How do peanuts become brittle when they become soft

After the peanuts become soft, they can be restored to a crispy texture through baking, frying, or microwave heating. The softening of peanuts caused by moisture is mainly due to high humidity or improper sealing in the storage environment. Re dehydration treatment can improve the texture.

1. Baking Method

Lay the softened peanuts flat on a baking tray and bake them in a preheated oven at 150 degrees Celsius for about 10 minutes. Low temperature slow baking can evenly evaporate moisture and avoid burning. During the baking process, it is necessary to flip it 2-3 times to ensure even heating. When the skin turns slightly yellow and emits a fragrance, remove it and let it cool. After cooling, the taste becomes more crispy. This method is suitable for large-scale processing and can retain a significant amount of nutrients.

2. Deep frying method

Pour a small amount of cooking oil into a cold pan, add peanuts, and then turn on low heat to fry slowly. When the oil temperature rises to around 160 degrees, continue to flip it, and when the peanuts become darker in color and float on the oil surface, remove them and drain the oil. Deep frying can quickly dehydrate and produce Maillard reaction, giving it a richer burnt flavor, but high temperatures can damage some heat sensitive nutrients such as vitamin E.

3. Microwave method

Spread peanuts flat in a microwave specific container, heat on high heat for 1 minute, then remove and flip, repeat 2-3 times until the brittleness is restored. Microwaves can cause intense movement of water molecules inside food to generate heat, resulting in high dehydration efficiency and short duration. Pay attention to heating for no more than 30 seconds each time to prevent local carbonization. After treatment, let it stand for 5 minutes to allow the residual heat to continue evaporating residual water.

4. Dry baking in wok

In an oil-free state, pour peanuts into the wok and stir fry continuously over low heat for about 8 minutes. The iron pot has uniform thermal conductivity, and during the dry baking process, the peanut skin will gradually become dry and shiny. When a crisp collision sound is heard, turn off the heat and continue drying using the residual temperature of the pot. This method is simple to operate, but requires continuous flipping to prevent the bottom from sticking. It is suitable for quick processing of small amounts of peanuts.

5. Food desiccant assistance

Store softened peanuts in a sealed container with food grade desiccant for 12 hours. Desiccants can absorb moisture from the environment, causing peanuts to slowly dehydrate and become brittle. When using silicone or quicklime desiccant, it is necessary to isolate it with gauze to avoid direct contact. Although this method is time-consuming, it can maximize the preservation of the original flavor and nutritional structure.

It is recommended to consume the processed peanuts immediately or store them in a sealed container. Deoxidizers can be added to extend the crispy time. Daily storage should be placed in a cool and dry place, avoiding high temperature and high humidity environments. If peanuts have developed a rancid or moldy taste, they should not be consumed again. Aflatoxin is heat-resistant and cannot be removed by cooking. For the three high population, it is recommended to choose low oil methods such as baking or microwave treatment, and control the daily intake within 15 grams.