How to Boil Peanuts
Wondering how to boil peanuts to perfection? The quality of your raw peanuts is critically important, as is time. Time is an essential factor when boiling peanuts.
Boiling time softens the peanuts, and soaking time increases the juicy flavor inside the shells. The amount of time required to boil peanuts depends on the raw peanuts' maturity, size, kernel moisture content, and your taste.
You might be boiling green Valencia peanuts that are small, immature, fresh dug, and full of moisture, or boiling raw Jumbo Virginia peanuts that are mature, and have been dried to 10% kernel moisture content. Green peanuts should boil at least 1 hour, up to 4 hours, and dried raw peanuts may require up to 24 hours of boiling to soften to your liking. Some people like boiled peanuts as soft as mashed potatoes, and some of us like them with a little snap. It's up to you to decide when they are done boiling.
You must sample your peanuts as they boil in order to decide when they have softened to your liking.
You need to know your peanuts. Learn each bag that you buy by boiling a few, and tasting them as you observe how their texture changes as they cook. This is the way to learn how to boil peanuts, whether they are green, or dried.
It's simple, fun, and delicious. After boiling samples from a batch of raw peanuts, you can repeat that recipe with the rest of the batch. Some people prefer a firmer, crisper boiled peanut, others prefer a softer peanut.
How to Boil Peanuts
Ingredients
- Raw Peanuts - As many as you can fit in your pot, to about 1/2 full.
- Water - Enough to float the peanuts in the pot, to about 2/3 full. Measure the amount of water used.
- Salt - About 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) per gallon of water used. 1 tablespoon of salt per pint of water.
Directions
Rinse the raw peanuts several times to remove debris. Put the rinsed raw peanuts in a stove pot, or a slow cooker. Add water to the pot, enough to float the peanuts, leaving at least 1" room at the top of the pot. Measure the water as you add it. Mix in about 8 tablespoons, 1/2 cup, of salt per gallon of water.
Bring the water, peanuts, and salt to a boil. Boiling time depends on whether you have green peanuts or raw dried peanuts.
Green peanuts need to boil at least 1 hour, up to 4 hours. Dried raw peanuts must be cooked much longer. Dried peanuts may require boiling up to 24 hours until they soften. If your water is hard, full of minerals, or you are boiling at high altitude, then your boiling times for dried peanuts may be greater than 24 hours. Using a pressure cooker to boil peanuts will reduce boiling time by many hours whether you are at sea level, or at high altitude.
The qualities of a perfect boiled peanut go beyond softness, saltiness, and wetness, though these are good starting points for discussion. It's not easy to describe the taste, and texture changes that raw peanuts go through as they boil. However, these changes are quite noticeable when you taste the peanuts as they boil.
Raw peanuts are very firm, and have a green, or vegetal taste. They taste somewhat like a raw pea, or raw green bean. As they boil, the peanuts start softening, yet remain rather firm, with no salty flavor from the liquid. The raw taste diminishes as they boil longer, and the peanuts start tasting more savory as they soften. When they have softened to your liking, remove the pot from the burner, and let the peanuts soak in the cooling brine. They will not taste salty, yet. Soaking makes the boiled peanuts salty, and wet inside the shells.
Do not be tempted to add more salt until the peanuts are softening, and the brine fills inside the shells.
If a recipe says "Remove the peanuts quickly from the liquid or they will be too salty", then they called for too much salt in the first place. Boiled peanuts become more moist, and more flavorful as they soak in the cooling brine. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes. This is the most important step for infusing the brine's flavor.
It's not hard to learn how to boil peanuts as long as you taste them periodically while they cook.
Now you know how to boil peanuts. Boiling dried peanuts takes many hours. Pay attention. Never leave a boiling pot of peanuts unattended on a stove. A fire can start from the dried contents when the water boils away, and the pot can melt. Turn off the burner if you must walk away. The peanuts will continue to simmer in the cooling water until you return.
Post your boiled peanuts secrets, advice, and questions!
Do you have a tip, recipe, or question regarding boiling peanuts? Please post here without hesitation.
Let us learn from one another.
