Easy Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts

Boiled peanuts tend to be a polarizing snack food, in my experience – people either love ’em or hate ’em. Obviously, I fall into the “love ’em” camp, or this Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts recipe wouldn’t exist!

For me, boiled peanuts always take me back to summers in North Carolina, visiting Beech Mountain in the Appalachians. We’d pass by roadside stands selling brown paper bags of boiled peanuts, and we HAD to stop and get some.

True southern boiled peanuts cook for hours upon hours, all day long, in a huge pot, so making them at home wasn’t even something I’d considered – until I got an Instant Pot.

We all know by now that the Instant Pot (or any pressure cooker) exponentially speeds up cooking time for just about anything, while maintaining flavor and moisture. So boiled peanuts are a perfect candidate for Instant Pot-ifying!

What goes into Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts?

As far as I’m concerned, simpler is better with boiled peanuts: peanuts, salt, and water. That’s all you need!

Since I love me some salt, I use about 1/2 cup of table salt in this recipe. If you’d like a more subtle flavor, you can use less, but you’ll want at least a 1/4 cup.

I’ve tried other, more adventurous flavors, like Cajun seasoning, garlic, or smokehouse-style, and honestly, they just don’t do it for me. Nothing beats the salty peanut-y perfection of classic, southern boiled peanuts. But of course, if you’re feeling fancy, feel free to add in your favorite seasonings of choice, and let me know what you choose!

What types of peanuts can be used for boiled peanuts?

The only part of this recipe that is non-negotiable is the peanuts themselves: They MUST be green or raw peanuts.

So, what ARE green peanuts? No, they’re not the color green. “Green” peanuts are raw and freshly harvested, so they still retain their natural moisture. Green peanuts are the best peanuts to make boiled peanuts with, if you can find them. They’ll cook more quickly, with the best flavor and texture when they’re done.

However, green peanuts can be hard to find. You can typically find them at farmers markets or some Asian or Indian grocery stores, but not everyone has access to those. So, when you can’t find them readily available, raw peanuts will also work.

What’s the difference between green peanuts and raw peanuts? Raw peanuts are un-roasted like green peanuts, but they’ve been dehydrated, so they’ll last longer. They still taste great as boiled peanuts, but you’ll want to cook them a bit longer, to make sure they get nice and soft and moist.

They’re much easier to find than green peanuts – I get mine at Sprouts supermarkets, but many other grocery stores carry them as well (even Amazon, if you can wait a couple days).

You really can’t use any kind of roasted peanuts, however. The flavor will be off, and they just won’t soften up right as they cook. Seriously, you’ll regret it.

How do you make Boiled Peanuts in the Instant Pot?

Really, it couldn’t be easier. All you need is a little bit of time! See for yourself:

First, rinse the peanuts off really well in the sink, and discard any stems or broken shell pieces.

Add the peanuts to the Instant Pot liner, then add salt and enough water to cover the peanuts. (Pro-tip: Use a trivet and a small ramekin to hold the peanuts under the water, otherwise they try to float!)

Seal the Instant Pot, and cook at high pressure for 85 – 105 minutes (depending on your preference – 95 minutes is the magic number for my taste). Allow to natural release for 15 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.

{If any of that Instant Pot lingo just made your head spin, check out my tips for Instant Pot Beginners, then come back here!}

Stir, test the peanuts, and if you’d like them a little bit softer, seal the pot back up and give them another 5-10 minutes at pressure.

That’s IT!

Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts FAQs

How long do boiled peanuts keep after they’ve been cooked?

They’ll keep in the fridge for about a week. But good luck keeping them around for that long!

Do you eat boiled peanuts hot or cold?

I personally think they’re best when warm – as if they’re fresh from that massive boiling pot on the side of the road! But I know some people love them just as much when they’re cold, so you do you.

Can I please just use regular old roasted peanuts?

NO! They. Won’t. Be. Good. I promise. Find some raw peanuts, and you won’t regret it!

Do green peanuts cook differently than raw peanuts in the Instant Pot?

Yes. Since they already have more moisture in them, green peanuts will cook more quickly in the Instant Pot than raw peanuts. You can probably shave 20-25 minutes off this recipe’s cook time if you use green peanuts instead of raw.

Leave me a comment with any other questions you have – I’d love to help. And I’d love to hear how your Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts turn out, if you try this recipe!