Uses for Raw Peanuts

Peanuts have gardening and industrial uses as well as culinary applications.

In the "Saturday Night Live" sketch "Coffee Talk," Mike Myers' character, Linda Richman, begins the talk show by saying, "The peanut is neither a pea nor a nut. Discuss." Actually, the peanut isn't a nut but a member of the legume family like peas. Besides peanut butter and Cracker Jacks, the peanut has many uses for people, animals and the earth. It can fuel diesel engines, fill kitty litter boxes and make products from shampoo to dynamite.

Fuel

At the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Peanut Research Lab, scientists have found that an acre of peanuts can produce 100 or more gallons of biodiesel fuel. This exceeds averages of 75 gallons per acre of corn and 65 gallons per acre of soybeans. Farmers can grow enough peanuts to provide all of their own fuel for farming equipment. The peanut fuel production process also creates a by-product of usable animal feed from peanuts.

Livestock and Pets

The husks of raw peanuts, technically edible to humans, can provide high-fiber food for livestock. Raw or ground up, ruminant animals such as cows can have peanut shells in their diet along with grass and grains. Domestic animals can get use out of peanuts, too. Cat owners can grind peanut shells and mix them with baking soda for a cheap, viable kitty litter.

Gardening

Peanut hulls provide a worthwhile filler to a home composting bin. They release nitrogen into soil and can help retain moisture in the ground. But, they can also carry mold, fungus and tiny pests that can lead to major problems for your plants, even though these microscopic life forms don't make peanuts dangerous to eat. For gardening purposes, this means peanut shells should be fully composted before use rather than added to soil without processing or used as ground cover.

Hygiene Products

Many personal care products include peanuts or peanut oil in their ingredients. In fact, peanut use in hygiene products is so prevalent that people with sensitive allergies must check the back label of all their bathroom products. Soaps, body lotions, shampoos and conditioners all contain peanut ingredients. The triglycerides found in peanuts and their oil can thicken these products without adding an especially greasy feel.

Industrial Uses

George Washington Carver's research on the peanut yielded some explosive results-- literally. Nitroglycerine, a component of dynamite, can be produced from the mighty peanut. Other products involving peanuts include rubber, insecticides and industrial grease. Often the production of these items can include peanut meal for human or animal consumption as a by-product.

Food

Peanut dishes vary far beyond snacking and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They provide extra protein and healthy fats when added raw to stir-fries, rice dishes and noodle salads. You can also make a box of brownie mix into a more interesting dessert by sprinkling in peanuts. With a food processor, you can make your own peanut butter with less salt and sugar than store-bought varieties. Homemade peanut butter can also be mixed with soy sauce for a Asian-style salad dressing or cooking sauce.

References

• USDA Agricultural Research Service; National Peanut Research Lab: Peanut Biodiesel; 2008
• National Gardening Association; Peanut Problems; 2011
• University of Florida: Peanut Shells as Mulch
• "Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice"; Peanut By-products Fed to Cattle; G.M. Hill; July 2002
• National Peanut Board: Dr. George Washington Carver