Ways to Cook Peanuts

The peanut -- which is not a nut and which belongs to the legume family of beans -- contains more than 30 nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, folate, fiber and potassium. In 1940, George Washington Carver published 105 recipes using peanuts, including soups and purees. Today, the peanut is often encountered as a prepackaged snack or as an ingredient in baked goods, candies, sauces, peanut butter and cooking oil; however, raw peanuts can be prepared at home using various cooking methods and enjoyed as a snack.

Boiled

Boil raw peanuts seasoned with salt until they are soft enough to suit your preference. Wash about 5 lbs. of raw, unshelled peanuts and add the peanuts and 1 cup of salt to a large pot. Cover the peanuts with water and let the water reach boiling. Allow the water to boil for three hours. Test the peanuts for taste and softness. For a low-sodium modification, use less salt and add your favorite herbs to the water to flavor the peanuts.

Roasted

Enjoy roasted peanuts hot from the oven and, if preferred, sprinkled them with spices. Wash 1 lb. of raw, unshelled peanuts and spread them on a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet in an oven preheated to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, turn the oven off and allow the peanuts to remain in the oven for one hour. Leave the oven door closed for the entire hour. Serve the peanuts hot and shell them as they are eaten or remove the shells and hulls after cooking and sprinkle the peanuts with your choice of spices. Alternatively, remove the shells and hulls, rub the peanuts lightly with butter or oil and roast them in the oven.

Baked

Bake about 2 cups of raw peanuts with a chili-flavored seasoning mixture. Bake the peanuts at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they are a light golden color, which usually takes about 15 minutes. Stir the peanuts occasionally while baking them. Remove the peanuts from the oven and stir in a little chili powder, ground cumin, dried red hot chili peppers, 1 tbsp. of salad oil and a dash of salt. Return the peanuts to the oven for another eight to 10 minutes.

Grilled

Vendors grill and sell peanuts on the streets of Mexico. You can grill raw peanuts by placing them on a foil-covered grilling rack over hot coals. One recipe uses hickory or flavored-wood chips over hot coals to flavor the grilled peanuts. Cover the grill and smoke-roast the peanuts for about 60 minutes, turning them over three times.