Boiled Peanuts

Source:	Lee Bros
Category:	Appetizers
Cuisine:	Southern
Prep Time:	08:00
Cook Time:	08:00

Ingredients:
  2 lb. peanuts (raw)
  2 cup(s) salt
  2 gallon(s) water

Directions:
  1:	Soak the raw peanuts for about 8 hours in salty water (1 cup per gallon) before boiling.  This will reduce the cooking time to about 6-8 hours.  Use a plate to keep them submerged.

  2:	Discard the soaking water and prepare a new salty (about 1 cup per gallon) solution in a pot, with enough water to cover the peanuts (though most will float initially).

  3:	Start boiling (covered) and maintain a low boil, topping up the water every hour or so as needed to keep the peanuts in the swim.

  4:	When you've boiled for about six hours, sample a peanut and see if the texture has softened to your liking.  If not, boil on.  Also check to see if the salt quotient is to your liking.  If too salty, you can remove some brine and replace it with fresh water.  If not salty enough, add salt!

  5:	Keep sampling until they are done to your taste--it may take as long as 12 hours.  When they're done, just turn off the heat and let them cool down for an hour.  When cool enough to handle, drain and eat or store (in the shell) in a sealed container in the fridge or freezer.  They'll keep 10 days in the fridge; several months in the freezer.



Notes:
  Boiling peanuts is quite simple.
Boil the raw peanuts in a solution of a little under 1 cup salt per gallon water for 8-12 hours.  All that is required of the cook is to keep the water level constant with an occasional infusion of water. www.boiledpeanuts.com