Are peanuts nuts?
No, peanuts are not true nuts. They are legumes, closely related to beans, peas and lentils, and their pods grow underground.
The peanut plant flowers above ground. After pollination, the flower stalk grows down and pushes into the soil, where the pods develop. Each pod usually contains two seeds, the peanuts. This is why peanuts are also called groundnuts. Like other legumes, peanut plants add nitrogen to the soil.
In botany, a true nut is a hard-shelled fruit that does not split open, such as a hazelnut, chestnut or acorn. Many foods called nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, cashews and pistachios, are actually seeds. In cooking and nutrition, however, all of these are commonly grouped together as nuts.
Peanut allergies
Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies and can cause severe reactions. Because peanuts are legumes, some people allergic to them can safely eat tree nuts, and vice versa, though many are allergic to both. Recent research suggests introducing peanut foods early in infancy can reduce the risk of allergy.
Did You Know?
George Washington Carver, an American scientist, developed hundreds of uses for peanuts in the early 1900s, helping farmers in the South.