How to Salt Peanuts

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Peanuts can be a delicious and nutritious snack. But if you've brought home a bag of fresh, raw peanuts from the grocery store, they may be a little lacking in flavor. Salting the peanuts helps accentuate their natural flavor to make them even tastier. Best of all, it's easy to salt peanuts -- you only have to soak them in a brine for several hours to add plenty of flavor. Once they're salted, you can roast the peanuts in the oven or boil them so they're ready to eat.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (907 g) fresh, raw peanuts in their shells

For the Brine/Roasting Peanuts

  • 2 gallons (7.5 l) water
  • 4 tablespoons (68 g) salt

For Boiling Peanuts

  • 3 gallons (11 l) water
  • 5 tablespoons (85 g) salt
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Soaking the Peanuts

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  1. Fresh, raw peanuts actually grow underground, so they often have dirt and other residue on their shells. Before salting 2 pounds (907 g) of peanuts, place them in a colander and run them under cool water. Toss the nuts gently to ensure that they’re all rinsed well.
    • Even if the peanuts look clean, you should still rinse them. All of the dirt may not be visible.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Salt Peanuts
    To create the brine, fill a large stockpot with 2 gallons (7.5 l) of water. Add 4 tablespoons (68 g) of salt to the pot, and stir well to ensure that the brine is well mixed.
    • The brine requires 2 tablespoons (34 g) of salt for every gallon (3.8 l) of water. You can adjust the recipe based on how many peanuts you’re salting.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Salt Peanuts
    When the brine is mixed, place the peanuts in the pot. Let the nuts soak for at least 8 hours or overnight.
    • The longer you allow the peanuts to soak in the brine, the saltier they’ll be.
  4. After the peanuts have soaked in the brine for at least 8 hours, pour them into a colander to drain the water. Shake the nuts well to remove the excess water, and then spread them out on clean kitchen towel or paper towel to dry.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Roasting the Peanuts

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  1. It’s common to roast peanuts after soaking them in a salt brine. To ensure that the oven is hot enough, set the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) and allow the oven to fully heat.
    • Depending on your oven, it should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes for it to preheat.
    • Keep an eye on your oven so you know when it’s reached the proper temperature. Most models will beep or flash an indicator light to alert you.
  2. When the peanuts are dry, divide them between two half sheet pans. Make sure to place them in a single layer so the peanuts aren’t piled on top of one another. [1]
    • If you don’t have half sheet pans, you can use smaller pans. However, you may need to roast the peanuts in multiple batches so you can spread the peanuts out in a single layer.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Salt Peanuts
    Once the peanuts are the half sheet pans, place them in the preheated oven. Allow them to roast for 30 to 35 minutes, making sure to rotate the pans approximately halfway through roasting. [2]
    • During the last 10 minutes of roasting, start checking the peanuts to see if they’re done. Use a pair of tongs to remove one from the pan and allow it to cool for several minutes. When it’s cool enough to handle, open it -- the inside of the shell should be a little darker than the outside.
  4. After you remove the pans from the oven, the peanuts continue to cook for several minutes and will become crunchy. Let them cool for 10 to 15 minutes before eating them. [3]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Boiling Peanuts

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Salt Peanuts
    Fresh, raw peanuts often have dirt on them, even if it isn't visible. Place 2 pounds (907 g) of peanuts in a colander, and use cool water from the sink to rinse them. Shake the colander well to ensure that all of the peanuts are cleaned. [4]
    • There's no need to dry the peanuts after rinsing them if you plan to boil them.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Salt Peanuts
    Add the peanuts to a large stockpot, and cover them with 3 gallons (11 l) of water. Mix in 5 tablespoons (85 g) of salt, and stir well to ensure that it’s completely incorporated. [5]
    • You can use any type of salt that you like, including regular table salt, but kosher salt is usually the best option.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Salt Peanuts
    Place the pot on the stove, and turn the burner to high. Cover the pot, and allow the peanuts to simmer for 4 hours. [6]
  4. After four hours, remove a peanut from the pot and open it. It should have the texture of a cooked, dried bean and should hold its shape but not crunch when you bite it. If the peanuts aren’t done, allow them to simmer for another 3 to 4 hours until they reach the proper texture. [7]
    • The cooking time will vary based on how fresh the peanuts are. Fresher peanuts take less time to cook.
    • You may need to add additional water to the pot during the cooking process.
  5. When the peanuts are done boiling, drain them in a colander. Shake well to remove the excess water, and set them out on a clean towel or piece of paper towel to dry. Place them in a covered container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. [8]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I make my roasted peanuts saltier?
    Community Answer
    To start, I suggest using fine table salt; small grains stick to the peanuts better after breaking the shell open. I also recommend using a fry basket or a strainer lined with wax paper to salt the peanuts in order to ensure an even distribution of salt.
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      Tips

      • In addition to salt, you can add other spices and seasonings to the brine to flavor the peanuts. Try mixing in black pepper, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce for spicy peanuts.
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      • Store salted, roasted or boiled peanuts in an airtight container.
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      Things You’ll Need

      For Roasting the Peanuts

      • A colander
      • A large stockpot
      • A wooden spoon
      • A clean towel or paper towel
      • 2 half sheet pans
      • A pair of tongs

      For Boiling the Peanuts

      • A colander
      • A large stockpot
      • A wooden spoon
      • A clean towel or paper towel
      • A large stockpot
      • A wooden spoon

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/roasted-peanuts-recipe-1950513
      2. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/roasted-peanuts-recipe-1950513
      3. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/roasted-peanuts-recipe-1950513
      4. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/boiled-peanuts-recipe-1950535
      5. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/boiled-peanuts-recipe-1950535
      6. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/boiled-peanuts-recipe-1950535
      7. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/boiled-peanuts-recipe-1950535
      8. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/boiled-peanuts-recipe-1950535

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To salt peanuts, start by rinsing off your raw peanuts in cold water, then filling a large stockpot with 2 gallons of water and 4 tablespoons of salt. Next, add the peanuts to the stockpot and allow them to soak for at least 8 hours, or longer if you want them to be even saltier. Drain them, then spread them on a baking sheet and roast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 35 minutes. To learn how to boil your salted peanuts, scroll down!

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      • Kenny Brown

        Dec 20, 2016

        "This article showed me how to make roasted salted in the shell peanuts. I tried to find this out from videos, but ..." more
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