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How are peanuts used beyond being eaten as a snack?
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Fabales
A flowering stalk of yellow partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) in the eastern United States.
Beyond their use as a snack, peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) serve a wide variety of agricultural, industrial, and commercial purposes:
- Culinary and Food Processing: Peanuts are processed into edible oil, which is valued for its high smoke point and used in cooking, salad dressings, and the production of margarine. They are also ground into peanut butter and used as ingredients in various bakery and candy products.12
- Agricultural Use: The plant is highly valued as a soil-enriching crop due to its ability to fix nitrogen. Additionally, the tops of the plants are commonly used as hay or general feed for livestock.13
- Industrial and Commercial Products: Research, notably by George Washington Carver, led to the development of approximately 300 derivative products, including flour, soaps, and plastics. Peanut oil is also utilized in the manufacturing of cosmetics and as a vehicle for pharmaceutical preparations.12