Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

Cajun Boiled Peanuts are a favorite snack in certain regions of the South and these ones are easily made in a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot. Raw peanuts are used in making boiled peanuts and the brine is saltier than you think it needs to be. All of this makes for a soft, salty peanut with just a little Cajun kick to it.

My Introduction to Boiled Peanuts

I have fond memories of driving up US Hwy 19 from Pinellas County to see our Florida family in a rural town called Chiefland. On that drive, there were Boiled Peanut roadside stands. Sure, you could stop in a gas station and get some from a vat that was on warm, but nothing could beat the little roadside stand. For miles leading up to the stand, there were white hand-painted signs with bold red letters that read: BOILED PEANUTS.

There was no parking lot. You’d literally just pull over on the side of the highway. After choosing the size of a styrofoam cup and your flavor (garlic or spicy Cajun), you’d receive a piping hot cup of boiled peanuts and something to put the shells in.

Lest you burn all tastebuds, the boiled peanuts needed to cool for a bit before they could be devoured. We’d suck on the peanut shell to get the salty brine out. Crack it open with our teeth, then eat the soft peanut.

Definitely a favorite snack, forever and always.

Are Boiled Peanuts Low Carb?

Peanuts, if consumed in moderation fit in a low carb lifestyle. In one half-cup serving of peanuts, there are about 4g net carbs. This certainly also fits into a keto diet!

What do Boiled Peanuts Taste Like

Boiled peanuts can be prepared in a number of ways. It turns out, there are many regions around the world where they also make boiled peanuts. For this particular region though, the peanuts are cooked in very salty water and loaded with Cajun spices.

After asking readers on the Yellow Glass Dish Facebook Page to describe how boiled peanuts taste, here are a few of their responses:

• D.W. said: Sorry, I can’t describe them. I’m not sure I really want to. If they don’t know how good they are, it leaves more for those of us who do!  Boiled peanuts= caviar of the South!
• C. D. said: My husband and his family LOVE these, they say:
  Flavor – briny…the water should be way saltier than you think it should be.
  Texture – soft, but not mushy….they say the firmness is a personal preference, so anywhere from slightly firm to soft.
• L.K. said: We love boiled peanuts! The texture is like navy beans in soup? And flavor depends on seasoning.

Awesome Yellow Glass Dish readers sum it up pretty well. If boiled peanuts are cooked right, the peanut is soft, like a bean. Perhaps somewhere between the firmness of canned chickpeas to the firmness of canned navy beans.

Where Can You Buy Raw or Green Peanuts

It all depends on the region you live in. In the South (USA), raw or green peanuts are generally available in local produce markets or stands. You can often find them at an Asian market. You can always call ahead to see if a store or stand stocks them. If you don’t find them locally or want to skip that step, you can get them online.

If you can get your hands on green peanuts, they are the #1 choice and are faster to cook. However, most people cannot acquire those, so raw peanuts are a close second. Where I live, I was able to access raw peanuts at a farmers market produce stand.

This recipe calls for 1.5-2 lbs which will serve 8-12 depending on how many you count as one serving.

Seasonings for Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

The seasonings for this Instant Pot boiled peanuts recipe produce a Cajun flavor with a bit of spice. If you don’t want a spicy flavor, you can omit the cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes.

• Celtic grey salt or kosher salt
• Fresh Garlic
• Red Pepper flakes (for spicy option)
• Cayenne Pepper (for spicy option)
• Dried Parsley

Add freshly pressed garlic for the best flavor!

How to Cook Boiled Peanuts in an Electric Pressure Cooker

Boiled peanuts can take many hours to cook if boiled on a stove. By using an electric pressure cooker, like the Instant Pot, the cooking time can be radically reduced.

Combine the washed peanuts, spices, and water OR chicken stock! in the pressure cooker. Set it on Manual – High – for 80 minutes. Be sure the close the sealing valve.

If you’ve found green peanuts you could cook them for about 60 minutes instead.

Cooking the peanuts for a longer amount of time will result in tender peanuts.

Once the cajun boiled peanuts have been cooked, allow the steam to release naturally.

Enjoy warm or you can refrigerate them and serve cool.

Storage Options for Cooked Boiled Peanuts

Once your boiled peanuts have cooled, store them in any container you’d prefer. I prefer storing them in mason jars.

Since boiled peanuts have high salt content in the brine, they can last in the refrigerator for around 8 days. If you want to freeze them, you can store them in a freezer bag and can add a little brine.

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For THM friends, this is an (S)

Other recipes you may love!

If you like this Yellow Glass Dish recipe, you may also like our Sausage Meatballs, or perhaps you’d like to learn how to make Healthy Zucchini Chips in the oven.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

As a Southern (USA) favorite, boiled peanuts are a salty snack that can be made in the Instant Pot. Optional spices added give these boiled peanuts a Cajun flavor. These are a great low-carb snack!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Natural Release20 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Appetizer, Keto, Low Carb, Snack, THM-S

Cuisine: American, Southern

Boiled Peanuts, Brine, Cajun, Floridian, garlic, Gluten-free, Instant Pot, Keto, Low Carb, Southern, THM-S

Servings: 10

Calories: 256kcal

Ingredients

• 2 lb Raw or Green* peanuts
• 1/2 c Grey salt or Kosher
• 6 Cloves garlic pressed
• Water to cover about 3 qts
• 1 Tbsp dried parsley

For spicy Boiled Peanuts

• 2 tsp crushed pepper flakes
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

• Rinse peanuts thoroughly.
• Optional: soak overnight especially if they’re not green peanuts.
• Place peanuts in the electric pressure cooker pot.
• Add seasonings (spices are optional, garlic is a must).
• Cover the peanuts with water (1” above peanutabout 3 qts for 2 lbs of peanuts.
• Set electric pressure cooker to manual, high pressure, and cook for 80 minutes
• Let the steam naturally release.
• Serve warm (traditional roadside) or cool. Store peanuts in brine until ready to serve.
• Strain the peanuts before eating. Don’t drink the brine.
• Peanuts can be stored in the fridge for up to 8 days. Boiled peanuts can also be frozen.

Notes

Note: The amount of salt seems excessive, but the final product does not include that much salt. The salt is part of the flavoring process and you need that much salt for the peanuts to be salty. Don’t drink the brine.

*  Green peanuts cook faster, 60 minutes on high should be enough if they’re green. 

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