Just because they look and taste like nuts, that doesn\u2019t mean they are. Surprised? Well, you and most of the world wouldn\u2019t be wrong to assume it, but the truth is more complex \u2013 in a nutshell, peanuts are not nuts.<\/p>\n
Peanuts are part of the legume family, which includes beans, lentils and chickpeas. While tree nuts like almonds and pecans grow on trees, peanuts grow underground in pods. This is why peanuts are classified as legumes rather than tree nuts.<\/p>\n
… peanut allergies are often grouped with tree nut allergies due to the similar immune responses they can provoke.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Unpacking the Truth<\/h4>\n
In the botanical sense, nuts are hard-shelled fruits that do not split open to release their seeds, like acorns. However, peanuts grow in pods that split open, similar to other legumes like peas and soybeans. The key difference is in their origin and growth \u2013 peanuts belong to the Fabaceae<\/i> family, whereas tree nuts come from different plant families such as Fagaceae<\/i> (for acorns and chestnuts) or Juglandaceae <\/i>(for walnuts and pecans).<\/p>\n
![\"peanuts](\"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Peanuts-harvested_dreamstime_1x65.jpg\")
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Part of the confusion comes from how we use peanuts in cooking. They share many characteristics with tree nuts \u2013 they\u2019re crunchy, nutrient-dense and full of healthy fats. Plus, they\u2019re commonly used by the snack food industry.<\/p>\n
Another reason is how we label foods. Just like tomatoes are considered vegetables in cooking but are technically fruits, peanuts are called \u2018nuts\u2019 for culinary purposes because of their similar texture and uses. So, even though they don\u2019t meet the botanical definition, the word \u2018nut\u2019 is mostly used by association.<\/p>\n
\nIn a Nutshell<\/h4>\n
Though they belong to different plant families, peanuts are nutritionally comparable to tree nuts. They are rich in protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. In fact, peanuts are an excellent source of biotin, niacin and vitamin E. They also contain antioxidants like resveratrol, which has been linked to heart health.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Peanuts-pexels_1x65.jpg\")
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Peanuts can be a good substitute for tree nuts, especially for those wanting to save on cost \u2013 but if you have a nut allergy, you might think twice…<\/p>\n
Even though they are legumes, peanut allergies are often grouped with tree nut allergies due to the similar immune responses they can provoke. This is why people with a peanut allergy are advised to avoid peanuts and tree nuts, despite their botanical differences.<\/p>\n
One thing is certain, we can\u2019t get enough of peanuts. If you love them as much as we do, scoop up these yummy peanut butter recipes<\/a>. For more food news, follow us on Instagram<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Just because they look and taste like nuts, that doesn\u2019t mean they are. Surprised? Well, you and most of the world wouldn\u2019t be wrong to assume it, but the truth is more complex \u2013 in a nutshell, peanuts are not nuts. Peanuts are part of the legume family, which includes beans, lentils and chickpeas. While tree nuts like almonds and pecans grow on trees, peanuts grow underground in pods. This is why peanuts are classified as legumes rather than tree […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4098],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"acf":[],"brand_slug":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116567"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":116995,"href":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116567\/revisions\/116995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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