Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

Name: Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 h 15 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound green peanuts (raw but not dried); 1/2 cup salt; 10 cups of water

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Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts are an easy to make Southern snack that can be made in a fraction of the time of traditional recipes.

Boiled Peanuts are a staple in the south. Growing up in South Carolina and now living in south Georgia, they are everywhere. They are even the official state snack of South Carolina! Every gas station has signs touting their own fresh selection and in some areas there will be boiled peanut stands along the sides of the road.

What are boiled peanuts?

If you aren’t familiar with this savory and salty snack you’re in for a treat-maybe. People fall firmly in two camps, you either love them or hate them. (I obviously love them.)

Boiled peanuts are made with raw peanuts and boiled slowly in salted or seasoned water until the shell is soft. They are shelled by hand or with your mouth and make a tasty, salty treat.

What are green peanuts?

Most recipes call for using green peanuts. Green peanuts are raw, freshly dug up peanuts that have not been dried. They can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores in the south during the summer season.

Instant Pot Instructions

Traditional recipes can take hours and hours of slow boiling to get the perfect texture. Using the Instant Pot cuts that time down to under 2 hours!

Simply rinse peanuts under cold water until the water runs clear, add to the instant pot along with water and salt, and cook for 75 minutes. Let the valve release naturally and they are ready in just 90 minutes!

close up of boiled peanuts in instant pot

FAQs

Can I make this recipe without green peanuts?

While most die-hard Southerners would advise against it, you can definitely use raw dried peanuts. Because green peanuts are moist in comparison to raw peanuts, it will take a much longer time of boiling to get the same texture. One way to adjust this is to soak the raw dried peanuts in salted water overnight before boiling.

Can I use a slow cooker?

To prepare in a slow cooker follow the same recipe but cook in the slow cooker on high 12-14 hours or until the desired softness and saltiness is reached.

How to use the stovetop

To prepare on the stovetop use the same recipe in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 4 hours or until the desired softness and saltiness is reached.

How to serve

Serve this recipe as a snack or appetizer warm or at room temperature.

How long do they last?

If the peanuts are stored in the brine liquid they can last up to 3-4 weeks. They will get saltier the longer the soak in the liquid though so keep that in mind. If the liquid is drained you can keep them in the refrigerator up to 14 days.

Do you eat boiled peanuts whole?

I get this question a lot! I have heard some people eat their boiled peanuts shell and all but I do not. You can easily crack them open with your fingers but many people down here in the south put their peanut in their mouth and crack the shell with their teeth (it is very soft-no tooth damage) and then spit out the shell. This method gives you a little more of the salty liquid from inside the shell.

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If you try this recipe, please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!