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Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts is a quick and easy way to prepare this popular Southern Snack! All you need is raw peanuts, salt, water, and a little bit of time, and you will be trading out your crunchy peanuts for these soft and salty peanuts that everyone loves! The great thing about Instant Pot peanuts is that they are ready in a fraction of the time it takes to cook on the stove! 

Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

In our family, we love boiled peanuts! I guess our true Southern roots shine through when we tell people boiled peanuts are our family’s favorite snack! I remember my grandma and my mom slaving over the stove for hours making these, but you know me, I love my Instant Pot, so I decided to perfect making them in the Instant Pot. This Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts recipe is the easiest recipe you will ever find! 

Say goodbye to long hours of stovetop simmering and hello to being ready to enjoy in just a couple of hours. 

Instant Pot peanuts are super addictive and delicious and perfect for snacking, game nights, gatherings, and more! Once you make this recipe, you will never find your home without boiled peanuts again! 

What Is The Origin Of Boiled Peanuts

Boiled peanuts have origins rooted in the agricultural practices of the Southern United States, particularly in regions where peanuts were cultivated as a cash crop. While the exact origin story may vary, boiled peanuts likely emerged as a practical and flavorful way to prepare raw peanuts for consumption.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, peanuts became an important crop in the Southern states due to their adaptability to the region’s climate and soil. Farmers discovered that boiling raw peanuts in salted water softened the shells and kernels, making them more palatable and easier to digest. This method of preparation likely arose as a response to the abundance of peanuts and a desire to find new ways to enjoy them.

Boiled peanuts quickly became a popular snack among farmers and laborers in the South, offering a convenient and satisfying source of sustenance during long workdays. Over time, the practice of boiling peanuts spread throughout the region, becoming a cherished tradition among Southern communities.

Today, boiled peanuts remain a beloved Southern delicacy, enjoyed by people of all backgrounds. They are often found at roadside stands, festivals, and social gatherings, where they are served in paper bags or cups, seasoned with salt or other flavorings. Boiled peanuts continue to be celebrated for their unique taste and texture, serving as a culinary symbol of the South’s agricultural heritage and culinary creativity.

Ingredients:

• 2 Pounds Raw Peanuts in Shell
• ¼ Cup Salt
• 8 Cups Water, divided

How to Make Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

• Remove any bad peanuts, pieces of shell, etc., and rinse the peanuts. Soak in cold water for 30 minutes. Drain.

• Place the peanuts in the instant pot and sprinkle the salt over the top. 

• Add 4 cups of water to the instant pot and secure the lid.

• Cook on high for 40 minutes.
• Do a manual release and try one of the peanuts, once safe. You’re tasting the peanut to see how close to your softness and saltiness preference it is. 

• Stir the peanuts well. You want the peanuts from the bottom to be on the top and vice versa. Add 4 cups more water to the peanuts in the instant pot.

• If you would like more salt, add more to the instant pot at this point. 
• If the peanut you tested is not not too far off from your softness preference, you’ll want to cook on high for another 20 minutes. However, if you like them a lot softer than the tester peanut, cook on high for another 40 minutes. We did them for another 40 minutes and they were perfectly soft.
• Manual release, drain the excess water, and enjoy!

Tips, Tricks and FAQs

• It is important to test your peanuts after 40 minutes of cooking to see if thier getting the texture that just makes your taste buds sing. If it is pretty close, boil them for another 20 minutes. We usually boil them for another 40 minutes for the softness level that my family loves. 
• We start with ¼ cup of salt for 2 pounds of peanuts. Adjust as needed. Typically, people add more salt; out of all my recipe testers, no one preferred less than ¼ cup of salt for 2 pounds of peanuts. 
• Be sure you add more water at the halfway point of your boiled peanuts. This ensures there is plenty of water for the remainder of the cooking time. 
• It’s important to note that these are the steps to take for raw peanuts, NOT green peanuts.

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