Comments and Questions
Comments and questions from visitors
Boiled peanuts
My goodness I guess all were thinking I was going to have a remedy for peanuts stuck in hull. Lol well no I don't but they sure are good and worth it …
Awesome Boiled Peanuts!
Awesome!
Keeping Large Quantities Cool in Summer
I typically pick up (Dry Raw) peanuts on tuesday. Soak them Wed. to Thurs. and Cook Thursday evening and finish them up on Friday to sell Saturday. Usually …
Need a peanut supplier!!!
I live in Connecticut and cannot find a peanut supplier, I do not mind paying shipping if it is not so much that it makes it not worth it. All of the produce …
Boiling Small Batch of Dried Raw Peanuts in 6-8 hours
For one pound of dried/raw peanuts I prefer to use 4 tablespoons to two quarts water. This equals the ratio in this article (8 tablespoons per gallon of …
Pickle Juice Flavored Boiled Peanuts
Can you add pickle juice to boiled peanuts to add a pickle flavor to the peanuts?
Over night storage when selling boiled peanuts the next day?
How do you store your boiled peanuts to sell the next day ? Say I was selling Saturday and have boiled peanuts left over, how would I store them that …
Boiled Peanuts Not Salty Enough
Can’t get boiled “green” peanuts salty enough using 1.5 cups salt per gallon. All steps followed for soaking pre boiling and soaking 30 mins after in …
Leaving boiled peanuts out overnight (inside your house) without refrigeration.
Have a question here, or more like a concern, about leaving boiled peanuts (still in their boiled brine) in the pot from which they just boiled in and …
Salting Already Boiled Peanuts
We bought a baggy of boiled peanuts from a farmers market. When we got home we discovered they were not salted. Can I soak them in salty water after they …
Boiled Peanut Scoop for Festival?
I’m looking for a large scoop to pour my hot boiled peanuts just cooked into another large pot as a holding pot so I can keep them hot for a festival. …
How much water
How much water is enough to boil peanuts in. Mine were almost floating because I didn’t have a bigger pot. I kept stirring them as the boiled. Then they …
Can I Re-boil Undercooked Peanuts?
I just bought a bag of boiled peanuts at a roadside produce stand in SC for the ride home back to VA. They are undercooked and way too salty! Can I throw …
Just pressure cook Peanuts. Much faster.
Just pressure cook peanuts with salt and water. Much faster. You can eat in 15 minutes. 7 minutes for the cooker to start whistling and about 8 minutes …
WHITE COATING INSIDE SHELL
Bought a large mesh bag of raw peanuts. I was going to boil them today. They look normal from the outside but when I opened several, some have a WHITE …
How to Tell They are Done and How to Get the Brine in Them.
I boil mine and stir them every 15 to 20 minutes. Bring those on the bottom to the top. I pull a few out after an hour or so and test them. I keep pulling …
How Long to Boil Dry Raw Peanuts?
For whatever reason, I couldn't find any raw green peanuts anywhere this year. I found raw dry peanuts at the grocery store and decided to try boiling …
Vinegar With Boiled Peanuts?
Have you, or do any of you use vinegar to help tenderize the peanut and help it soak up the juices?
Baking Soda to Help With Hard Water While Boiling Peanuts?
Can I use a little baking soda to soften the water first, then add salt to taste?
Cold storage of Boiled Peanuts
I boiled a half bushel Tuesday. I brought temp down and then put in a small fridge to cool and store for a couple days. I checked on them tonight, a bit …
Helpful Information about Boiled Peanuts?
I just published (self-published on Amazon) a book "The Boiled Peanut Book" which is a primer of sorts for non-southern types who don't know anything about …
Wholesale raw peanuts for sale? Anybody know any vendors?
So, 1st time posting here and I hope I get a response. I am going to start a P-nut stand and can't for the life of me find a good source for buying 100 …
Pre-soak
Does pre-soaking the dried peanuts help to soften them and reduce boiling time?
Peanut Boiling Pot Corrosion?
