverter gives stepless speed regulation, which is how you tune intensity to nut condition rather than running one setting all day.
Two modes
automatic for steady material, manual for batches that need watching.
The stage that actually decides your result
Peeling performance is set upstream. Kernels must come out of the borma dryer at 3–4% moisture and then be humidified in a separate chamber, so surface moisture reaches 5–6% while the core stays dry. That gradient softens the testa while keeping the kernel firm enough to survive abrasion. Process within 2–4 hours of rewetting: leave it longer and the moisture equalises through the kernel, losing the gradient and with it the whole point. A well-prepared kernel peels at under 10% breakage; a poorly prepared one will not, in any machine at any price.
The air compressor is part of the machine
Sizing
the compressor must cover the peeler plus anything else pneumatic running at the same time. Undersizing shows up as inconsistent peeling, not as an obvious fault.
Air treatment
dryers and filters are not optional. Moisture or oil carried in the air line lands on food-contact kernels.
Type
rotary screw compressors suit continuous running better than reciprocating piston units, at 30–40% higher initial cost.
Budget the whole system
compressor, dryer, filters and distribution piping, not just the compressor.
Construction
- All kernel-contact components in stainless steel — this is a food-contact stage and mild steel is not acceptable.
- Machine frame — rectangular iron section, 30 × 60 × 2 mm.
- Air blower frame — square iron section, 40 × 40 × 1.8 mm.
- Electrical cabinet — with inverter speed control, automatic and manual modes.
- Included — containers and buckets, the mechanical peeling section (rotary cage and brushes), the pneumatic section (conveyors and air jets), and the separation unit.
Getting the most from it
Adjust intensity to the batch
nut variety and size change how tightly the testa is bonded. A fixed setting is a compromise against every batch.
Check white-whole percentage daily
a drift from 85% toward 75% is usually a preparation problem showing up at the peeler, not a peeler problem.
Do not chase 100% skin removal
pushing intensity to clear the last few percent costs more in breakage than the skinned kernels are worth. Recirculate instead.
Keep the air clean and dry
most inconsistent peeling traced back to the air system rather than the machine.
Capacities are kernel kg/h, quoted per 8-hour shift. Broken rate stays under 10% when drying and rewetting are done properly — see cashew nut processing for the moisture gradient, humidification chamber for the equipment, and air compressor for sizing the air side.
The process, drawn
The 2–4 hour peeling window
Peeling performance is decided before the kernel reaches the peeler. Miss the window and no machine recovers it.
The clock starts when kernels leave the humidifier. Beyond four hours the moisture redistributes through the kernel, the surface-to-core gradient disappears, and white-whole yield falls regardless of how good the peeler is.
What actually uses compressed air
Over-specifying the air system is a common and expensive mistake, because the shelling stage is widely assumed to need air. It does not.
Match the compressor to peeling head count: 30 HP for one head, 50 for two, 75 for three, 100 HP for four. Colour sorters can be plugged into the plant system instead of running their own compressor, but they do not have to be.
The geometry behind it
The peeling window
Two failure modes move in opposite directions as kernel moisture changes. Below about 5% the kernel is brittle enough to break under the same force that removes the skin; above about 6% the testa softens and clings. The workable window is where both are low at once, and it is narrow.
Schematic, not measured data: the curves show the direction and the crossing, not values from a trial. The moisture figures on the axis are the ones this site commits to — 3–4% out of drying, 5–6% entering the peeler, 3–5% at packing.
Where it fits in the process
Peeling follows drying and precedes kernel grading and colour sorting. Clean, whole peeled kernels are what the grading and packing stages turn into export lots.
Cashew Peeling Machine — FAQ
What is the difference between peeling and shelling?
Is dry peeling better than water peeling?
What peeling rate can I expect?
Pairs well with
Cashew Dryer Machine (Borma)
Controlled borma drying
Open →
Cashew Grading & Sorting Machine
W180 to W450, sorted by size and colour
Open →
Cashew Vacuum Packing Machine
Nitrogen-flush, export shelf life
Open →
Cashew Peeling Machine Price
Cashew peeling machine cost is set by head count and automation — 120–180 kg/h on one head up to 420–480 kg/h on four, all on a 5 HP drive. Contact us for price.
Open →
The Cashew Peeling Process
Peeling removes the thin brown testa skin from dried cashew kernels. Dry peeling (air and friction) protects whole-kernel yield far better than water peeling.
Open →Get a quote on the Cashew Peeling Machine
Tell us your target capacity and grades. We'll come back with the right configuration, a layout and a costed proposal.