Peanuts are a great source of essential nutrients for the human body. However, peanuts also contain enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid, which prevent the complete absorption of the nutrients they provide. Soaking peanuts overnight is a great way to rid them of these inhibitors and take full advantage of the health benefits they offer.
To soak peanuts overnight, follow these steps:
- Pour the peanuts into a large container
- Add warm water to cover
- Add sea salt and stir
- Soak for 12 hours
- Dump peanuts into a colander and rinse
Soaking peanuts overnight is a fairly simple process and, when done correctly, can be a great way to consume peanuts on a regular basis! In the rest of this article, I will explain the process of soaking peanuts overnight, how to dehydrate them, roast them, and turn them into peanut butter!
1. Pour the Peanuts Into a Large Container
Because the peanuts will expand as they absorb the water, you will want to ensure that your container is significantly bigger than the amount of peanuts you intend to soak. In other words, you don’t want to fill the container you’re using to the brim with peanuts and then expect to put water on top of that and still have enough room.
2. Add Warm Water to Cover
I recommend using filtered water to avoid adding any contaminants back into the peanuts. You will want to add a couple more cups of water after the peanuts are fully covered. The peanuts will soak up a significant amount of this water, and you don’t want it to drop below peanut level.
3. Add Sea Salt and Stir
This step is what gives the peanuts their salty yumminess.
Remember: For every four cups (32 ounces) of peanuts that you are soaking, you’ll need to add one tablespoon of sea salt. Once you’ve added the appropriate amount of salt, stir until it is entirely dissolved.
4. Soak for 12 Hours
If you start this process right before bed, your peanuts should be ready to go by the time you wake up in the morning! If you’d rather keep a closer eye on them, you can start soaking them in the morning so that they can go all day. (They don’t need a lot of close attention, though, so overnight is fine.)
5. Dump Peanuts Into a Colander and Rinse
You will want to gently rinse the saltwater off the peanuts so that the water pressure does not turn them to mush.
The soaking process should remove the inhibitors, and the peanuts are now ready to offer your body their full array of health benefits! After soaking, their consistency will be more bean-like, and you can consume them as-is.
If you do not prefer the texture and taste of soaked peanuts, you can try dehydrating or roasting them to add a little crunch!
Dehydrating Soaked Peanuts
Dehydrating peanuts after soaking them overnight will remove the “mushiness” and change up the texture to a more desirable consistency.
Here are the steps to dehydrate peanuts after soaking:
- Separate the peanuts among several trays. To encourage them to dry well, they should be spread out evenly in a single layer.
- Set the temperature to 105 °F (41 °C). Peanuts need to stay at a low temperature so that you can maintain the integrity of the nutrients.
- Dehydrate for 24 hours. When finished, the peanuts should be dry on the outside and the inside. If they are still soft in the middle, you can continue dehydrating them until they reach your preferred amount of doneness.
After dehydrating, the peanuts are ready to enjoy! Want to add a little extra crunch, flavor, and golden-brown color to your peanuts? Try roasting them!
Roasting Peanuts
Roasting peanuts is a great way to change the texture and add a tasty flair to your snack.
To roast peanuts, you can follow the above directions for dehydrating; however, you will want to cut the dehydration time down from 24 hours to just 12 hours.
After dehydrating, follow these steps for perfectly roasted peanuts:
- Preheat the oven to 300 °F (149 °C). You must keep the temperature nice and low. Using too high of a temperature can negatively affect the flavor of the peanut’s oil and can even destroy some of the good enzymes they contain.
- Place the peanuts on a baking sheet. You will want to spread the peanuts out in a single layer and, if necessary, separate batches in order for them to bake evenly.
- Bake for 20 minutes. When done, your peanuts should have a nice, smoky, delicious flavor and be slightly browned. If the peanuts are not quite done after 20 minutes, put them back in but be sure to check on them every three minutes to prevent overcooking.
- Cool and store. After the peanuts have completely cooled, I suggest using an air-tight container to maximize freshness.
Roasting peanuts at home is a great way to achieve a pleasant, roasted flavor while still maintaining most of those life-lengthening nutrients that peanuts contain.
After roasting, you can store the peanuts for easy snacking, or you can take it one step further and make your own peanut butter!
Making Peanut Butter
Turning roasted peanuts into peanut butter is surprisingly easy, and all you need is a food processor.
To make your own peanut butter, place the roasted peanuts into the food processor and switch it on. You only want to process about three cups (24 ounces) of peanuts at a time in a 7-cup food processor.
Your food processor will likely need to run for 10-20 minutes to get the buttery texture you desire. To prevent the motor from being overrun, be sure to turn it off every five minutes or so to scrape the sides and let the machine rest.
That’s it! You should have delightfully creamy, natural peanut butter to savor on toast, sandwiches, and more! Store your peanut butter in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Conclusion
Soaking peanuts overnight is an excellent way to give your body access to all of the nutrients that peanuts contain. It is a simple process that anyone can do!
Once you have completed the soaking process, you can try dehydrating, roasting, and even making your own peanut butter. These natural recipes will give you a healthy, tasty treat to enjoy at home and share with others.
