OT - Boiled Peanuts

NonaScott

My favorite game time snack is boiled peanuts and I enjoy making my own. Up until now I have only used dried raw peanuts as they are bigger than the raw fresh peanuts I can get at publix. I noticed yesterday that publix had some nice sized fresh available so I would like to give them a try. I usually like to cook them with some garlic and liquid crab boil to spice them up a little. Does anybody have a preferred method? How long do fresh peanuts take to cook? The dried ones take a long time. TIA

blasting

I just discovered boiled peanuts last month on vacation.  Already got some green ones to try at home, so your thread is well timed.  

GregW

I prefer green also. Dried will do. I always soak the dried ones overnight in water with a cup or so of white vinegar before cooking. 

northGAcock

In my opinion, green is the only way to do it. The peanuts you mention or larger and become available in late July as the Spanish (smaller red skins) fade out. This is really growing season generated. I prefer the Spanish, but you do get more nut for your effort with the the larger peanuts.

Timing is really impacted by the heat source you use. If you can get the temp up quickly, about and hour and a half of boil time will suffice. When I cook a bushel in a large pot, it generally takes me about 3 hours as the volume usually dictates a longer time to heat the water. I am a liberal salt user only. The best way to tell if and when they are done is to taste them. One very important step when cooking stops.....let them sit for a minimum of 30 min to soak up some of the liquid into the pods. An hour is better. 

Peanuts, beer and beautiful ladies dressed for the game.....it doesn't get better than that. Go Cocks!

Wardster

I may be doing it wrong, but I let them go in a crock pot, outside, for the weekend. Start 'em on Friday and pick at them till they are gone.  I too use a crab boil bag.  I mix vinegar with the water and add salt.

leemschu

I love some Cajun boiled peanuts! I need to whip some up.

Foghorn

Is there such a thing as "overcooked" with boiled peanuts?

I hadn't had any for a couple of decades, but I bought some for my son to experience on our recent trip to Louisiana and they seemed mushier than I remember.

Dobie

Country caviar 

northGAcock

You can overcook them....but they can also take a lot of cooking before reaching that point. The trick is to get them when they have just crossed the point of being done.....and then soaking. They can be frozen and dropped back into boiling water to reheat. They freeze well actually. I usually boil a bushel in the summer, bag individually amounts I eat......for football season. I didn't do them this year though.

As for Cajun or other flavor profiles....that is up to the individual. There is not a standard for flavor. I simply prefer salted. (Its a southern thing) Like the egg......explore and and perfect I say.

Foghorn

Thanks @northGAcock. 

GrateEggspectations

Apparently, these are popular with hipsters nowadays. My only experience with these was at a trendy restaurant last year. Didn't much care for them, as they were really mushy. I attribute that to the restaurant rather than to the concept (as I love peanuts and am an adventurous eater), but who knows.

Good hipster joke: 
Q: How did the hipster burn his tongue?
A: He drank his coffee before it was cool.

theyolksonyou

GrateEggspectations said:

Apparently, these are popular with hipsters nowadays. My only experience with these was at a trendy restaurant last year. Didn't much care for them, as they were really mushy. I attribute that to the restaurant rather than to the concept (as I love peanuts and am an adventurous eater), but who knows.

Good hipster joke: 
Q: How did the hipster burn his tongue?
A: He drank his coffee before it was cool.

I'm guessing you ain't southern

GrateEggspectations

theyolksonyou said:

GrateEggspectations said:

Apparently, these are popular with hipsters nowadays. My only experience with these was at a trendy restaurant last year. Didn't much care for them, as they were really mushy. I attribute that to the restaurant rather than to the concept (as I love peanuts and am an adventurous eater), but who knows.

Good hipster joke: 
Q: How did the hipster burn his tongue?
A: He drank his coffee before it was cool.

I'm guessing you ain't southern

No sir. But I love the South and its food. Boiled peanuts are not a big thing here.

SciAggie

One of life's pleasures that I seemed to have missed for 54 years. At least I have something to look forward to trying. 

theyolksonyou

GrateEggspectations said:

theyolksonyou said:

GrateEggspectations said:

Apparently, these are popular with hipsters nowadays. My only experience with these was at a trendy restaurant last year. Didn't much care for them, as they were really mushy. I attribute that to the restaurant rather than to the concept (as I love peanuts and am an adventurous eater), but who knows.

Good hipster joke: 
Q: How did the hipster burn his tongue?
A: He drank his coffee before it was cool.

I'm guessing you ain't southern

No sir. But I love the South and its food. Boiled peanuts are not a big thing here.

Hard to beat on a cool rainy fall day. Reminds me of many fishing trips as a young man. 

Hub

GrateEggspectations said:

Apparently, these are popular with hipsters nowadays. My only experience with these was at a trendy restaurant last year. Didn't much care for them, as they were really mushy. I attribute that to the restaurant rather than to the concept (as I love peanuts and am an adventurous eater), but who knows.

Good hipster joke: 
Q: How did the hipster burn his tongue?
A: He drank his coffee before it was cool.

