How to cook raw peanuts?

Roasted peanuts in their shell are the ideal nostalgic treat for sporting events, movie nights, bonfires, and gatherings because they are warm, nutty, and have a strong peanut flavor.

In the South, we adore peanuts, and there’s nothing better than a good batch of roasted (or parched, as my Pawpaw used to say) peanuts. When you dry roast peanuts in the oven, you get intense, flavorful flavors as well as a delicious peanut aroma. Nothing compares to popping open that shell and popping a few hot peanuts (or your Coke) in your mouth.

Although hot roasted peanuts are delicious, for many of us, they are all about the memories. The Engineer can recall many chilly football games he attended as a child while clutching a bag of warm, roasted peanuts to keep warm.

As my Pawpaw moved them from the oven to the hearth for some movie night snacking, I can still smell their warm, nutty aroma filling my Mamaw’s home.

I’m sure you have your memories too. And no matter the occasion, there isn’t a simpler or easier snack to prepare and consume!

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“This recipe makes store-bought packaged roasted peanuts taste stale.” Online retailers may be the only places to find dried, raw peanuts in the shell; supermarkets may also sell shelled varieties. It’s simple and the cooking times were perfect. Dealing with the shells created the only real mess, but it was small. ” —Colleen Graham.

1 pound shelled peanuts (or 1 1/2 pounds unshelled peanuts)

Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F. The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Place the raw peanuts (either shell on or shelled) in a single layer inside a shallow baking pan. The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

For shelled peanuts (peanuts removed from the shell), bake for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking, until the skins become loose and the peanuts are lightly golden. For unshelled peanuts (peanuts still inside their shells), bake for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking, until the shells are lightly golden brown. The peanuts will continue to cook when removed from the oven. The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Let cool 10 minutes before eating. The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

If you need to know how many peanuts you need to roast for a recipe, keep in mind that 1 1/2 pounds of unshelled peanuts are equal to about 1 pound shelled. This will produce between 3 1/2 to 4 cups of shelled peanuts.

Straight out of the oven, the peanuts are very hot and will finish cooking as they cool (you can hear the skin crackle). If you want to check a shelled peanut for internal doneness, handle it and crack it open with tongs, let the steam escape, and let it cool a bit first.

If you prefer to wash the in-shell peanuts first, rinse them in a colander under cold running water. Shake off excess water, then lay them out flat on a towel and pat dry.

Sprinkle shelled peanuts with salt, spices, or dried herbs for a savory twist before roasting or while theyre still warm.

To sweeten peanuts like those you can buy from street vendors or at baseball parks, try caramelized peanuts or honey-roasted peanuts.

Store unshelled roasted peanuts in an airtight container for up to one month on the shelf. In the refrigerator, they will keep for six months. In the freezer, theyre good for up to one year.

The same storage recommendations apply to raw unshelled peanuts. If you find a great deal, stock up and store them properly so you can enjoy your peanuts whenever youd like.

Is It Necessary to Remove the Skin From Shelled Peanuts?

A thin, papery skin covers the actual peanut meat inside the shell. Waiting until after the peanuts have been roasted will save you a lot of time and hassle because the skin dries out and becomes more pliable. Squeezing the cooled peanuts between your fingers should cause them to immediately break free from their skin. Shake the roasted peanuts in a covered bowl vigorously to remove the skins from an entire batch at once. Most of the skin is removed during the agitation, so all that’s left to do is separate the peanuts.

Should I Remove the Skin from the Shelled Peanuts?

This would undoubtedly take a lot of time to do. Therefore, I would hold off until the peanuts have cooled after cooking. The skins should then come off easily, saving you a ton of time and trouble.

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