Roasting Peanuts

[OldMcDonald]

I know there will be different opinions, especially from different US States, but you will all like the way you do it.

I am in Portugal and the most common way to get peanuts is already roasted. Sunflower oil is always used for this purpose and the taste of the oil is not good. We prefer them dry roasted anyway. Unroasted nuts are sometimes available and we have experimented a wee bit with oven temperatures and timing, but would like the opinion of those with more experience in doing it.

What temperature do you use, and for how long? Pre-heat the oven or time from cold?

Thanks in advance.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I put peanuts in the shell in a 375* oven for 20 minutes no oil, dry roast

 

[txdon]

I found no specific time for each batch but between 30-45 minutes at 350-400 F.
The age and size of the peanut are the determining factors. You just have to go by smell and taste to determine when they are done.
Excellent question.

 

[Bird]

If you are talking about roasting peanuts in the shell, I have no experience, so couldn't help. If you are talking about roasting raw shelled peanuts, I've had LOTS of experience, but not in the last 15 years or so. I buy Planter's peanuts now, but I used to buy 100 to 400 pounds of raw shelled peanuts each Fall, put them in ziplock bags, 2 pounds per bag, and put them in the freezer. So I got out and roasted 2 pounds at a time. Of course I started roasting them spread on a big cookie sheet in the oven before we ever got our first microwave, learned from my mother, but it was so long ago that I don't remember how long or what oven temperature we used. But when we got a microwave oven, I put 2 pounds of peanuts in a large glass bowl in the microwave for 3 minutes, stirred them, back in the microwave for 2.5 minutes, stirred again, 2 minutes, stirred again 1.5 minutes, stirred again, one minute, stirred, a half a minute, then stirred in a quarter pound of butter, and enjoyed. I used to keep a can of those home roasted peanuts in my desk at work. I guess I've been a peanut addict since I was 16 or younger.

 

[txdon]

Good catch Bird, I was assuming roasting them in the shell.

 

[kthompson]

OldMcDonald, you are right on difference in states..here our preferred way is eating them "boiled" in the shell. Boiled peanuts is one of my favorite foods and boiled the skin remains on the nuts, had to quit eating them for that reason. Another different way us locals like roasted peanuts is take a bottled soft drink like Pepsi or Coke and not in a can for you need a funnel out on the drink pour the peanuts in there. The two flavors will mix different than eating the nut and then a sip of the cola. Oh the boiled peanuts are also very popular in some other areas of our country such as the Smokey Mountains.

 

[OldMcDonald]

Thanks for the replies. I should have specified shelled raw nuts. My bad.

We can buy them already roasted dry in the shell, but then have to take the shells off and we only eat them as the last course of dinner every night, so like them already shelled. Dinner is always main course; cheese/biscuits/butter and fresh/dried fruit with the compulsory Port; maybe some small savouries next, maybe not; and finish with various nuts. I like the Portuguese Moscatel with the nuts but my wife sticks with Port. We grow almonds and have grown peanuts but the season is really too short so buy them. Also have Brazil nuts at times and hazelnuts. We want to retire (to the Azores) and would be able to grow peanuts there.

It sounds as if we have not been using a high enough temperature. We work in Centigrade, but converting to Fahrenheit it would be 300 to 320. We like them hot from the oven and they are always a bit soft at those temperatures but were not game to try higher. They are a lot firmer and more crunchy the next night, but cold. I will get my wife to go up to say 350. I doubt she will be willing to go to 400 straight off, but she is always willing to experiment with anything to do with food and wine.

The microwave idea sounds good too, but since we are eating whilst the nuts are cooking, it is not really convenient. No disrespect to folks who do it, but we have tried them boiled a small number of times and do not care for them that way. Never ever try something just once, you might be having an "off" day, or the other food does not complement what you are trying. There are some Scotch whiskies I do not like, so it all comes down to personal taste.

Again, many thanks for your responses. I have always found that if you ask a reasonable question on this part of the site you always get at least a few good answers.

 

[Bird]

We all know there are different tastes in different places and/or with different people, but only in recent years have I seen boiled peanuts in the grocery stores. So I bought some (twice) to try to give them a good sampling. I never thought a peanut could be ruined, but I still cannot imagine anyone liking them boiled. Horrible stuff to me. The two times I bought some, I was only able to eat less than a handful, before throwing them in the garbage can.

 

[OldMcDonald]

Bird, I rather like your straight talking. Being a froeigner, I was not game to put it so bluntly, so restricted myself to saying "we did not care for them that way".

 

[morris lipham]

If you are talking about roasting peanuts in the shell, I have no experience, so couldn't help. If you are talking about roasting raw shelled peanuts, I've had LOTS of experience, but not in the last 15 years or so. I buy Planter's peanuts now, but I used to buy 100 to 400 pounds of raw shelled peanuts each Fall, put them in ziplock bags, 2 pounds per bag, and put them in the freezer. So I got out and roasted 2 pounds at a time. Of course I started roasting them spread on a big cookie sheet in the oven before we ever got our first microwave, learned from my mother, but it was so long ago that I don't remember how long or what oven temperature we used. But when we got a microwave oven, I put 2 pounds of peanuts in a large glass bowl in the microwave for 3 minutes, stirred them, back in the microwave for 2.5 minutes, stirred again, 2 minutes, stirred again 1.5 minutes, stirred again, one minute, stirred, a half a minute, then stirred in a quarter pound of butter, and enjoyed. I used to keep a can of those home roasted peanuts in my desk at work. I guess I've been a peanut addict since I was 16 or younger.

I put a paper plate with a layer of dry peanuts in microwave for 2 minutes.