BOILED PEANUTS IN A CAN RECIPES

Steps:

• Place the raw peanuts in a sink of water and swirl them around to remove any dust and dirt.
• Place in a colander, rinse again and let drain.
• Fill a large stockpot about 3/4’s full of water.
• Add the washed raw peanuts.
• Place stockpot on stove and turn the heat to Medium-High, let come to a rolling boil.
• Cover the pot, reduce the heat to Medium and let boil for about 3 hours.
• Add the salt, stir. You can also add hot water if needed at this point.
• Taste the peanuts about every 30 minutes from here on until cooked to desired doneness.
• Remove from heat and let cool.
• Serve warm and enjoy.

Steps:

• Dissolve 1/2 cup salt in 2 gallons water in a 3-gallon stockpot; add peanuts. (Weigh down peanuts, if desired, with a large plate or lid to ensure they're fully submerged.) Soak 8 hours or overnight.*
• Drain water; refill pot with 2 gallons water and remaining 1 cup salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, 5 to 8 hours or until peanuts are tender, adding water as needed to keep peanuts covered; stir occasionally. (South Carolina-style peanuts are very soft, but some cooks prefer them al dente.) When the peanuts have boiled 3 hours, check for texture and saltiness. If the peanuts are not salty enough, add salt in 1/4-cup increments, turn off heat, and let soak 1 hour. Check peanuts for seasoning every hour.
• Remove from heat, and cool 1 hour.
• Drain and eat immediately or store (in the shell) in a sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer. Boiled peanuts will keep 7 days in the refrigerator, several months in the freezer.
• *The soaking step is not essential, but it reduces the cooking time by a couple of hours and helps ensure that the peanuts cook more thoroughly and uniformly. The salt in the soaking liquid keeps yeasts and molds from developing overnight.
• Reprinted from The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook by Matt Lee and Ted Lee. Copyright 2006 by Martens Maxwell, Inc. With permission of the publisher, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.