Boiled peanuts facts for kids
Boiled peanuts are a popular snack in places where peanuts grow a lot. They are not made from fully dried peanuts. Instead, people use "raw" or "green" peanuts.
Raw peanuts are fully grown but not yet dried. Green peanuts are freshly picked and need to be kept cool. After boiling them in salty water, they get a strong salty taste. They become very soft, a bit like a pea or bean. Peanuts are actually legumes, which are plants that grow pods.
The best peanuts for boiling are often the Valencia type. These are popular in the Southern United States. Green Virginia-type peanuts are also sometimes used.
Contents
Boiled Peanuts: A Tasty Snack
Where Do People Eat Boiled Peanuts?
Boiled Peanuts in the Southern USA
Boiled peanuts are very popular in the Southern United States. You can find them from North Carolina down to central Florida. They are also eaten as far north as Ohio and west to Mississippi.
These peanuts are sold in their shells. They are boiled with just salt or with a spicy mix. Some popular spices include Old Bay or Zatarain's. Peanuts made with spices are often called "Cajun boiled peanuts."
A Look Back: History of Boiled Peanuts
Boiling peanuts has been a tradition in the Southern United States for a long time. People called them "goober peas" in the 1800s. This way of eating peanuts likely came from enslaved people from West Africa. In Africa, a similar plant called the bambara groundnut was boiled.
In July and August, when peanuts were ready, any extra peanuts would be boiled. Families and neighbors would gather to share food and talk. Boiled peanut gatherings were important social events. Boiled peanuts are now a symbol of Southern food and culture.
The first recipe for boiled peanuts was printed in 1899. They became a common snack in the early 1900s. In 1925, boys in Orangeburg, South Carolina, sold bags of boiled peanuts for five cents. You could even buy canned boiled peanuts to eat later in the year.
How to Make Boiled Peanuts
People usually use "raw" or "green" peanuts for boiling. "Green peanuts" are fresh from the farm and have not been dried. You can find them at grocery stores or farmers markets during harvest season. "Raw peanuts" are uncooked but have been dried. They need to soak in water overnight before boiling.
To boil them, you put raw peanuts in their shells into a big pot. You add a lot of salt to the water. You can boil them on a stove or outside on a burner. Some cooks use rock salt or regular table salt.
The peanuts can boil for four to seven hours or even longer. Green peanuts cook faster and often taste better. You can also add flavors like ham hocks, hot sauce, or Cajun seasonings.
The finished peanuts are very soft and quite salty. They are easy to open. Sometimes, small, unripe peanuts called "pops" are included. These have even softer shells and can be eaten whole. They soak up more salt than the bigger ones. Some people like their peanuts cooked for a shorter time so they are not as soft.
Boiled peanuts can go bad quickly without being kept cold. You can freeze them to eat later. Just reheat them in a microwave or boiling water. Frozen boiled peanuts can taste good for several years. You can also buy boiled peanuts in cans from stores.
Boiled Peanuts: An Official Snack
On May 1, 2006, the state of South Carolina made boiled peanuts its official snack food. This shows how important they are to the state's culture.
Boiled Peanuts Around the World
Boiled peanuts are enjoyed in many other parts of the world too!
Africa
In Ghana and Nigeria, boiled peanuts are a popular street food. They are also common in the KwaZulu Natal area of South Africa, especially in Durban.
Long ago, the Bambara groundnut was boiled and eaten in Africa. When peanuts came to Africa in the 1500s, they became more popular than the bambara groundnut in many dishes.
Asia
In China, peanuts are usually boiled with a little salt. Sometimes, people add star anise for extra flavor.
In Taiwan, boiled peanuts are called tǔdòu. This word can also mean peanuts boiled without their shells, like in peanut soup. Boiled peanuts used to be sold by traveling sellers in Taiwan. Now, it's less common to find them in their shells.
In Vietnam, boiled peanuts are called đậu phọng luộc or lạc luộc. People often enjoy them with friends and family while drinking beer.
You can also find boiled peanuts as street food in India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Central and South America
People have eaten boiled peanuts in South America for hundreds of years. In Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, boiled peanuts are sold as street food.
In 1774, a book called History of Jamaica mentioned that people on the island ate boiled peanuts. This tradition probably came from enslaved people from Africa.
