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You might never have tried Instant Pot boiled peanuts, or any kind of boiled peanuts for that matter, but if you like peanuts you will love what boiling does to them! This savory, salty, and hearty snack is something anyone can make and you only need raw peanuts, salt, and water to make the recipe. Well, and an Instant Pot of course!
Discover how to boil peanuts and you can make this delicious snack quickly and easily. Instant Pot boiled peanuts are tender, salty and tasty.
Also try strawberry trail mix or cool ranch jerky trail mix, or how about some cranberry nut cluster energy bites?
Why You’ll Love It
Delicious: Everyone should try boiled peanuts at least once because they’re so good. Eating boiled peanuts will satisfy your snack cravings.
Not hard to make: You simply add the ingredients to your Instant Pot and pressure cook them.
An unusual snack: Tired of the usual roasted peanuts, pretzels and olives? Instant Pot boiled peanuts make a tasty change if you want to try something new.
Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below
Raw peanuts: You need raw peanuts in their shells to make boiled peanuts.
Salt: A touch of salt adds plenty of savory flavor to the boiled peanuts.
How to Make This Classic Southern Snack
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card
Prepare the raw peanuts: Wash the peanuts in their shells under cold water and then put them in the Instant Pot.
Add the other ingredients: Cover the peanuts with water and stir in the salt to dissolve it.
Boil the peanuts: Close the Instant Pot, seal the vent and pressure cook the peanuts.
Release the pressure: Allow the pressure to release and then open the vent to complete the pressure release.
Cook the peanuts more if necessary: Open the Instant Pot lid and taste one of the peanuts. If they aren’t tender, give them another 10 minutes under high pressure and taste again, to see if they’ve reached your desired tenderness.
The finishing touches: Drain off the salty water with a colander or sieve and serve the boiled peanuts hot or let them cool first. Keep them in an air tight container in the fridge and eat within a few days.
Substitutions and Variations
Change the saltiness: You can add extra salt if you like your boiled peanuts saltier.
Make your boiled peanuts spicy: Add cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes or chili powder to spicy them up. You might like to use Cajun seasoning for Cajun boiled peanuts or Creole seasoning, or any other seasoning ideas you have.
Try other flavors: Garlic powder, a splash of vinegar, a little lemon or lime juice, or any other spices and flavors you want to play around with can go into the mix to add another dimension to the flavor, whether you just want a hint of flavor or a bold spicy kick.
Serving Suggestions
Other appetizers: Pair your boiled peanuts with other tasty appetizers such as coastal medley trail mix or no bake granola bars. Zucchini muffins are also a delicious idea.
Drinks: Wash the boiled peanuts down with something refreshing, such as a clementine creamsicle martini or cranberry orange prosecco punch.
How to Store Boiled Peanuts
Store: Once they’re completely cool, put the boiled peanuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for 3 to 5 days.
Freeze: Put them in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw: You can thaw them on the countertop for an hour or so.
Reheat: Warm them back up in a pan on the stove or in the microwave, adding a little water if necessary to stop them from drying out.
Top Tips
Peanut doneness: Check whether the peanuts are done by tasting one. It should be tender and soft.
Be patient: Give the Instant Pot up to 15 minutes to reach high pressure before the cooking begins. You can’t rush this part.
Pick perfect peanuts: Choose raw peanuts or fresh green peanuts for this recipe. When boiling peanuts, keep in mind that roasted peanuts might become mushy, so raw ones are best.
Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts FAQs
Raw peanuts are those that have been air-dried so they can be stored. Their moisture content is around 10%. Green peanuts are simply raw peanuts that have been freshly harvested and have not had moisture removed.
A lot of people who love boiled peanuts will only use green peanuts, claiming they’re the most delicious. But I find they taste about the same. Also, green peanuts aren’t available outside the short harvesting season since they have to be refrigerated as soon as they’re picked.
I like to use table salt rather than coarse salt, since it dissolves faster. You can use whatever you have though.
You can, but the cooking time tends to be very long – up to 24 hours in fact. Another idea is boiling them in a pan on the stove and this takes around 4 hours.
Instant Pot Boiled Peanut Recipe
Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts
Ingredients
- 1 Pound peanuts, raw in their shells
- ¼ Cup salt
- water, as needed
Instructions
- Rinse the raw peanuts under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
- Place the rinsed peanuts in the Instant Pot insert.
- Add enough water to cover the peanuts completely. Make sure not to exceed the maximum fill line of your Instant Pot.
- Stir in the salt, ensuring it dissolves well in the water.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and set the vent to the sealing position.
- Select the "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" setting and set the timer for 65 minutes on high pressure.
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to naturally release for about 25 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, carefully switch the vent to the "Venting" position to release any remaining pressure.
- Once the pressure is fully released, carefully open the Instant Pot lid.
- Test the peanuts for doneness by sampling one. They should be soft and fully cooked.
- If the peanuts are not yet tender, you can cook them for an additional 10-15 minutes under high pressure.
- Once the peanuts are cooked to your desired tenderness, drain them using a colander.
- Serve the boiled peanuts hot or allow them to cool before storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
Be patient: Give the Instant Pot up to 15 minutes to reach high pressure before the cooking begins. You can’t rush this part.
Pick perfect peanuts: Choose raw peanuts or fresh green peanuts for this recipe. When boiling peanuts, keep in mind roasted peanuts might become mushy, so raw ones are best.
Nutrition
You’re going to love these Instant Pot boiled peanuts. There’s nothing else quite like this nutritious snack. You can make your boiled peanuts spicy with pepper flakes or add Cajun seasoning or something else to customize the flavor. If you enjoy peanuts, you’ll love what happens when you boil them at a high pressure. This snack is deliciously different and you’ll be hooked after the first mouthful.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
What a great snack! And it was so easy to make.