Hello fellow boiled peanut folks! So we have been making our own boiled peanuts for a few weeks now, but we are currently experiencing an issue with the …
Newbie Help Boiling Peanuts
Hey there boiled pnut pros! I’m so glad to have found you here! I'm boiling only my 2nd batch of raw dried peanuts and trying to apply the principles I’ve …
Seasoning Canned Boiled Peanuts
Hi, I currently live in Colorado and can't find Raw, or Green peanuts around me. I moved from Florida where the Peanut Patch Cajun boiled peanuts were …
Wet Boiled Peanuts
Why are the peanuts I boil full of water when I crack the shell. Even days after storing in the refrigerator?
Reboil Peanuts to Add Spice
Can I reheat my cooked peanuts that are still in the liquid to add a little spice? They are really good but I’d like a bit more kick.
Soaking Boiled Peanuts
How long can boiled peanuts soak after you turn the fire off?
How to Sink Peanuts while Boiling
I can’t get the raw peanuts to submerge while cooking. They keep floating. What do I do?
Soak Boiled Peanuts Like Crawfish
I soak my boiled peanuts just like I do crawfish. When we have tasted them along the way, to make sure they are done enough for our taste, I turn the fire …
Salt on Blanched Peanuts
Do I put salt on blanched peanuts that are going into bags for the freezer?
Boiling Dried Peanuts
I kept trying to get soft boiled peanuts from dried peanuts, without success. One winter on vacation in Florida I was told by a roadside boiled peanut …
Perfect green boiled peanuts are about time and memories.
If you want perfect green boiled peanuts; harvest them alongside your grandfather from his garden and sit your 8 year old self down in the dirt beside …
Made a Video... Green vs Raw Peanuts
Got my first green peanuts of the season, so I thought I'd edjumucate folks .
Boiling Peanuts in a Broiler
I found out that boiling peanuts in a large broiler works pretty good has anyone else tried it?
Boiling Raw Shelled Peanuts
Would you please be so kind as to provide the cooking instructions (including salt quantity) for raw, dried, SHELLED peanuts? I have 2 beautiful bags of …
Boiled Peanuts In a Slow Cooker
How long do boiled peanuts stay good in a slow cooker?
Age of Peanuts to Boil
How old can peanuts be for boiling?
Use This Much Salt for Boiled Peanuts
My Grandma, from Dothan Alabama, told me, "You put in enough salt so your water tastes like you want your peanuts." That seemed so obvious after she said …
Boiled Peanuts not Working
We are trying to get started in the boiled peanuts for sale business, and hitting a few roadblocks. Primarily getting the flavor into the "meat" is the …
Peanut Bowl
Has no one designed a bowl for boiled peanuts? There is one for pistachios but peanut shells are much bigger.
Crock Pot Boiled Peanuts Time
My peanuts have been in the crock pot on low now for 30 hours and still are not soft.
Boiling Shelled Peanuts
I ordered peanuts & they arrived shelled. Can I still cook them? Want to try a "Cajun" hot & spicy recipe.
Ham Hock Boiled Peanuts
Put some ham hocks in with the peanuts and pressure cook them for about 30 minutes at 10 lbs of pressure. Wait until there is no pressure left before opening …
Boiling Peanuts Question
Should you cover the pot with a lid while boiling peanuts?
Reduce Boiling Time of Dry Peanuts
If you have the time, after you rinse the dry peanuts of any dirt or what ever, I place the peanuts in a holding container and then fill with fresh clean …
Reusing boiled peanut brine
Can the brine be used for more than one batch?
Boiled peanuts in flight
How long a flight will boiled peanuts stay good without refrigeration?
Disposal of peanut brine
Where do you properly dispose of peanut brine?
Ruining my dutch ovens boiling peanuts in them
What would someone recommend, other than a giant witches' caldron, to boil peanuts in? I thought maybe a turkey fryer or something like that, but would …
Raw green boiled peanut butter
Can we make and store raw green boiled peanut butter? No roasting. How can we store or preserve it for months?
Can we preserve raw green peanuts for months …
Boiled Peanuts Pounds to Quarts
Hi, how y'all? I saw an answer for dried jumbo peanuts, but I need to know approximately how many 1 quart portions are in 25 pounds of boiled green Valencias? …
Garlic Boiled Peanuts
I have boiled peanuts but would like to make them into garlic boiled peanuts. Is there some way to do that?
