How to Crush Peanuts

Co-authored by Kyle Hall

Last Updated: November 14, 2019 References

Crushed peanuts are great for baking and cooking, and they’re easy to prepare at home. One of the quickest ways to crush peanuts is with a food processor, but you're still in luck if you don't own one. If you’re willing to put in more time and elbow grease, you can crush peanuts by hand using a rolling pin. Whichever method you use, it's important to avoid over-crushing the peanuts so you don't end up accidentally making peanut butter.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Food Processor

1
Shell some peanuts and put them in a freezer for several hours. Make sure they’re cold so they have an easier time getting crushed in the food processor.^{[1]
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2
Pour 1 cup (.2 liters) of the cold peanuts into a food processor. Crush one cup of peanuts at a time to avoid unevenly-sized pieces.^{[2]
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3
Put the lid on the food processor and hold down the pulse button. Only hold down the pulse button for a few seconds; the goal is to crush the nuts in short bursts, not all at once. After a few seconds of pulsing, release the pulse button and let the peanuts rest for 2 - 3 seconds.^{[3]
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4
Alternate between pulsing and resting until the peanuts are crushed. Pulse the peanuts for longer for more finely crushed pieces.^{[4]
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- Avoid over processing the peanuts or they will release their natural oils and become too oily.^{[5]
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5
Empty the crushed peanuts into a dish and repeat with more peanuts. Continue crushing 1 cup (.2 liters) of peanuts at a time until you’ve crushed your desired amount.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Crushing Peanuts by Hand

1
Fill a small plastic bag with 1 cup (.2 liters) of unshelled peanuts. Make sure the bag isn’t overflowing with peanuts or they might fall out as you’re crushing them. Twist or zip the bag closed.^{[6]
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2
Place the bag on a cutting board and gently beat it with a rolling pin. Hold the rolling pin like a hammer and continue to beat the bag until the peanuts inside have flattened into one single layer.^{[7]
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3
Use both hands to roll the rolling pin over the bag of peanuts. Press down on the rolling pin as you roll it across the bag to help crush up the nuts.^{[8]
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4
Dump the peanuts out of the bag and onto the cutting board. Use your hand to spread the peanuts out in a single, concentrated layer at the center of the board. ^{[9]
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5
Use the rolling pin to press down on the peanuts and crush them. Carry the rolling pin across the layer of peanuts, stopping and pressing down on each row until you feel the peanuts crush underneath. Lift and press the rolling pin, don't roll it. Continue doing this until you’re satisfied with how crushed the peanuts are.^{[10]
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Community Q&A
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Question

How do you make peanut butter?

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It's easy to make peanut butter at home, you just need a little preparation to make sure the peanuts are clean and then you can process or blend them to the desired consistency. For full step-by-step instructions, check out the wikiHow: How to Make Peanut Butter.
Question

How do you grind peanuts into a powder?

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Peanut powder can be made by adding clean peanuts to the food processor and processing them until they turn into a powder. If you don't have a food processor, you can crush the peanuts to powder form in a mortar and pestle, although this will take a while, especially if you have to do it in several batches. Roasting peanuts before turning them into a powder is another option; this is especially good if using the powder for Asian cuisine recipes.
Question

What can I do with crushed peanuts?

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Crushed peanuts can be used as a topping for desserts like ice cream sundae and plain ice cream. They can be used as a topping on savory dishes; for example, many Thai and Vietnamese dishes add a sprinkling of crushed peanuts to complete the flavor profile of a dish. You could also use crushed peanuts for baking, either as part of the cake or cookie batter or as a topping on cakes, slices, energy bars, etc. If you make chocolates or candies, crushed peanuts are the ideal size for adding if you're making peanut-flavored versions, such as peanut truffles.