How to Roast Peanuts in the Microwave

Co-authored by Alex Hong

Last Updated: February 21, 2023 References

Make roasted peanuts in the microwave at home for an easy and quick snack that you’ll surely be hooked on after you try it. All you need is some shelled raw peanuts and a microwave to make plain roasted peanuts. Season them with salt for a classic option, or use any other combination of seasonings you can dream up to create unique and exciting flavors!

Ingredients

Plain Roasted Peanuts

250 g (8.81 oz) of shelled raw peanuts
2 US tbsp (30 mL) of water

Seasoning Options

Salt
Chinese 5 Spice
Japanese Furikake
2 US tbsp (30 mL) of honey
Chile powder, cayenne powder, garlic salt

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Making Plain Roasted Peanuts

1
Put 250 g (8.81 oz) of shelled raw peanuts in a microwave safe dish. Get pre-shelled raw peanuts from a supermarket or grocery store. Pour about 250 g (8.81 oz) into a microwave safe dish.^{[1]
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- You can get shelled peanuts that either have the skins or don’t, it is up to you and your personal preference.
- If you like, you can soak the peanuts in water before peeling them.
- Then roast them.
2
Pour 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of water in the dish. Use a measuring spoon or large soup spoon to measure out 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of water. Drizzle it over the peanuts in the dish.^{[2]
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- This will help keep the peanuts a bit moist during roasting so they don’t burn.
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3
Stir the peanuts around until they are all moist. Use a spoon or other utensil to stir the peanuts to coat them with the water. Drizzle another 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 mL) of water if it doesn’t seem like all of them are damp yet.^{[3]
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- All the water will evaporate in the microwave, so don’t worry too much about the amount you put in the dish as long as the peanuts all get some water on them.
4
Microwave the peanuts on the highest temperature for 3 minutes. Put the dish in the microwave and close the door. Set the power to the highest setting and turn on the microwave for 3 minutes.^{[4]
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- You could use this time to prepare any seasonings you plan to add to the peanuts when they are done.
5
Take the dish out and stir the peanuts around. Use a dish towel or oven gloves to remove the dish from the microwave in case it’s really hot. Set it on the counter and use a spoon or other utensil to stir the peanuts around thoroughly.^{[5]
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- Since microwaves have hotter and cooler spots, this will help roast the peanuts more evenly.
6
Microwave the peanuts for 1 more minute on the highest temperature. Put the dish back in the microwave after you have stirred the peanuts around. Make sure the temperature is still set to the highest power and turn on the microwave for 1 minute.^{[6]
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- Keep microwaving the peanuts in increments of 1 minute if you want to roast them longer.
7
Transfer the peanuts to a large tray to cool down. Remove the dish from the microwave and pour the peanuts out onto a baking sheet or tray. Spread them out with a spoon or other utensil so that there is just a single layer. Wait for them to be cool to the touch.^{[7]
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- You can add seasoning at this point, but wait for them to cool down before you eat them to avoid burning your mouth.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Seasoning Options for the Roasted Peanuts

1
Add salt to the peanuts after they are roasted for traditional salted peanuts. Use a salt shaker or sprinkle salt over the peanuts with your fingers. Stir them around to coat them evenly.^{[8]
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- You can experiment with different kinds of salt, such as normal table salt or sea salt.
2
Season the peanuts with Chinese Five Spice powder for a spicy variation. Buy Chinese 5 Spice powder at an Asian market or supermarket. A little bit goes a long way, so sprinkle a little bit on one part of the roasted peanuts first and taste it to gauge how much you want to use.^{[9]
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- Chinese 5 Spice is a blend of cinnamon, clove, star anise, fennel, and Sichuan peppercorns.
3
Use Japanese Furikake for a sweet and savory seasoning. Purchase Furikake at an Asian market or supermarket. Sprinkle it over top of roasted peanuts and stir them to coat them evenly.^{[10]
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- Furikake is a combination of seaweed, bonito flakes, sesame seeds, dried salmon, roe, egg, and dehydrated vegetables. It is usually sprinkled on rice, but can be used as a seasoning for roasted peanuts or anything else you want, like popcorn.
4
Coat the peanuts in honey before you microwave them for a honey-roasted flavor. Drizzle about 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of honey over 250 g (8.81 oz) peanuts before you put them in the microwave. Stir them around to coat them evenly and then roast them in the microwave on high power for at least 4 minutes total.^{[11]
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- You can experiment by adding other dry spices to the honey-roasted peanuts to create endless flavor combinations.
5
Mix chili powder, cayenne powder, and garlic salt to make spicy salted peanuts. Combine 2 tsp (8.2 g) of chili powder, 1/4 tsp (1 g) of cayenne, and 1/2 tsp (2 g) of garlic salt. Sprinkle it over the roasted peanuts and toss them to coat them in the spice mixture.^{[12]
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- Adjust the amounts of the spices as you like to make the peanuts spicier or saltier.