Boiled peanuts are a open slate to add you own taste
I add the usual spices salt, white pepper, garlic powder, 1/4 cup of Baileys Irish cream and 2 teaspoon of sugar. Now this is a Yankee way but. Please …
How much salt to boil 30 pounds of peanuts?
How much salt do you use for 30 pounds of peanuts?
Boiling Peanuts Better
When boiling peanuts add flavours like curry powder or whatever you like to the water, it soaks in. Much better than plain ones.
Boiled peanuts
I soak my peanuts before I boil them, usually 1 hour with a heavy lid and a couple of bricks on top. You want to submerge the peanuts. This also washes …
No to Pressure Cooker
100% do NOT use a pressure cooker. It will cause the peanuts to taste like the shell. From a 70 yr. connoisseur.
Boiled Peanuts Hawaiian Style
These are our tips for making soft juicy salty boiled peanuts.
1. No salt in soaking water
2. Each raw peanut needs to be cracked slightly
3. Pour …
Where to buy red, green peanuts?
Where can I buy red, green peanuts?
Thank you,
Marcos
Sources to Buy Dried Peanuts?
I've read pretty much this entire site. No one has listed sources to buy dried peanuts, as this seems to be the way to go since getting green nuts is a …
Boiling Peanuts Daily
I want to set up and sell boiled peanuts in my shop. My question is how and what to do with the peanuts at night, how to deal with them as I'm going to …
Can you reboil peanuts?
I bought some boiled peanuts from a vendor today and was totally excited about it because I haven't had both peanuts and what seems like forever. When …
Boiled blanched peanuts
Bought blanched peanuts for cooking, would these be dried raw? They're not roasted. I soaked them overnight in salted water, then boiled them in fresh …
Boiling cracked peanuts
Can I boil peanuts that are already cracked?
Boiled Peanuts Texas
Where can you find the raw green peanut farms around Houston,Texas?
Adding salt to boiled peanuts; when is best?
When do u add the salt? In the beginning of the directions it says to add salt, but 2/3 way down it says not to be tempted to add salt before peanuts are …
Boiling peanuts and peanut allergies
I have a small convenience store. Is it dangerous to boil peanuts in the same building that people with peanut allergies might walk into? I have heard …
Boiling peanuts out of the shells?
In the UK I've never seen green peanuts on sale and it is also difficult to source raw dried peanuts in the shells. They nearly always come roasted and …
How can I prevent boiled peanuts from sticking in the shell?
When I open my shells 90% of the time the peanut splits in half and is difficult to remove from the shell. How do I prevent this?
Pressure Cooker Time when Boiling Peanuts?
I am boiling Jumbo raw peanuts in a pressure cooker. How long do you recommend they cook?
What's the weight difference between raw and boiled peanuts?
How much weight do peanuts gain after boiling?
Boiling peanuts in a crockpot
Can you tell me how to boil peanuts in a crockpot? I would like them to cook while I am at work
Do I dry boiled peanuts before eating them?
We recently returned from a trip to South Carolina, and we bought some boiled peanuts from a farm stand. The man scooped the peanuts out of water, and …
Crockpot Boiled Peanuts
How long can boiled peanuts be kept in a
crockpot before spoiling?
Can you just boil the peanuts in water?
Do you have to have anything added to the water in the boiling process? Do you need some form of salt and if so why? I'd like to try boiling the peanuts …
Boiled Peanut Cooking Pot
Hi B-P-W! What are acceptable cooking pots for boiling peanuts? I want something very large, something that will hold a bushel. Any suggestions?
Can I boil raw peanuts that are not in their shells?
Can I boil raw peanuts that are already shelled?
Can I boil peanuts in a regular pot?
The instructions say to boil the peanuts in a stock pot or slow cooker. Can I just boil them in a regular large cooking pot? Is there a difference?
Boiled peanut shells turned black
Why did my raw peanut shells turn black when I boiled them?
Boiling peanuts in a pressure cooker
Is there a recipe for using a pressure cooker to boil peanuts?
Drying boiled peanuts
Do you dry the boiled peanuts or just eat them soft?
What am I looking for in peanuts for boiling?
I have no clue which peanuts I need to boil. I am trying to eat the healthiest, most nutritious peanut, and easy to digest. I live in Maine, and not sure …
How to store boiled peanuts?
