Peanut harvesting is a little different than you might think. These fascinating plants are technically legumes like beans and peas, but they produce their pods underground. This unique habit makes peanuts particularly fun to grow, but it complicates picking them because you can’t see how the pods are developing under the soil. To take the guesswork out of peanut harvesting, use this simple guide on how and when to harvest peanuts for peak flavor and maximum freshness.
ROB CARDILLO
When to Harvest Peanuts
Peanuts are usually harvested in late summer to fall, about 120 to 160 days after planting. Some peanut varieties mature faster than others, so it’s a good idea to consult the seed packet for exact information on when your peanut variety will be ready to harvest.
BOB STEFKO
How to Tell If Peanuts Are Ready to Harvest
Seed packets give guidelines on harvesting, but temperature and weather patterns also affect the growth of peanuts and can alter harvest time. That’s why you need to look for other signs that indicate your peanut crop has finished growing.
When peanuts are ready to harvest, the plant’s leaves begin to wither and turn yellow; these are clear signs it’s time to start digging up the plants.
Before you pull up your entire peanut crop, do a test run by digging up a single peanut plant. Inspect the peanut pods attached to its root system for a good idea of whether you should pull up the rest of the plants.
Mature pods should be well-filled with large seeds that take up most of the pod, while underripe pods have smaller seeds. If the interior of the pod is dark, the peanuts are likely too mature for boiling, but they’ll still be delicious when dry-roasted. If the pods start to come loose from the plant’s roots, dig up all the peanut plants immediately so you don’t lose the peanuts in the soil.
MARTY BALDWIN
Peanut Harvesting Tips
When you’ve determined the peanuts are mature, it’s time to start harvesting. The best time to harvest peanuts is when the weather is dry, and it hasn’t rained for a few days.
Although pulling the peanut plants straight out of the soil can be tempting, harvesting in this manner often causes peanut pods to dislodge from the plant’s roots. To avoid this, use a shovel or gardening fork and carefully loosen the soil around the plants before gently pulling them up. Most of the peanut pods should remain attached to the plant.
After pulling up the plants, shake off the extra soil from the roots and place the peanut plants to the side. Inevitably some peanut pods will break off from the plant’s roots during harvesting, so comb through the soil to find any remaining pods. These pods are still perfectly edible.
JAY WILDE
How to Cure and Store Peanuts
After you harvest the peanuts, use them right away or cure them for longer storage and better flavor.
If you intend to use the peanuts right away, wash them well to remove any remaining soil and boil them in salted water for two to three hours. However, if you want to roast peanuts or store them in your pantry for recipes, you must first cure them.
To cure peanuts, leave the peanut pods on the plants, gather the plants in loose bundles with string, and hang them up to dry out in a warm, dry place out of direct sunlight. A covered porch is a great place to dry peanuts, but you can also cure peanuts indoors. Moisture encourages mold, so make sure to keep the peanuts as dry as possible and keep air circulating around the plants as they cure.
Any peanut pods that separated from the plants during harvesting can be dried on screens or cured in a food dehydrator. When air drying the pods, give them a good shake every few days so they dry evenly. Discard any pods that develop signs of rot.
When the peanuts have cured for about four weeks, take the peanut plants down from their drying spot and separate the pods from the plants. Dust off the pods to remove any remaining garden soil, and then store them in mesh bags in a cool, dry location with good airflow until you’re ready to roast them. For longer storage, keep peanuts in an airtight container in your fridge for several months or store them in your freezer for up to a year.
After removing the peanut pods, don’t toss the plants in the trash. Peanut plants contain a lot of nitrogen, and they’re an excellent addition to compost piles. Also, don’t forget to save a few extra peanut pods for seeds for next year’s garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you eat peanuts right off the plant?Raw peanuts are generally safe to eat, but they are usually boiled or roasted before consumption for food safety purposes. Peanuts are also typically cured for about a month before roasting, which improves their flavor and extends their shelf life.
Raw peanuts are generally safe to eat, but they are usually boiled or roasted before consumption for food safety purposes. Peanuts are also typically cured for about a month before roasting, which improves their flavor and extends their shelf life.
- Do you wash raw peanuts before roasting?Peanuts are not usually washed before roasting because added water encourages mold development and impedes the roasting process. That said, if you want to clean the peanuts before cooking with them, it’s best to wash peanuts immediately after harvesting them and before you hang them up to cure.
Peanuts are not usually washed before roasting because added water encourages mold development and impedes the roasting process. That said, if you want to clean the peanuts before cooking with them, it’s best to wash peanuts immediately after harvesting them and before you hang them up to cure.
- What is the best temperature to roast peanuts?To roast peanuts, spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast them at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes.
To roast peanuts, spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast them at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes.