Imagine after a long and tiring day, you sit in front of the tv to watch your favorite show.
In front of you is a bag of peanuts.
You put a peanut in your mouth after peeling it.
Suddenly, the texture and the crumbliness of the peanut dissolve all your worries.
Peanuts are both yummy and nutritious.
But there are two popular choices of peanuts to choose from
So, cocktail peanuts vs. dry roasted peanuts.
Which one should you choose?
Well, cocktail peanuts are more flavorful with the perfect amount of salt.
Dry roasted peanuts, on the other hand, are nutritious but lacks in flavor.
Keep Reading to know more about the differences between these two types of peanuts.
What are Cocktail Peanuts? What Kind of Peanuts are Cocktail Peanuts?
The most distinctive feature of cocktail peanuts is that they are cooked in oil.
They also go through processes including salting and shell roasting.
Therefore, it’s apparent that not all peanuts are suitable to be cocktail peanuts.
Virginia peanuts which are often called cocktail nuts are one of the best choices for cocktail peanuts.
They appear to be quite big because of the large kernels.
Their size makes it much easier to process.
In fact, they are the largest of all peanuts.
The Virginia peanuts are mainly grown in southeastern Virginia and northeastern Virginia. The peanuts have a unique crunch and texture.
(Planters) Cocktail Peanuts Nutrition Facts
Serving Size- 50g
| Nutrients | Amount |
| Calories | 330 |
| Total fat | 27.00g |
| Saturated Fat | 5.000g |
| Trans Fat | 0.100g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 150mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 10.00g |
| Protein | 12.00g |
https://www.fatsecret.ca/calories-nutrition/planters/cocktail-peanuts/1-3-cup
What are Dry Roasted Peanuts?
Peanuts are delicious as it is.
But roasting them adds a new dimension to their aroma and taste.
The peanuts become crunchier and more flavorful.
Roasting basically means the process of dry heating any ingredient.
It evenly cooks the food from all sides.
As for peanuts, people roast them without the shell.
There are two types of roasting methods that people use for peanuts.
One is dry roasting and the other is oil roasting.
As the name suggests oil roasting involves the use of oil.
On the contrary, dry roasting doesn’t involve any oil.
You can dry roast peanuts in an oven or a frying pan.
After roasting it for some time, the peanuts become crunchy.
You can either buy them from the store or just make them at home.
Dry Roasted Peanuts Nutrition Facts
Serving Size- 1 oz
| Nutrient | Amount |
| Calories | 165 |
| Total fat | 14g |
| Saturated fat | 2.2g. |
| Trans fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 190mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 5.5g |
| Protein | 7g. |
https://www.fitbit.com/foods/Dry+Roasted+Peanuts/81187
Difference Between Cocktail Peanuts and Dry Roasted Peanuts
Some distinct features between these two make them stand out.
So, without further ado, let’s check them out.
The use of Oil
The main difference between Cocktail peanuts and dry roasted peanuts is the use of oil.
People use oil to cook cocktail peanuts. Therefore, it’s much greasier.
On the other hand, dry roast peanuts are just dry roasted peanuts without oil.
Saltiness
Another major difference between these two is the saltiness.
In this aspect, Cocktail peanuts are much more preferable.
They have a consistent flavor with just the right amount of salt.
On the contrary, dry roasted peanuts are too salty sometimes.
On top of that, they have a sawdust texture after chewing them for some time.
Size
Cocktail peanuts are made of the largest peanut in the world known as Virginia.
The large size of the peanuts makes it a perfect choice for cooking them in oil.
On the other hand, dry roasted peanuts can be any regular-sized peanuts.
Sodium Content
Dry roasted peanuts contain significantly more sodium than cocktail peanuts.
Dry roasted nuts have 190 milligrams of sodium while cocktail peanuts have just 90 milligrams.
You may wonder why manufacturers add too much salt in dry roasted nuts.
Well, the answer is quite simple.
Dry roasted peanuts don’t have much flavor adding fat.
That’s why most manufacturers add salt to enrich the flavor and make it more appealing.
Sodium is bad for your health.
Consuming too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and even stroke.
So, if you are looking to consume less salt, the cocktail peanut is the right choice for you.
Flavor
The cocktail peanuts are more flavorful.
