how long does it take to roast peanuts

Theres no need to wait for the carnival to come to town or hunt down a street vendor—you can easily make roasted peanuts at home. Its incredibly easy to do, and its hard to beat the flavor straight out of the oven.

There really are no tricks to roasting nuts. The biggest concern is the timing because youll need to roast the ones in the shell a little longer than peanuts that have already been shelled. Either way, it takes about 30 minutes, and youll be crunching in no time.

The only items you need are peanuts and a shallow baking dish. Raw, dried peanuts are the best for roasting. If all you have are green peanuts—those that have not been dried—youll want to boil them instead.

Your dried peanuts can be shelled or unshelled. When using peanuts in the shell, sort through them before you begin. You only want to roast the ones that have clean, unbroken, and unblemished shells. Also, they shouldnt rattle when you shake them.

A convenient snack, these peanuts are perfect to take with you on road trips, hiking adventures, or days at the beach. Once you learn how to roast peanuts, you may start to see other possibilities: Its a great prep step before making amazing homemade peanut butter. All you need is a food processor and something to sweeten the blend. Use your butter in delicious desserts or simply enjoy the freshest peanut butter and jelly sandwich possible (with homemade jam, of course).

“This recipe makes packaged roasted peanuts from the store taste stale. Roasting them at home is worth it! Online stores may be the only source for dried, raw peanuts in the shell; supermarkets may have shelled available. It’s simple and the cooking times were perfect. The only mess was dealing with the shells, but its minimal.” —Colleen Graham

Heat the oven to 350°F. Spread 2 cups peanuts in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring at least twice during the roasting time. When they smell peanutty and roasted, remove them from the oven and sprinkle with salt if desired.

How to Store Roasted Peanuts

• Store unshelled roasted peanuts in an airtight container for up to one month on the shelf. In the refrigerator, they will keep for six months. In the freezer, theyre good for up to one year.
• The same storage recommendations apply to raw unshelled peanuts. If you find a great deal, stock up and store them properly so you can enjoy your peanuts whenever youd like.

Steps to Make It

• Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F. The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack
• Place the raw peanuts (either shell on or shelled) in a single layer inside a shallow baking pan. The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack
• For shelled peanuts (peanuts removed from the shell), bake for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking, until the skins become loose and the peanuts are lightly golden. For unshelled peanuts (peanuts still inside their shells), bake for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking, until the shells are lightly golden brown. The peanuts will continue to cook when removed from the oven. The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack
• Let cool 10 minutes before eating. The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

• If you need to know how many peanuts you need to roast for a recipe, keep in mind that 1 1/2 pounds of unshelled peanuts are equal to about 1 pound shelled. This will produce between 3 1/2 to 4 cups of shelled peanuts.
• Straight out of the oven, the peanuts are very hot and will finish cooking as they cool (you can hear the skin crackle). If you want to check a shelled peanut for internal doneness, handle it and crack it open with tongs, let the steam escape, and let it cool a bit first.
• If you prefer to wash the in-shell peanuts first, rinse them in a colander under cold running water. Shake off excess water, then lay them out flat on a towel and pat dry.

• Sprinkle shelled peanuts with salt, spices, or dried herbs for a savory twist before roasting or while theyre still warm.
• To sweeten peanuts like those you can buy from street vendors or at baseball parks, try caramelized peanuts or honey-roasted peanuts.

How to Brine and Roast Peanuts at Home

FAQ

Do raw peanuts need to be soaked before roasting?

What temperature do you roast peanuts?

How long are dry roasted peanuts?

Is it necessary to roast peanuts?

How long does it take to roast peanuts?

There really are no tricks to roasting nuts. The biggest concern is the timing because you’ll need to roast the ones in the shell a little longer than peanuts that have already been shelled. Either way, it takes about 30 minutes, and you’ll be crunching in no time. The only items you need are peanuts and a shallow baking dish.

Which is healthier, raw or roasted peanuts?

Both are healthy. Peanut roasting reduces the water activity of the food, making it less conducive to microbial action. Heat can also degrade some substances as well as concentrate.

How long do you cook raw peanuts in the oven?

Place raw peanuts, in shell or shelled, one layer deep in a shallow baking pan. Sprinkle salt over. Roast in a 350 degree F oven; 15 to 20 minutes for shelled and 20 to 25 minutes for in shell peanuts. Remove from heat just short of doneness desired, as peanuts continue to cook as they cool.

Can you roast peanuts in the oven?

Here are some tips to help you roast peanuts in the oven perfectly: There are two types of peanuts you can use for roasting: raw and blanched peanuts. Raw peanuts can be roasted with or without their shells, while blanched peanuts are skinless. Choose raw peanuts if you want a crunchier texture or blanched if you want a smoother texture.