I've never heard of boiled peanuts being served in a restaurant.  I only see them being sold on the side of the road by a near toothless man in a pair of overalls.  And trust me ... those are the really good ones!

Legume

Can you cook them in a pressure cooker?

northGAcock

Legume said:

Can you cook them in a pressure cooker?

Yes.....about 20 min....I don't think they are as good though. 

4Runner

Recipie...always wanted to make my own.  Love to know your secrets. 

Elijah

Boiled peanuts are one of those things that are endlessly customizable. Anymore I prefer mine with salt, hot sauce, wooshire, garlic powder, and onion powder. Maybe some chili powder. If I have garlic or onion that needs to be used I'll throw it in too, whole. I have, when in a hurry, just thrown the peanuts in the water and worried about the seasoning the last hour of boiling or so. 

FanOfFanboys

Headed to GA this Friday for the weekend. Picking up a bag to boil Friday night so have to snack on Sat while watching football

northGAcock

FanOfFanboys said:

Headed to GA this Friday for the weekend. Picking up a bag to boil Friday night so have to snack on Sat while watching football

Were you the one who posted a while back about a local guy making cutting boards and other wood works? Is so, an you remind me who that was.

Wardster

northGAcock said:

FanOfFanboys said:

Headed to GA this Friday for the weekend. Picking up a bag to boil Friday night so have to snack on Sat while watching football

Were you the one who posted a while back about a local guy making cutting boards and other wood works? Is so, an you remind me who that was.

Eric Albright?

JohnnyTarheel

Here is my recipe for boiled peanuts. Hope you enjoy as much I do...

Ok.  I worked a couple of years to get this the way I like them.  I hope you like them too.   First some disclaimers.

I use my "large oyster steamer pot"  I have no idea how many gallons it is, but I can try to find out if you want.  But I think you could use any very large pot as long as the peanuts have room

My formula starts with a 1/2 bushel  of peanuts.  Just a little shy of 20 lbs.  But if your seller measures by pounds get 20.  

Wash them well.  I put them in a large cooler , fill with enough water to swish them around well and drain, 4-5 times.

Put them in a pot that they fill up about 2/3 full.  fill pot about 4 inches from top with water.  

Put in salt.  Bring to a boil .  They will want to boil over at first , (much like butter beans), Tilt the lid for the first 30 min to hr to reduce the chance of that.   reduce heat to a slow but very steady boil  ... don't forget , you will have to add water about every hour.  The nuts absorb it along with the salt.

and then follow this:

Boiled Peanuts

1/2 bushel green peanuts (usually just a little less than 20 lbs)

3 cups salt (a little over 1 box of salt)

Fill up large oyster pot to the handle marks.  Boil for 5 hours.  Stir from bottom up every hour and add water to refill to original line.    Cut off heat.  Let stand for 1-1.5  hours.  Taste test frequently from about 4 hours cook time on in.   They are ready when almost all of peanuts have sunk to the bottom.

The soaking really brings in the salt.  Don’t over soak.  

and remember, don't have on the heat for 5 hours, BOIL for 5 hours for 5:30 if you like the shells softer.  It takes my pot about 30 min to come to a full boil

bo31210

Went to school in Southwest GA (near where the peanut growing former President lives) and we would always have a huge pot at the frat house on the back deck on the fish cooker.    One frat brother's family had the farm, another owned the gas company and the only expense we had was salt (and beer).   Many a memories of boiled peanuts!

hondabbq

Gonna try to find some raw peanuts and give this a try.

Thatgrimguy

Hub said:

I've never heard of boiled peanuts being served in a restaurant.  I only see them being sold on the side of the road by a near toothless man in a pair of overalls.  And trust me ... those are the really good ones!

I see that exact guy everyday on my way to work. Working out of a beer cooler and a boiler in the back of his truck. 

FanOfFanboys

northGAcock said:

FanOfFanboys said:

Headed to GA this Friday for the weekend. Picking up a bag to boil Friday night so have to snack on Sat while watching football

Were you the one who posted a while back about a local guy making cutting boards and other wood works? Is so, an you remind me who that was.

Maybe, I do love my cutting boards ha

Eric Albrecht <ekalbrecht@yahoo.com>

That is the local guy I used. He is based out of Midlands area of SC. I am actually going to see him next weekend to pick up another board as a gift for a couples shower. It will make the 5th I have bought from him. Super nice guy

FanOfFanboys

I am surprised so many on here know of Eric. Does he have a website or something? I met him at a crawfish festival a couple years ago and have been buying from him since. When I want to buy I either wait until crawfish festival or email him and go by house and get, like I am next weekend. 

That is awesome though. We also purchased a bowl from and few wine stoppers he made. 

Wardster

I got his name from this forum and believe it was you.  I'm down in Tampa and have bought 2 so far.  Very happy with his work and he's a great dude!  I will be buying more as gifts.

Dredger

Come on Southerners. The traditional way in our neck of the woods uses ham hocks added to the mix. Just another layer of flavor, but really good. Haven't made these in ages. Thanks for the reminder.