High in protein and fat, peanuts lend a pleasant crunch and rich taste to both sweet and savory dishes. Peanuts are small, tan seeds that come in a thin, wrinkled shell. The shell usually contains two peanuts, although there can be as few as one and as many as four nuts in a shell. The nut is covered with a thin, papery, reddish-brown skin that is usually removed when the peanuts are shelled. About half of the United States’ peanut crop is used to make peanut butter. Peanut oil is another popular peanut by-product.
Peanuts are not actually classified botanically as nuts. They are technically legumes, which are plants that have seed pods that split along both sides when ripe (other legumes include beans, peas, and lentils). The peanut is the seed, the papery covering is the seed coat, and the hard shell is the seed pod.
Peanuts come in several varieties. Four of the most popular in the United States are runner peanuts, Virginia peanuts, Spanish peanuts, and Valencia peanuts.
Runner peanuts are grown primarily in the American South, and account for almost 80 percent of peanuts produced in the United States. Runner peanuts are most commonly used to make peanut butter.
Virginia peanuts are one of the largest varieties of peanuts, making them ideal for snacking. Virginia peanuts represent about 15 percent of U.S. peanut production.
Spanish peanuts have smaller, rounder nuts that are considered to have the nuttiest flavor when roasted. Often called “red skins” because of the distinct coloring of their skin, Spanish peanuts make up four percent of the United States peanut market.
Valencia peanuts are one of the sweetest varieties of peanuts, and usually come three nuts to a shell. Nearly all of this small crop comes from New Mexico. Valencia peanuts are mostly available roasted in their shells, but they are also used for all-natural peanut butter.
How to Buy
Both shelled and unshelled peanuts are widely available at supermarkets year-round. Shelled peanuts are available in vacuum-packed jars or cans; they are usually roasted, and can be salted or unsalted. Unshelled peanuts should have clean, unbroken shells, and should not rattle when shaken.
How to Store
Keep unshelled peanuts refrigerated, tightly wrapped, for up to six months. Keep vacuum-packed shelled peanuts at room temperature for up to one year, unopened. Once the package is opened, refrigerate shelled peanuts in an airtight container for up to three months.