Boil Your Way to Perfection: A Guide for Shelled and Unshelled Boiled Peanuts
The humble boiled peanut is a delicious and budget-friendly snack enjoyed worldwide. The good news is that you don’t need fancy equipment to achieve that salty, soft goodness. In this guide, I will walk you through boiling raw peanuts (both shelled and unshelled).
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Let’s be honest; sometimes, the best snacks are the simplest. Enter boiled peanuts! They are one of my favorite snacks, especially during the summer. There’s something incredibly satisfying about their salty, tender goodness.
These salty gems are a Southern staple for a reason – they’re addictive, affordable, and crazy easy to make. No matter whether you like them shelled or unshelled, making boiled peanuts at home is easier than you might think.
In this post, I’ll show you how to boil peanuts using an Instant Pot, slow cooker, and stovetop. These methods are simple and guarantee delicious results every time. So, let’s get started and make some mouth-watering boiled peanuts!
Ingredients
All you need is raw peanuts (shelled or unshelled), salt, and water.
Did You Know
Unshelled vs. Shelled
Unshelled peanuts are peanuts with shells. These are the whole peanuts as you harvest them from the plant.
Shelled peanuts are peanuts without shells. The outer hard casing has been removed, leaving just the edible peanut inside.
How to Boil Unshelled Peanuts
Instant Pot
Step 1: Place the unshelled peanuts in the Instant Pot. Add enough water to cover the peanuts completely. Add ¼ cup of salt and give it a quick mix. Secure the lid and pressure cook for 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes).
Step 2: Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for about 20 minutes, then release any remaining pressure. Open the lid, check for tenderness, and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Stovetop
Place the unshelled peanuts in a large pot and add enough water to cover them. Add ¼ cup of salt and give it a quick mix. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the peanuts cook for 3½-4 hours. Check for the water level and tenderness periodically. Once tender, adjust seasoning if needed.
Slow Cooker
Place the unshelled peanuts in the slow cooker. Add enough water to cover the peanuts. Add ¼ cup of salt and give it a quick mix. Set the slow cooker to high and cook for 6-7 hours or on low for 11-12 hours. Check for tenderness, and adjust seasoning if needed.
How to Boil Shelled Peanuts
Instant Pot
Step 3: Place the shelled peanuts in the Instant Pot. Add enough water to cover the peanuts completely. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and give it a quick mix. Secure the lid and pressure cook for 30 minutes.
Step 4: Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for about 15 minutes, then release any remaining pressure. Open the lid, check for tenderness, and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Stovetop
Place the shelled peanuts in a large pot and add enough water to cover them. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and give it a quick mix. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the peanuts cook for 1½-2 hours. Check for the water level and tenderness periodically. Once tender, adjust seasoning if needed.
Slow Cooker
Place the shelled peanuts in the slow cooker. Add enough water to cover them. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and give it a quick mix. Set the slow cooker to high and cook for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Check for tenderness and adjust seasoning if needed.
Expert Tips
- Soaking: For stovetop and slow cooker methods, soaking the peanuts in water for a few hours or overnight can reduce the cooking time.
- Seasoning: Experiment with different spices to add more flavor to your boiled peanuts.
- Storage: Boiled peanuts can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop before serving.
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Equipment
- Instant Pot OR
- Large pot OR
- Slow cooker
Ingredients
- 2 lbs raw peanuts with shell or 1 lb raw peanuts without shell
- Water enough to cover the peanuts
- ¼ cup salt for peanuts with shell and 1 tablespoon of salt for peanuts without shell
Instructions
Boiling Peanuts with Shells (Unshelled Peanuts):
- Rinse the Peanuts: Wash the unshelled raw peanuts thoroughly to remove dirt or debris.
- Instant Pot: Place the unshelled peanuts in the Instant Pot. Add enough water to cover the peanuts completely. Add ¼ cup of salt and give it a quick mix. Secure the lid and pressure cook for 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes). Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for about 20 minutes, then release any remaining pressure. Open the lid, check for tenderness, and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve warm.
- Stovetop: Place the unshelled peanuts in a large pot and add enough water to cover them. Add ¼ cup of salt and give it a quick mix. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the peanuts cook for 3½-4 hours. Check for the water level and tenderness periodically. Once tender, adjust seasoning if needed and serve warm.
- Slow Cooker: Place the unshelled peanuts in the slow cooker. Add enough water to cover the peanuts. Add ¼ cup of salt and give it a quick mix. Set the slow cooker to high and cook for 6-7 hours or on low for 11-12 hours. Check for tenderness, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve warm.
Boiling Peanuts without Shells (Shelled Peanuts):
- Rinse the Peanuts: Wash the raw shelled peanuts thoroughly.
- Instant Pot: Place the shelled peanuts in the Instant Pot. Add enough water to cover the peanuts completely. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and give it a quick mix. Secure the lid and pressure cook for 30 minutes. Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for about 15 minutes, then release any remaining pressure. Open the lid, check for tenderness, and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve warm.
- Stovetop: Place the shelled peanuts in a large pot and add enough water to cover them. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and give it a quick mix. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the peanuts cook for 1½-2 hours. Check for the water level and tenderness periodically. Once tender, adjust seasoning if needed and serve warm.
- Slow Cooker: Place the shelled peanuts in the slow cooker. Add enough water to cover the peanuts. Add 1 tablespoons of salt and give it a quick mix. Set the slow cooker to high and cook for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Check for tenderness, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve warm.
Notes
- Soaking: For stovetop and slow cooker methods, soaking the peanuts in water for a few hours or overnight can reduce the cooking time.
- Seasoning: Experiment with different spices to add more flavor to your boiled peanuts.
- Storage: Boiled peanuts can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop before serving.
Nutrition