We have green peanuts that are boiled. Do you refrigerate the boiled peanuts in the salt water they were cooked in? Also, how long do they last in the …
Boiled peanuts too salty
What if I used too much salt when I boiled my peanuts? Can you do anything to make them less salty tasting?
Freeze and reheat boiled peanuts
I tried to sell boiled peanuts last week and we got drenched with rain. I was told that I could freeze them and use them next week. Is that correct?
How do I set up a roadside peanut stand?
We do not have access to raw green peanuts so we use raw dry nuts. We cook them at home with a normal cooking time around 8-10 hours and they turn out …
Right kind of peanuts for boiling?
I have raw Valencia peanuts, is this the right variety for boiling?
Packaging boiled peanuts for gift giving?
I'm traveling from my home state of Georgia to my Dad's home state of South Dakota, and I would like to take my family some southern style boiled peanuts …
How long do boiled peanuts last before spoiling?
How long do boiled peanuts last before spoiling? Also, does the water I use for boiling peanuts affect their texture?
Boiling shelled green peanuts Cajun style
Can I Cajun boil green peanuts if they are already shelled?
Recipe for boiling 50 pounds of peanuts
What is a good recipe for boiling 50 pounds of peanuts? Thank you for the help.
Raw Peanuts cooking time
We boil our raw peanuts about 25 minutes. The nuts are then soft on the inside of the shell and very tasty. These are peanuts in the Philippines. Longer …
How to Dry Peanuts
How do I dry Boiled Peanuts? This is my first time and I thought the best would be to boil them since you put salt in the water. Help.
Where to buy largest green peanuts for boiling?
Where can I find the largest variety of green peanut suitable for boiling? Will they only be available during certain months?
I live in Houston, but …
How to flavor raw peanuts
How do you flavor raw peanuts that are shelled?
Can shelled raw peanuts be boiled?
Thanks for the article.
We cannot get raw peanuts in their shells in the UK. The ones in shells are always roasted and ready to eat, sold in bags. …
Sweeten Boiled Peanuts with Honey?
I want to make some sweet flavored boiled peanuts but not overpoweringly sweet. Any suggestions as to what I could use? I'm open minded, and would try …
Adding water and salt when boiling peanuts
If I add water to the pot as it boils off, how do I know how much salt to add? Without adding salt as I add water, won't the brine become diluted?
Best peanut variety for boiling
What is the best variety of peanuts for boiling; not too small, not too big, best tasting?
Canning Raw Peanuts in Jars
My mother-in-law used to can raw peanuts in jars. How is this process done?
Boiling Peanuts with Rock Salt
Can I use rock salt instead of table salt when boiling peanuts? If so, how much do I use?
Too salty boiled peanuts
Is there any way to fix boiled peanuts if too much salt was used?
When are boiled peanuts done cooking?
How many minutes do peanuts need to boil?
What if I can't tell whether they are RAW or DRIED?
These are the big ones and they were neither "green" looking nor very soft. I know they are raw, but I'm only cooking 2 lb for myself, so how long do I …
How to Store Green Peanuts?
I recently bought green peanuts from a store that keeps them in a cooler, 30 lbs sacks. When I get home do I have to boil right away? I want to store them, …
Can I Freeze Green Peanuts?
Can I freeze green peanuts before I boil them?
Storing Boiled Peanuts
After boiling peanuts must they be refrigerated if I don't plan to eat them until the net day?
Moldy Peanuts: Safe to boil?
I got a bag of boiling peanuts at the grocery store and let them sit on the counter for a few days. By the time I went to boil them, many were moldy. Should …
Who puts ice cubes in the pot when done?
I was told ice water drives the flavor into the boiled peanuts. Anyone tried it?
How do I know when boiled peanuts are done?
How do I know when they are done? Time, texture, taste?
How long can peanuts soak after boiling before they spoil?
How long can peanuts soak after boiling before they spoil?
How often to stir peanuts when boiling them?
How important is stirring when boiling peanuts? Once you bring them to a boil, what temperature do you boil them? Simmer?
Thanks,
Phillip from Mississippi. …
How to soften shells on boiled peanuts?
