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Peanuts are a healthy and nutritious snack enjoyed by millions around the world. However, eating raw nuts can be hard on the digestive system, and many people wonder whether soaking peanuts can help with this problem.
You should soak peanuts. Soaking your raw peanuts before eating them aids in digestion and enhances the peanuts’ flavor, allowing you to reap all the health benefits they have to offer.
So, let’s discuss why soaking peanuts is a good idea. I’ll also teach you a few methods for soaking them at home so you can always get the fullest flavors and best benefits from your peanuts.
Why You Should Soak Peanuts
According to Medical News Today, peanuts are healthiest in their raw form. Raw peanuts, however, can sometimes lack taste and texture. This lack of flavor in raw peanuts often makes people opt for roasted, slated, or candied nuts, which can be high in sugar and sodium.
Soaking peanuts can be a great way to enhance the flavor and texture of the nuts without adding anything to them, making it a tasty and healthy option for those who don’t favor raw, unsoaked nuts.
Whether your goal is weight loss or just a nutritious snack, this is how soaking peanuts can be beneficial to you:
Boiled Peanuts Have Incredible Health Benefits
The American Heart Association recommends eating around four servings of unsalted nuts per week. Peanuts are high in many essential vitamins and minerals you need, such as vitamin E, magnesium, and folate.
Peanuts can also reduce the risk of diabetes, gallbladder disease, and high blood pressure.
In addition, because of their incredible health benefits, peanuts are also known as one of the most heart-healthy foods on the shelves today.
The FDA even states that eating a healthy amount of nuts can reduce the risk of heart disease. High cholesterol is one of the most significant risk factors for heart disease, and peanuts include healthy oils, fibers, and proteins, which can all help to reduce cholesterol levels.
Boiled Peanuts are Easier on the Digestive System
While peanuts are very healthy, consuming them raw can lead to significant digestion issues. If you ever feel gassy or heavy after eating peanuts, or notice nuts in your stool, then chances are you are not properly digesting them.
Healthy digestion is vital to allow your body to soak up the nutrients it needs. Improper digestion can also lead to stomach discomfort and other health issues.
Peanuts are high in phytic acid. When consumed, phytic acid binds to other minerals in your body to create phytates. The human body cannot digest these phytates, and that’s why peanuts can be hard on your digestive system.
Soaking peanuts tricks the nut into thinking it’s time to sprout, which in turn breaks down the phytic acid, making it easier to digest.
Boiled Peanuts Boost Satiety and Aid in Weight Loss
If you are trying to lose weight, then the proper serving size of peanuts can help you achieve your goals.
While peanuts have many incredible health benefits, it is important to enjoy them in moderation. Peanuts are still a very high-calorie food, so consuming them in large amounts can hurt your weight loss goals.
Reaching for raw nuts is a better option for both your health and your weight loss goals since roasted peanuts can have lots of added sodium, which can make you consume more or become hungrier in the end.
If the taste and texture of raw peanuts are unappealing to you, then soaking your nuts could be the solution you’ve been looking for. Eating soaked nuts can help to keep you full for longer while avoiding the unwanted sodium.
How To Soak Peanuts
Soaking peanuts takes some time and preparation, but the benefits you reap from completing this process are endless. Although it can be time-consuming, soaking peanuts is incredibly easy to do. Here are a few methods for soaking, depending on the kitchen tools you have on hand.
How To Soak Peanuts With a Food Dehydrator
The easiest way to soak peanuts is with a food dehydrator. If you don’t have a dehydrator and would like one, I recommend the COSORI Food Dehydrator from Amazon.com. The following instructions explain how to use the method of dehydrating:
- Place your nuts in a bowl of salted water and stir. The nuts will soak up some of this water, so it is essential to cover them completely. If your tap water is not filtered, you may also want to filter your water before completing this step.
- Cover the bowl and let sit for at least 7 hours. One great way to make the time pass quickly is to leave them to soak overnight.
- Drain the soaked nuts in a colander. You can also rinse your nuts during this step, but it is not required.
- Divide the drained nuts into several food dehydrator trays. You will want to make sure to spread them out, which will make the drying process faster.
- Dry the nuts for 24 hours at 105°F (40.5°C). The nuts are done if they are dry inside when you break them in half. Squishy or soft insides indicate that they need more time in the dehydrator.
If you want a visual representation of this method, then check out this quick and informative video from Kelly Nahama:
Kelly uses almonds in her video, but the process is the same.
How To Soak Peanuts Without a Food Dehydrator
If you do not have a food dehydrator, you can use an oven instead. To do so, you need to follow the same steps as above to soak the peanuts for 7 hours or more. Then, pop them in the oven for 4 to 6 hours at 160º F (71º C) until they are crispy.
The only problem with this method is that many ovens do not go under 200°F (93°C). So, you may need to leave the door slightly ajar and monitor the internal temperature.
This method takes a bit more work on your end but is still completely doable.
Final Thoughts
All in all, eating peanuts in any form can benefit your health, but soaked nuts are by far one of the best options.
You can soak your peanuts at home to reap all of their fantastic health benefits and make them crunchy and crispy again using an oven or dehydrator. If you haven’t tried soaking your peanuts, then now is a better time than ever!
