Boiled peanuts make a great snack just like roasted peanuts. They are salty and can be flavored with a seasoning of choices like red chili flakes or Cajun seasoning.
Fresh peanuts when harvested and not dehydrated are called green peanuts. However, they are not very easily available in the store.
Raw peanuts are fresh peanuts that have been air-dried and dehydrated. Raw peanuts are used to make the boiled peanuts.
Boiled peanuts can be easily made in a pressure cooker like an Instant pot. Boiling raw peanuts can usually take a long time however soaking them overnight can greatly reduce the time.
Ingredients
To make boiled peanuts in Instant Pot, you will need raw peanuts. They are easily available in grocery stores and you can also purchase them online.
Peanuts can be salted or roasted hence, you need to double-check the package to make sure it is raw peanuts.
For seasoning, I have used only salt but Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes can be added for additional flavor and spiciness.
Instructions
Boiling raw peanuts is very easy. Rinse the peanuts with water to get rid of the dirt. Add the peanuts, salt, water, and optionally, a seasoning like Cajun or chili flakes. Cook it on high-pressure mode for 45 minutes followed by a natural pressure release.
It is best to thoroughly rinse the peanuts with water to remove all the dirt. Also, while pressure cooking, ensure that the peanuts are submerged in water and not floating at the top as they may not cook properly.
If you soak the peanuts overnight, the overall pressure cook time will be about 15 minutes. Don't forget to discard the water used for soaking.
Serving suggestions
After the peanuts have been pressure-cooked, drain the water. To enjoy the peanuts hot, split open the shells and remove the nut from inside. It will be soft to bite and have a perfect salty taste.
Equipment
I have used the 6 qt. Instant Pot to make these salty boiled peanuts. Any other electric pressure cooker of equal or more capacity can be used.
Storage
Boiled peanuts can be stored at room temperature for 2-3 days after draining out the water used for boiling.
They can also be refrigerated for about 5-7 days in an air-tight container. You can enjoy them cold or just reheat them in the microwave.
FAQ
How do you keep peanuts submerged when boiling?
Peanuts are light in weight and do not completely immerse in water. They start floating once there is enough water.
To keep them submerged, add some kind of weight like a trivet. You can also place a steamer basket on top of the trivet to ensure all the peanuts are well covered with water.
Should you soak peanuts before boiling them?
It is not mandatory to soak the peanut shells before boiling. However, soaking for 8-10 hours or overnight, does help to cook them faster in the Instant Pot.
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📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb Raw Peanuts
- 2 tablespoon Salt
- 8 cups Water (or more)
Instructions
Instant pot boiled peanuts (no soaking)
- Rinse the raw peanuts thoroughly to get rid of as much dirt as possible.
- Put all the raw peanuts in the instant pot liner.
- Add salt and cover with enough water.
- Place a trivet to ensure they are immersed in water and not floating.
- Lock the lid and pressure cook for 45 minutes followed by a natural pressure release.
Instant pot boiled peanuts (soaking overnight)
- Rinse the raw peanuts thoroughly to get rid of as much dirt as possible.
- Soak the raw peanuts in water for 8-10 hours or overnight.
- Discard the water and pour the raw peanuts in the instant pot liner.
- Add salt and cover with enough water.
- Place a trivet to ensure they are immersed in water and not floating.
- Lock the lid and pressure cook for 15 minutes followed by a natural pressure release.
Tiffany says
Great recipe, but can you tell me why it took almost 3 hours to get soft?? 😞 I had to up the cook duration 2 times.
Alpa Jain says
Hi Tiffany,
Sorry to hear it took you 3 hours to get soft peanuts. It is really surprising. Did you soak them and cook or without soaking?
I can think of below reasons
1) The pressure mode could have been low instead of high that could cause it longer to cook.
2) All the peanuts were not well submerged in water, this can cause top peanuts to be undercooked while the ones below are well cooked.
As suggested, you can try soaking them and then pressure cooking.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Alpa
Tiffany says
Thank you so much! No, I didn’t soak them.. but I followed everything else. I did have a trivet on top. I used my brand new Ninja IP. Next time, I’ll soak them. Thanks for your quick response, you’re amazing! ❤️
Sam S says
Why do the peanuts stick to the shells after pressure cooking? Am I overcooking or is that normal?
Alpa Jain says
Hi Sam,
It is normal for some peanuts to stick to the shells as they are wet inside. But they come out quite easily.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Alpa