Boiled Peanuts
Raw peanuts simmered for hours in heavily salted water until tender, a roadside snack sold across South Carolina from stands and stockpots.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 240 min
- Total
- 245 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 180 kcal
Equipment
- •Large stockpot
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 180 kcal
- fat
- 12
- carbs
- 14
- protein
- 8
- calories
- 180
Instructions
- 1
Rinse the peanuts thoroughly under cool water to wash away all dirt.
- 2
Put the peanuts in a large stockpot. Add enough water to cover them by 2-3 inches.
- 3
Stir in the salt, and add the Cajun seasoning if you are using it.
- 4
Bring the pot to a boil on the stovetop. Lower the heat to a simmer, and weigh the peanuts down with a heavy plate if needed.
- 5
Cook for 3-4 hours for green peanuts, or 6-8 hours for dried peanuts, until tender.
- 6
Taste one peanut for salt and texture. Add more seasoning or cook longer if needed.
- 7
Turn off the burner. Let the peanuts soak in the liquid for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Chef's tips
Use raw, fresh green peanuts if you can find them, since dried peanuts take longer to cook. Taste the water partway through cooking and add more salt if needed.
Storage
Refrigerate in their salted liquid up to 5 days, or freeze in freezer bags up to 6 months.
Reheating
Reheat gently in their liquid on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Not adding enough salt to the cooking water, which makes the peanuts bland
- •Stopping the cooking too early, leaving the peanuts crunchy instead of soft
Serving suggestions
Cooked Boiled Peanuts?
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