Boiled Peanuts – South Carolina's State Snack

South Carolina

SC Gifts

SC Food

SC Boiled Peanuts

SC Boiled Peanuts

Peanuts, goober peas, groundnuts – no matter what you call them, most South Carolinians agree they taste better boiled! Enjoyed year-round in the Palmetto State, boiled peanuts can be found everywhere from fairs and festivals to sporting events and roadside stands. In fact, they are such an important part of South Carolina culture that they were designated our official state snack in 2006:

The General Assembly finds that boiled peanuts are a delicious and popular snack food that are found both in stores and roadside stands across the State, and this unique snack food is defined as peanuts that are immersed in boiling water for at least one hour while still in the shell. The General Assembly further finds that this truly Southern delicacy is worthy of designation as the official state snack food. (Act 270)

SC Boiled Peanut Sponsors

		The Lee Bros. Boiled Peanuts Catalogue Charleston, SC \| 843.720.8890 Lee Bros. Boiled Peanuts are made in small batches to our exacting standards, which result in a consistently high-quality peanut. Lee Bros. Boiled Peanuts are guaranteed to turn any party into a cultural event!
		Tony the Peanut Man Charleston, SC \| 843.327.1694 A local legend, Charleston's Tony the Peanut Man has been serving up his "gourmet goobers" since 1998. Check out our online store and choose from a variety of peanut products. Also available are Tony the Peanut Man t-shirts and comic books! Feature your South Carolina boiled peanuts here

Boiled Peanuts: A Dixie Delicacy

The peanut has long been a staple of South Carolina farms and plays an important role in our state's folk and cultural history. Many stories indicate that boiling peanuts can be traced back to the Civil War, when Confederate soldiers used the legume as an important source of protein during food shortages. As The Local Palate explains, "By boiling the peanuts in salted water, the Confederate troops were able to sanitize the nuts, preserve them, and add much needed protein to their diet."

The practice continued after the war as soldiers returned home and shared their newfound culinary genius with friends and family. It quickly became a Southern tradition, as communities gathered during harvest time to boil the surplus of unsold peanuts and share in a salty celebration!

– Boiled Peanut Stand in Long Creek, Oconee County –

Nutty Knowledge!

In the South, boiled peanuts are often called "goobers" or "goober peas." Goober is the Gullah adaptation of "nguba" – the African word for peanut.
Peanuts aren't nuts! They're actually part of the legume or bean family. Unlike other nuts, which grow on trees, peanuts actually begin as a ground flower. The weight of the flower forces it to mature under the soil – hence the name "groundnut."
The smallest, most immature green peanuts are called "pops" and absorb the most salt during the boiling process. These have softer shells and are usually enjoyed whole!
Goobers are good for ya! Boiled peanuts are a great source of vitamins and minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.

SC Peanut Gallery

Love boiled peanuts? Have a camera? Send us your pictures and help us celebrate this South Carolina delicacy! We'd especially like to see some roadside peanut stands.

Boiled Peanuts – How to Make 'Em

Boiling your own peanuts is easy! The most important thing to remember is that you must use raw, unshelled peanuts – roasted peanuts cannot be boiled. Peanut purists say it's best to use "green" peanuts, which are freshly harvested peanuts that have not been dried or dehydrated. Due to their high moisture content, green peanuts have a very limited shelf life and are only available during the harvest season which runs May through November. Seasonal green peanuts can be found online, at your local farmers' market, and even in some grocery stores. Dried raw peanuts can also be used, but require an overnight soaking and a much longer boiling time.

Directions:

In a large stock pot, dissolve one cup of salt in two gallons of water; add the peanuts and bring to a boil. Cover the pot and maintain a low boil for 45 minutes. Check periodically to ensure that the water is covering the peanuts. Turn the heat off and carefully remove a peanut to sample, allowing it to cool first. If the peanut still crunches, return the pot to a boil. Boiled peanuts should be soft and mushy! Add more salt if desired. When the peanuts reach the desired consistency, turn off the heat and allow them to cool for an hour. When they're cool enough to handle, drain and serve.

Here's a recipe using dried peanuts.

– A Dixie Delicacy –