I have been slowly boiling my peanuts but the shell is really hard what can I use to soften the shell? Ive been boiling them since yesterday afternoon …
Should I presoak raw peanuts before boiling them?
My bag of raw peanuts says I should soak them for up to 24 hours in brine before cooking. I'm going to cook them in a crock pot, which lengthens the cooking …
How do I get hot spicy Cajun flavors into boiled peanuts?
Tried to get hot, spicy flavor into my boiled peanuts, but they didn't get very spicy, like some I bought commercially. What's the procedure?
I got a bag of dried raw peanuts.
I was wondering if the bag of dried raw peanuts that I received as a present would be okay to boil? If so,do I boil them for the 24 hours you stated? Other …
Boiling Shelled Peanuts
Your recipe is for boiling peanuts in the shell, but what about shelled peanuts? Can we still boil them? What is the process? We have tasted peanuts boiled …
Can you reheat boiled peanuts?
How do you store and reheat boiled peanuts?
Difference in using gas or coal fires to boil peanuts
Is there a difference in using gas or coal fires when boiling peanuts?
Has this ever happened to you?
I spilled a large amount of peanuts (Cajun at that!) the other day, and didn't quite get them all up - No big deal right? The critters will get them. But …
How Long do Boiled Peanuts Keep?
If kept in a crock pot and not eaten that day, then refrigerated overnight, and put back in a crock pot the next day, will they still be good? If so, how …
How to Shorten Cooking Time when Boiling Dried Peanuts?
Is there a way to cook or soak dry peanuts to cut the cooking time down and to make them taste good?
How Long to Boil Raw Shelled Peanuts?
How long do you boil raw, shelled peanuts?
Boiled Peanuts in a Crock Pot
Can you accomplish the same thing using a crock pot, and if so, are the steps the same?
Should I Crack the Shells before Boiling Peanuts?
I have been told that it helps to crack the shells before boiling. Anything to this? I know that many of the shells may be already slightly cracked.
…
Can I Reboil Boiled Peanuts?
Can I reboil boiled peanuts 24 hours later? Will they still be good after I reboil them?
Boiled Peanuts that Stick in Shell
I've boiled peanuts for many years, and have it down to a science, yet I still have the occasional batch that sticks inside the shells.
Is there a trick …
Can Roasted Peanuts be Boiled?
Can roasted peanuts be boiled? Will they still taste good?
Adding Flavors to Boiled Peanuts?
If I was to add a Cajun or garlic flavor to the boiled peanuts, when is the best time to add the flavor and how much?
Why are my Boiled Peanuts Shrinking?
The pnuts I am boiling are shrinking and "turning in". What is causing this?
How Much Sea Salt for Boiling Peanuts
How much sea salt would you use when boiling peanuts? I have never cooked boiled peanuts before.
Too much Salt in my Boiled Peanuts
How can I eliminate the fact that the peanuts are TOO SALTY? Will soaking them in plain water help? If so, for how long? Help!! They are way too salty. …
When boiling peanuts should I add more water and salt as the water evaporates?
When boiling raw peanuts the brine has a tendency to evaporate off.
My question is when you add more water to the pot do you need to add more salt …
Boiling Fresh Dug Peanuts
I just dug my peanuts and I would like to know how long do have to let them dry out before I can boil them?
Adding More Salt to Peanuts during Boiling Process
What if you didn't put in enough salt initially...do you add more during boiling?
How much water and salt to boil peanuts?
I just bought a 40 quart fryer. How much water, how much salt and how many pounds of peanuts?
What else can I use instead of Salt?
Will garlic salt give a different flavor? What other flavors can I try?
Can Shelled Peanuts be Boiled?
I would like to know why we need to leave them in the shell, and do you remove the shells before eating? I've never had these but am dying to try them. …
Sea Salt or Table Salt?
Do you like to use sea salt or table salt?
Do leftover boiled peanuts need to be refrigerated ?
Do leftover boiled peanuts need to be refrigerated?
Can I Boil Peanuts that have Sprouted?
If the peanuts have sprouted are they still good to boil and eat?
Search Boiled Peanut World here.
return to more recipes from how to boil peanuts
Comments