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Innovate with delicious, nutritious and versatile peanut ingredients

The U.S. supplies high quality, great tasting peanuts in a wide range of forms, from inshells or whole kernels, though to granulated peanuts, peanut butters, pastes, flours, oils and extracts.

High quality, consistent flavour and texture are the hallmarks of peanuts grown in the USA. Universally eaten as great tasting snacks, peanuts can offer so much more. Open your eyes to the almost endless usage opportunities provided by peanut ingredients for the food manufacturing, beverage and pet food industries. Delicious, nutritious and versatile! Whether you’re producing sweet or savoury items, meat or vegan, food or drink, there’s a peanut ingredient for you. A nutrient-dense source of plant protein containing predominantly unsaturated fat and fibre, peanuts can be included in multiple eating patterns. Their low-carbohydrate content is suitable for people following keto or low-carb lifestyles, and their low glycaemic index makes them a good product for diabetics.

Delivering value as a complementary ingredient in multiple product applications and formulations, peanuts tick many boxes that are relevant for food and drink manufacturers interested in developing on-trend products appealing to diverse and evolving consumers preferences. Peanut ingredients can help you meet the growing demand for plant-based foods with clean label solutions that are non-GMO, sustainable and with organic options.

Peanut flours, available at 12% or 28% fat levels and at different roast levels, are used across a wide range of food and drinks including baked goods, confectionery, diet and nutrition bars, sauces, ice creams, pet drinks and beverages. Peanut flour binds fats in confections and baked goods, and offers a lower fat alternative to whole peanuts. The right combination of fat/protein and roast level will help you achieve the desired nutrition and flavour attributes.

If you’re looking for a robust peanut flavour and aroma, you should consider roasted peanut oil or extract. Peanut oil is a high-quality, trans-fat-free alternative for cooking oils. It adds natural peanut flavour to salad dressings, soups, bars and even frozen dairy desserts. Produced by mechanically pressing dark roasted peanuts, peanut extract is an all-natural, solvent-free product with a clean label. Typically used at a rate of 2-4%, it offers a cost-efficient option for bars, baked goods, confections, cereals, dressings and more.

Needing extra texture or crunch? Roasted peanut granules are excellent for use as toppings for baked goods, salads, ice creams and more, while providing texture and taste inside biscuits and confectionery. Of course, peanuts pair perfectly with chocolate, a winning combination for consumers.

We can’t talk about peanuts without mentioning peanut butter. Available either as 100% ground peanuts, or with a little salt, sugar or vegetable oil added, peanut butter is an ideal ingredient to provide that delicious peanut experience. Already widely used in confectionery, cereals, bakery, sauces, stews, curries, ice creams, cookies/biscuits and snack bars, can you add another category to the list?

The buzzword on the markets is sustainability and it’s likely to stay that way. Did you know that peanuts have a great sustainability story to tell? Not only are peanuts a zero-waste crop, they also come from a nitrogen-fixing plant, which replenishes the nutrients depleted by other crops, resulting in less fertilizer and pesticide usage to grow the crop. Did we mention water? We should, as peanuts need significantly less water to grow than tree nuts or other protein sources. Through decades of sound stewardship, the U.S. peanut industry has accomplished an average water consumption of 3.2 gallons per ounce of peanuts grown. Further, peanut farmers have cut greenhouse gas emissions in half during the last two decades. Delicious, nutritious, versatile AND sustainable – what more could your consumers’ want?

So now you’ve read a little about peanuts and their ingredients, are you ready to dip in and do some R&D? Reach out to us at [email protected] and we’ll connect you to the suppliers – or better still, come and talk to us at Fi Europe in Frankfurt (19-21 November). Tell us your needs and we’ll match you to the right ingredient. Visit us in Hall 3.1 on stand L30 in the USA pavilion.

About the Author

Louise McKerchar

Vice-President & European Marketing Director - American Peanut Council

Louise has been in the peanut industry for 38 years. She runs the Council’s activities in the UK and Europe, working to develop export markets for American peanuts, processed peanut products, and ingredients such as flours, butters, and oils. She is also looking at opportunities to develop exports to Asia.