Most manufacturers add a flavor by adding fat to them which enriches the flavor.
On the other hand, dry roasted peanuts are quite plain compared to cocktail peanuts.
Overcooked Peanuts
Manufacturers cook cocktail peanuts in oil therefore they are significantly more prone to burning.
You can easily overcook them if you leave them on the oil for too long.
That’s why many cocktail peanuts taste overcooked.
On the other hand, dry roasted peanuts have no issue of getting overcooked.
All you need to do is set it at an exact timer in your oven and wait.
Calories and Curbs
While eating peanuts, we sometimes go overboard and keep on stuffing them.
We are only human. That’s why it’s best to look at the calories of peanuts to know beforehand how many calories we are taking.
One ounce of dry roasted peanuts contains about 164 calories.
There are about 32 peanuts in one ounce.
Also, dry roasted peanuts contain about 14 grams of fat.
The saturated fat content is about 1.9 grams.
On the contrary, one-ounce cocktail peanuts have more calories than dry roasted peanuts.
It has about 168 calories.
Though there isn’t much difference in normal fat content, the saturated fat content is quite different in cocktail peanuts.
It has 2.4 grams of saturated fat.
Too much-saturated fat is concerning as it can lead to obesity.
Minerals
There isn’t much difference between the mineral content of the two types of peanuts.
Dry roasted peanuts just have slightly more manganese in them.
Manganese helps your body from bones and connective tissue.
But cocktail peanuts compensate in terms of phosphorus.
It has more phosphorus than dry roasted peanuts.
Vitamins
Both of these peanut types have a similar amount of Niacin.
Dry roasted peanuts have more folate which plays a crucial role in forming DNA.
Cocktail peanuts have more Vitamin E which acts as an antioxidant removing
harmful free radicals from your body.
Product Comparison
To find the key differences between dry roasted peanuts and cocktail peanuts, it’s essential to look at two of the best products on the market.
Fisher Dry Roasted Peanuts
The fisher dry roasted peanuts are a snack that you can have with your family in your leisure time.
The peanuts are well seasoned and have a great texture.
It contains sea salt which is much tastier than normal salts.
The peanuts are not hard. You can never stop eating once you start.
Pros
- Less than two percent sea salt
- Perfectly seasoned
- Soft and crunchy
Cons
- Some peanuts seem to be in the oven for too long
PLANTERS Cocktail Peanuts
PLANTERS cocktail peanuts are packed with all the essential nutrients.
They are savory and packs a punch every time you eat them.
They are completely cholesterol-free therefore you won’t have to worry about your health.
It also has sea salts for enhancing the flavor.
Pros
- Perfectly salty
- Cholesterol free
- Good quality peanuts
Cons
- There are burnt peanuts sometimes in the pack
- The peanuts appear hard sometimes
Which is Better for You Dry Roasted Peanuts or Cocktail Peanuts?
It’s quite difficult to crown one the winner.
Both of these peanuts have their merits and demerits.
Cocktail peanuts are tastier and more flavorful but they contain too much-unsaturated fat and calories.
On the other hand, dry roasted peanuts are too salty but they have less fat and calories.
Also, they are easier to make. So, it’s a tough choice to make.
But for me, it’s going to be cocktail peanuts.
The mouth-watering flavor and texture are something you will never find elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dry roasted peanuts gluten free?
Plain nuts don’t contain any gluten i.e. they are gluten-free.
But dry roasted nuts generally contain wheat flour in the coating. So, before buying the check the label.
How long do dry roasted peanuts last?
An unopened dry roasted peanuts lasts for 9 months in the pantry
Opened dry Roasted peanuts lasts for 2 months in the pantry.
You can store them in the refrigerator or freezer for longer shelf life.
It lasts for 6 months in the refrigerator and up to 1 year in the freezer.
Final Thoughts
You can’t get the best of both worlds.
When you are choosing dry roasted peanuts, you have to compromise in the taste aspect.
On the contrary, when you choose cocktail peanuts, you need to compromise on the health department.
So, choose wisely and enjoy your favorite peanuts.
References:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/489676-what-is-healthier-dry-roasted-or-regular-peanuts/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/raw-vs-roasted-nuts#TOC_TITLE_HDR_5
Related Articles:
