Southern Boiled Peanuts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put vinegar in boiled peanuts? ›

Just make sure you add enough to flavor the cooking liquid. If you can't taste it in the liquid, then you won't taste it in the peanuts. 4. Add vinegar for depth of flavor – Much like adding spices and seasonings, adding vinegar to your boiled peanuts provides another layer of flavor.

Use a large dinner plate to help submerge the floating peanuts. Soak peanuts 8 hours or overnight. (This step saves a little time boiling, but if you don't have the luxury of soaking time, you can skip it.)

Once the peanuts have boiled for three hours (one hour for green peanuts), sample them to check their texture and salinity. Remove a peanut, and when it is cool enough to handle, crack open its shell and taste the kernel, slurping some brine with it. If the peanut crunches, it should be cooked further.

Read more about the amount of salt required to boil peanuts here. I've been boiling green peanuts for a lot of years. I use 3 pounds of salt per bushel which is 35 pounds, and boil for at least 3 hrs. I cook peanuts by the bag and use a 100qt pot.

Add salt, then water to cover. Bring water to a boil. Let peanuts boil in water for 3 hours. Test peanuts; add more salt to taste if needed and continue cooking until they reach the softness/consistency you desire.

It is very hard to overcook boiled peanuts. When in doubt, give them a little longer.

Boiled peanuts that are overcooked or left out for too long can become slimy. Make sure to cook until tender (not mushy), and refrigerate any leftovers after serving.

But most agree that the practice of boiling peanuts originated in Africa and was introduced to American Southern culture by slaves, as the South is where the peanut crop flourished. Boiling was a clever and delicious way to enjoy the fresh-harvested or “green” peanuts that were not yet dry enough to roast.

If the boiled peanuts you had were mushy and difficult to remove from the shells, then they were overcooked. If they were slimy, then they were spoiled. Salt water is not slimy. Fresh boiled peanuts are not slimy.

Why are my boiled peanuts slimy? ›

Boiled peanuts can get slimy if they're overcooked or sit in the brine for too long.

Some people like to place a plate inside the pot to push the peanuts under the water. In the end, it really doesn't matter. Raw peanuts will absorb the water, and sink when they are ready. Our motto at Boiled Peanut World is "Boiling softens the peanuts, soaking and simmering wets the peanuts, and infuses flavors."

If peanuts aren't salty enough, add more salt to pot, 1/4 cup at a time. When peanuts are cooked, remove pot from heat, and let peanuts cool in pot 1 hour. Drain peanuts and eat, or store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 7 days.

1 In a 10- to 12-quart stockpot, stir 1/2 cup salt into 2 gallons of water until the salt dissolves, and add the raw peanuts. Use a large dinner plate or two to help submerge the floating peanuts. Allow to soak for 8 hours or overnight.

For a full bag of peanuts (30 pounds), add 1 full box of table salt (1 pound). For a 1/2 bag of peanuts (15 pounds), add 1/2 box of table salt (1/2 pound). For 1/4 bag of peanuts (7.5 pounds), add 1/4 box of table salt (1/4 pound). Bring to a boil.

Boiled peanuts that are overcooked or left out for too long can become slimy. Make sure to cook until tender (not mushy), and refrigerate any leftovers after serving.

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.

The process of boiling peanuts draws antioxidants from their shells. The boiled peanuts have four times the antioxidants of raw or roasted peanuts. Boiled peanuts have also been studied as a potential way to treat people with peanut allergies since boiling peanuts denatures proteins that trigger allergic reactions.

Dried peanuts will require a longer soaking time before cooking, so leave them to soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. Soaking the peanuts ensures that they will soften more easily when they are cooked, giving them their delicious texture.