Does it need checking? Peanuts are rarely infested in the USA (or after long storage), and sometimes infested in Israel. Peanuts are among the foods that are sometimes infested and need checking. (Rav Moshe Vaya)
Rav Vaya’s rating
| USA | [★] | rarely infested, or after long storage |
| Israel | ★ | sometimes infested (mi’ut hamatzui) |
Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha, Degree of Infestation chart, p. 936 (Peanuts)
Which bugs
- Worms inside the peanut. Signs on the outside are gnaw marks or a mark where a worm went in.
- Peanuts in the hard shell: silk threads, dark crumbs or larvae in the shell or on the nut.
- Ground peanuts: small insects, worms or silk threads among the pieces. (Rav Moshe Vaya)
How to check
- Shelled peanuts: check all of them from the outside.
- If a peanut has gnaw marks or a sign that a worm went in, cut it in half and check inside.
- If a worm is found, cut all the peanuts in half and check inside.
- Even if nothing is found, it is good to cut about 10% in half and check inside.
- Take special care at the end of summer and in autumn.
- Peanuts in the shell: while shelling, look for silk threads, dark crumbs or larvae in the shell or on the nut. Check whether the nut looks gnawed.
- Ground peanuts: shake them in a fine mesh strainer (a rice strainer) over a white surface. Check what falls out for small insects.
- Then pour what is left in the strainer onto a white surface. Check between the pieces for worms, insects or silk threads.
- Coated peanuts (e.g. chocolate-coated): open about 10%. If infestation is found, open all of them. (Rav Moshe Vaya)
Sources
- Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha, Degree of Infestation chart, p. 936 (rating).
- Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha: summary sheet “Tu BiShvat Without Worms: All the Fruits and How to Check Them” (published by Machon Aliya).
Related
References: Rav Moshe Vaya — “Tu BiShvat Without Worms: All the Fruits and How to Check Them” (Machon Aliya, Hebrew)
Source: Rav Moshe Vaya, Bedikat HaMazon K’Halacha, p. 936
