Processing peanuts Most shelled peanuts are either oil roasted or dry roasted. Oil roasting is the more widely used method. In this process, manufacturers blanch the peanuts and fry them in oil. Dry-roasted peanuts are glazed with oil, sprinkled with salt, and roasted in large ovens. Over 60 percent of the world's peanut production is used to produce oil.
Some processors use a chemical solvent to dissolve oil from the peanuts.
The oil is recovered from the solution by evaporation. In another method, peanuts are ground and pressed in large tube-shaped grinders. The oil is collected, filtered, and deodorized. The peanut meal left over after the oil is extracted is sometimes ground into peanut flour. In some countries, people eat peanut meal as a high-protein meat substitute.