I am a member of the Peanut Club. I love cocktail peanuts, I love them roasted, I love them roasted in honey, I love Spanish peanuts (what happened to Spanish peanuts? They seem to have gone out of style… Is it paper crusted?), and I love shelled peanuts.
But I love nothing more than peanuts in Virginia. According to the National Peanut Board (where I would love to work one day), the Virginia peanut is the largest of all peanuts. They are also known as “ballpark” peanuts and are found in gourmet snacks. Virginia peanuts account for about 15 percent of total U.S. production and are grown mainly in southeastern Virginia, northeastern North Carolina, South Carolina, and western Texas.
Virginia-style peanuts are traditionally cooked in small batches in canola oil, so they’re incredibly crunchy and toasty. I love them so much that I get them in bulk at Costco, specifically the Kirkland Signature variety.
Although Virginia peanuts can be a bit more expensive than some common types of peanuts, I think they are worth every penny. BUT if you’re a Costco member, get ready for a treat and favorably. A storage can of Kirkland Virginia Peanuts is a hefty 40 ounces and costs just $8.99. On Amazon, a 32-ounce can of another brand sells for $23.29. So that’s 22 cents per ounce for Kirkland, compared to 73 cents for the other brand. Holy cow, right?
(Not a Costco member? You can find warehouse peanuts on Amazon for about $8, which is cheaper than in stores!)
What’s so great about Kirkland Signature Super-Extra Large Peanuts?
Kirkland Virginia peanuts taste perfect. They are generously salted, deeply nutty and super crunchy. When we worked in the office, my colleague and I shared a can in the desk drawer and got into fistfights several times a day. The part with the drawers was supposed to slow us down, but it was only somewhat successful.
I am not so reserved with my personal tin at home. I have a deep affinity for peanuts that haven’t split in half, and start by picking whole peanuts, which provide a lovely crunch when you bite into them. But I won’t even half get out of bed.
I also love the idea of having them around the holidays as a little DIY bar snack to entertain guests. (As long as no one in your group has a peanut allergy, that is. If you’re not TOTALLY sure, just keep this to yourself. Peanut allergies are no joke!)
If I can stop nibbling on them long enough to cook with them, they bring incredible depth of flavor to both sweet and savory dishes.