Chinese Boiled Peanuts
These boiled peanuts are an amazingly addicting snack that takes less than 5 minutes to prepare. The peanuts are perfectly salted, spiced, and are soft and tender after cooking.
Prep Time2 minutes mins
Cook Time1 hour hr
Total Time1 hour hr 2 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: Chinese boiled peanuts, chinese peanuts, five spice peanuts, instant pot boiled peanuts
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 80kcal
- 1 lb raw, unshelled peanuts 453 grams
- 2 tbsp salt
- 2 tbsp five spice
If Using Whole Spices
- 3 pieces star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 cloves
- 1 tbsp fennel
Pressure Cooker
Add the peanuts, salt, and five spice powder (or whole spices) to the pressure cooker. Add enough water until the peanuts are fully submerged. Place a trivet or other pressure cooker safe object on top of peanuts to ensure that all of the peanuts are underneath the water. Note 1
Close the pressure cooker and set it to high pressure for 60 minutes. Release once finished.
Stovetop
Optional: soak the peanuts for a few hours before cooking to reduce the cooking time. Add the peanuts, salt, and five spice to a large pot, and add enough water to submerge the peanuts. Note 1
Bring the water to a boil and boil the peanuts for 3 hours, or 2 hours if pre-soaked.
To further reduce the cooking time, you can also slightly crack the peanuts open on one end. Then, you would only need to boil the peanuts for about 1 to 1.5 hours.
Storing
Let the peanuts cool before storing in a container with the salty/spiced water. The peanuts taste best after soaking in the brine overnight, as they will absorb more flavor.
Store the peanuts in the brine for up to one week in the refrigerator.
- Make sure that all of the peanut are cover with water so that they cook evenly.