Canned Boiled Peanuts are cooked green peanuts that create a salty and sometimes spicy southern treat.
If you are from the south, you know that summer brings boiled peanut stands, selling warm salty goodness in a brown paper bag. Our family likes them so much that at harvest time, I canned boiled peanuts by the quart full, so we could have the yummy snack all year long.
What do boiled peanuts taste like?
Boiled peanuts are definitely an acquired taste, but southerners take their traditional snack seriously. They have a smooth, creamy flavor similar to chickpeas. Some like their boiled peanuts mild and salty, while others like their spicy cajun boiled. When you crack open the shell and pop out the peanuts, they are a bit slimy in texture and very soft. Be sure and have a napkin nearby because the peanut juice tends to run down your arms to your elbows.
What kind of peanuts do you boil?
Green Peanuts are just picked peanuts. It's best to store them in a cool, dry place like a refrigerator until you are ready to cook them. If you use these to can with you can cut your canning time down to 60 minutes in the pressure cooker.
Raw Peanuts are raw but dried, so they are safe to sit out for a week or two at room temperature. These peanuts take a little longer to cook, so be sure and process them 90 minutes in the pressure canner.
Do you eat them hot or cold?
Boiled peanuts are traditionally served warm in a paper bag. However, some people like them cold, right out of the fridge. If you like them warm, pour them in a pan and warm them up on the stovetop over medium heat. Another way is to place the peanuts in a microwave-safe boil and warm them that way.
Do you eat the shell on boiled peanuts?
Boiled peanut shells are slightly soft because of the long boiling process. A hardcore southerner might say you should eat the shell however, most people discard them after picking out the peanuts.
WHERE CAN I GET RAW GREEN PEANUTS?
If you live in a warm-weather climate, then peanuts are harvested at the end of the summer. Check your local farmer's market. If it's off-season or you live where they don't grow, you can get them on Amazon. One two-pound bag would be perfect for Instapot Boiled Peanuts or Crockpot Boiled Peanuts.
RAW PEANUTS
Canning Supplies Guide
If you are new to canning, be sure and read my Canning Supplies Guide. There are many helpful tips and ideas.
How to can boiled peanuts
Canning your own boiled peanuts is very easy, but you must use a pressure canner because peanuts are a low-acid food. The only thing else you will need for your canned boiled peanuts are green peanuts, figure one pound per quart jar, some canning salt, and spicy cajun seasoning if you want a kick to your boiled peanuts.
When canning, I use an All American 21 1/2 quart canner. I can get 7 quarts or 19 pints processed at one time. Using a canner can make a person a little nervous, but I have found with this All American I feel completely comfortable and always have great success with the end product.
After you can up your own, be sure and serve them the southern way. Take off the canning seal, warm them up in the microwave for a minute, then scoop them out of the juice into a paper bag.
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Canned Boiled Peanuts
Note:
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Ingredients
- peanuts Green peanuts in the shell - 1 pound per quart jar you want to can
- 1 pound salt pickling/canning
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning optional -per quart jar
- water
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Instructions
- Wash and select fully mature, but still green peanuts. They must not be roasted or already cooked or dried. Fully mature peanuts do not make good quality boiled peanuts; rather raw or "green" ones are used.
- Soak the peanuts in the shell in fresh water for one hour.
- Discard the water, cover again with fresh water and soak for another hour.
- Repeat this soaking process one more time for another hour. This makes a total soaking time of three hours, using fresh water each time.
- Put the canning jars in boiling water for 10 minutes to sterilize. Remove and drain.
- Put lids in a small pot of almost boiling water for 5 minutes, then use the magnetic lid lifter wand to pull them out.
- Combine 1 cup of pickling salt or kosher salt with 1 gallon of water. Set this on a burner on low heat (so it does not boil away) until you are ready to fill the jars
- Get a very large pot of boiling water going, enough to hold all the peanuts you plan on canning and room for extra water. Then parboil (simmer just below the boiling point) the peanuts for 10 minutes in fresh water and drain.
- Pack the hot peanuts into hot jars, leaving ½ inch head space
- Fill each jar to ½ inch from the top with boiling brine (1 cup salt per gallon of water). Remove any air bubbles.
- Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cajun seasoning, depending on how spicy you like it. (optional)
- Wipe the jar's rims, put the lids on then the rings and tighten them snugly. Place the jars into the weighted gauge pressure canner with 4 inches of water in the bottom. Please follow your own canner's instruction book on how to use a canner.
- Lock lid on pressure canner, put the heat on high and let the steam escape through the vent for 10 minutes to purge the airspace inside the canner
- After 10 minutes of venting, put the weight on and close any openings to allow the pressure to build to 11 pounds
- Once the gauge hits 10 pounds, set your timer for 90 minutes, controlling heat to keep at 10 pounds pressure.
- When processing time is over, turn off the heat, and allow the pressure canner to cool and the pressure to drop to zero before opening the canner lid
- Lift the jars out of the water and let them cool on a towel, without touching or bumping them.
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Jeanette G
I can't wait to try these!
Gina Dickson
They are great to have on hand throughout the winter. I just pour them in a pan on the stove and reheat them. I also use them to make boild peanut hummus, crazy as it sounds. It's so good.
Jen
We really love boiled peanuts unfortunately here in New England they aren’t exactly available.
I have a question about reheating them. I was always told to never do that, they could make you deathly ill. From your writing I assume that isn’t the case. Is there any truth to what I’ve always been told?
Gina Dickson
Well, Jen, I have never heard this. The folks I know that sell boiled peanuts on the roadside stands make a huge pot at home during the week. Then they bring them to their stands, heating them up, and pack them in brown paper bags to sell. But you have got me thinking. I know some people are super sensitive to a mold that is in peanuts. I'm going to do some research and then add your question to my three boiled peanuts posts. Thanks for asking.