How to Roast Raw Unshelled Peanuts

Roasting raw peanuts makes them crunchy and flavorful.

Convert bland raw peanuts into a flavorful snack by roasting them in their shells. "The Science of Good Food" notes that the high fat content of peanuts leads some to think of these legumes as nuts. But peanuts do not meet the official definition of a nut as a hard-shelled tree seed. Although botanically different, roasting peanuts mirrors the process used for roasting nuts. Leaving the shell intact before heating prevents burning, since the shell protects the inner peanuts.

Things You'll Need

• Raw, unshelled peanuts
• Baking sheet

Instructions

1. 

   Preheat your oven for 15 minutes before roasting peanuts.

   Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 minutes.

2. Lay the peanuts in a single layer on a baking sheet.

3. Roast the peanuts in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until you begin to smell a roasted nut aroma in your kitchen.

4. 

   Crack the peanut shells open with your hands.

   Let the peanuts cool completely before cracking the shells with your hands and eating the peanuts inside.

References

• University of Illinois: How to Roast Seeds and Nuts
• "The Science of Good Food"; David Joachim, Andrew Schloss; 2008

Resources

• The Peanut Institute: Peanut Recipes