Boiled Peanuts

As a child, I had an album of American folk songs that included a Civil War-era classic called “Goober Peas.” I didn’t know what the title meant, but I knew it was about eating something delicious. It turns out that “goober” is derived from the word “nguba,” which means “peanut” in several African languages. The soldiers in the song are snacking on boiled peanuts, made made by simmering green peanuts in salted water.

While one recent American president, Jimmy Carter, was a peanut farmer, peanuts aren’t native to the United States. Enslaved Africans brought the legumes to the United States, where they cultivated and cooked them, primarily in southern states. Eventually, boiled peanuts became part of the cuisine of the American South, along with other southern recipes like shrimp and grits, collard greens and fried green tomatoes.

While the recipe is simple, you generally don’t chuck grocery-store peanuts in water and boil them. The boiled peanuts recipe starts with green (raw) peanuts and calls for cooking them in their shells in salted or seasoned water. You don’t eat the shells; instead, it’s common to suck the salt water from the shells and then break them open to get at the seeds. After boiling, the peanuts take on a texture similar to that of cooked beans—soft, yet slightly toothsome. They’re an excellent snack, whether from a roadside stand, at a gathering or in your kitchen.

Ingredients for Boiled Peanuts

• Green or raw peanuts: Just-harvested green peanuts are a perishable, seasonal ingredient sold in parts of the American South or online. They’re usually available from the end of July through November. If those aren’t available, raw peanuts are the next best thing. Raw peanuts are dried but haven’t yet been cooked, which reduces their perishability.
• Salt: Since this recipe has only two ingredients (plus water), it can be a good excuse to use some high-quality sea salt—though any other type of salt you like will work fine.

Directions

Step 1: Boil the peanuts

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Add the water, salt and peanuts to a large stock pot, and bring it to a boil.

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Reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer, covered, until the peanuts are tender, two to three hours. Check the pot every 30 minutes, and add additional water as needed. Drain and serve the boiled peanuts.

Editor’s Tip: To see if the peanuts are tender, you’ll need to break one open and check the “goober peas” inside. The longer you cook them, the softer they’ll get, so let your preference be your guide.

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Boiled Peanuts Variations

• Add flavors: Adding Cajun spice mix to the boiling water is the most common variation, but there are plenty of flavorful options. Try using Old Bay seasoning, your favorite curry powder or paste, Chinese five spice or any other seasoning blend you like.
• Toss them in seasoned fat: It’s not traditional, but after shelling the peanuts, you could toss them with oil or melted butter flavored with any of the seasonings above.
• Add some tang: For a little extra flavor, add something zingy like lemon juice or cider vinegar to the cooking water. Some people even use pickle juice.
• Make a dip: Instead of flavoring the water with extra spices, puree your boiled peanuts with a splash or two of cooking liquid (or plain water if the nuts don’t need additional salt), and then stir in your favorite flavorings. It’s a bit like peanut hummus!

How to Store Boiled Peanuts

Boiled peanuts are perishable, so you must store them in the refrigerator. Once drained, put the peanuts in zip-top bags and squeeze out as much air as possible. If you still have the cooking liquid, put the nuts in glass jars and pour enough liquid to cover them.

How long do boiled peanuts last?

Shelled boiled peanuts will last in the refrigerator for seven days and indefinitely in the freezer (according to the USDA).

Boiled Peanuts Tips

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Do you need to soak peanuts before boiling them?

Soaking may not be useful if you’re using very fresh green peanuts. However, if you’re using raw peanuts that are no longer green, soaking them for eight hours or overnight will help them cook more quickly and evenly—although it is definitely not necessary. If you decide to soak the peanuts before boiling them, store them in the refrigerator as they soak.

Why aren’t my boiled peanuts soft?

If you accidentally used roasted peanuts, that could be the problem. Although there’s no harm in boiling roasted nuts, this recipe only works with raw peanuts. The older and dryer the raw peanuts, the longer they’ll take to soften in the pot. If you start with green or raw peanuts and continue cooking them, they should eventually soften.

Can you overcook boiled peanuts?

It is possible to cook peanuts until they’re mushy, but it doesn’t happen quickly. After an hour or so, start checking the peanuts each time you investigate the water level, and stop the cooking when you get to a texture you enjoy.