Is it necessary to soak water before roasting peanuts?

Although very rustic and cheap, roasted peanuts are always present on the drinking table because of their especially attractive aromatic flavor. It can also be a snack for snacks, or even a side dish for main meals. Many people often prepare a lot at once and then store it in jars or jars to eat for a whole week.

Is it necessary to soak water before roasting peanuts?

With roasted peanuts, most people encounter the problem that the finished product only stays fragrant and crispy for a few hours, then becomes soft and unattractive. To keep peanuts crispy for a long time, the roaster must have a secret. Soaking in water before roasting peanuts is an important secret. If you skip this step and put the peanuts directly into the pan and roast them, the product will quickly release oil when left for a long time, quickly becoming soggy and smelly.

So how is soaking in water before roasting peanuts? Do you use hot or cold water and how long do you soak? Please refer to the details of the delicious peanut roasting process below.

How to soak water before roasting peanuts

To have delicious and attractive roasted peanuts, you must choose a batch of peanuts with evenly round seeds. The silk skin is dry and smooth. Remove flat, sprouting and especially moldy seeds because they contain aflatoxin, which is very dangerous for your health.

After choosing, you should pour the peanuts into a pot, soak in water for 5 – 10 minutes and then gently rinse to clean. This helps remove all the dirt still clinging to raw peanuts, reducing the bad smell and acrid taste of peanuts.

Note, you should use warm water to soak peanuts because it helps peanuts quickly absorb enough moisture, becoming more succulent. When exposed to high temperatures, peanuts will heat faster and more evenly, so the dish will stay crispy longer.

Some chefs at restaurants with famous roasted peanuts with basil in Hanoi also regularly use the method of soaking in water before roasting peanuts or quickly blanching peanuts in old boiling water.

After soaking, let the peanuts rest for a few minutes to drain before roasting.

How to roast peanuts

With the creativity of housewives, today, there are many delicious ways to roast peanuts. The most important thing is to choose the right temperature so that the peanuts will cook slowly, fragrant, and the peanuts will remain crispy for a long time without becoming soggy or oily. 

Roasted in a traditional pan:

Adjust the heat to medium or low and stir well until the water drains. When the peanuts begin to smell slightly fragrant, turn off the stove and continue stirring for 4-5 minutes to slowly cool down. Try a few peanuts and if they taste fragrant, the peanuts are ripe and delicious. 

In ancient times, our grandparents often used river sand to clean and dry it so that the roasted peanuts would cook more evenly. Some families use salt during the roasting process to give the peanuts a crunchy texture. However, if your kitchen does not have sand or enough salt, you can roast them plain and still ensure the deliciousness of the peanuts.

Roast in the oven, oil-free fryer or microwave 

If you roast peanuts in an oven or oil-free fryer, initially choose a temperature from 120°C to 140°C, leave for 10 minutes; Then, reduce the heat to 80 – 100°C for 30 – 45 minutes to reach perfect doneness. Occasionally, you should stir the peanuts to cook evenly.

The time mentioned above is only a reference number, you need to adjust it yourself through practical experience, because although the index is the same, each type of oven has a different amount of heat emitted. 

If roasting peanuts in the microwave, spread the peanuts evenly across the surface of the ceramic plate, cover with parchment paper, then place in the oven and let it defrost for 1 minute. Then, take the plate and stir in the peanuts, cover with parchment paper, and roast for another minute. After this rotation, the peanuts will release a little oil, stir well and then spin again for 1 minute in defrost mode.

The most important thing to note is to remember to stir the peanuts before each roast and, depending on the capacity of each oven, adjust the roasting time accordingly. 

Incubate peanuts

Besides soaking in water before roasting peanuts, this is also the secret to helping peanuts stay crispy for a long time. You can use large paper towels or soft towels to incubate, helping to reduce the heat slowly, avoiding heat shock that causes the peanuts to go limp.

If you want to store the peanuts in jars or jars, you should let the peanuts cool completely. Otherwise, after closing the lid, steaming will cause the peanuts to quickly become soggy, have a short storage time, or easily mold in closed spaces.

Roasting peanuts seems simple, but it also requires a few tips to achieve standard deliciousness. Now that you know clearly whether you need to soak in water before roasting peanuts and how to proceed, try it next time.