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What
are Boiled Peanuts?
Boiled Peanuts are a "roadside tradition" in
the South. The heart of peanut country
is from Alabama, to the Carolinas, to
Florida. Roadside peanuts are served
from "flavor pots" which is any kind of
kettle that's available. Peanut
flavors can be either plain, cajun, to even
"ham hock". Good Southern boiled
peanuts are made from the smaller Valencia
peanuts but, can also be made from the
larger Virginia peanuts. Their taste
is that of a cross between a bean and a
potato.
How
do you cook Boiled Peanuts?
The dry raw peanuts are soaked in water
overnight. Then boiled in a large
covered pot for 8 hours at a medium boil.
After the first 2 hours add salt to taste.
A "perfectly" done peanut should be slightly
crunchy on the outside with a soft nutty
flavor on the inside.
How
Long do they last?
Boiled peanuts will keep up to 5-7 days if
refrigerated and will last indefinitely when
frozen.
What
are Green Peanuts?
Green peanuts are fresh peanuts that have
just been harvested, and must be cooked
immediately. They are only available
in harvest season which varies from
approximately June to September. It
only takes about 45 minutes to cook them
since the peanut is fresh and moist.
The only way to tell the difference between
a green vs. a dry boiled peanut is that the
green peanut shell, when opened, will break
between the pods. The regular dry
boiled peanuts' shell will split in half (as
a dry roasted peanut). Some say the
taste is quite different but they spoil
quickly. Also, peanuts are not a nut;
they are part of the legume family. |
