Peanut Clipart

Peanuts, also known as groundnuts, are a globally beloved legume crop that is nutrient-dense. Botanically a legume, the peanut plant produces fragrant yellow flowers above ground and pods containing edible seeds underground. These seeds boast a sweet, earthy flavor and satisfying crunch, making peanuts a versatile culinary ingredient in snacks, candy, baked goods and savory dishes across cuisines. Beyond taste, peanuts provide protein, healthy fats and antioxidants that offer well documented health perks.

Types of Peanuts

While all derive from the flowering peanut plant, a few major varieties of peanuts exist:

• Runner – Most popular peanut, accounting for 80% of U.S. crop, favored for manufacturing uses
• Virginia – Largest kernels, ideal for in-shell snacking and peanut butter
• Spanish – Smaller kernels with reddish skins, adds visual intrigue and crunch
• Valencia – Sweet variety that is well suited for fresh snacking

Flavor, size, and visual appeal differs slightly among peanut types.

Growing Peanuts

Peanuts grow in a fascinating underground lifecycle:

• Planted seeds mature into short bushes above ground
• Bright yellow flowers pollinate and make way for budding green pods
• The stalk pushes pods downwards into soil
• Pods underground ripen around 120 days on average
• Entire plants get unearthed during harvest

Major producers include China, India, Nigeria and the United States.

Nutrition Facts About Peanuts

Peanuts provide dense nutrition:

• Over 30 grams of protein per cup
• Packed with B vitamins like folate
• Source of magnesium for bone health
• Healthy fats from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated
• Antioxidants like resveratrol found in red wine that may promote heart health and prevent disease
• Shown to aid weight loss and metabolism when eaten in moderation

Overall, peanuts deliver essential vitamins, minerals and satiating protein with fewer calories than most nuts.

Taste and Uses of Peanuts

Beyond classic peanut butter, the peanut flavor uniquely enhances:

• Sweet and salty snacks like honey roasted or spicy Cajun mixes
• Smooth or crunchy spreads for toast, sandwiches, celery
• Baked goods like cookies, cakes and breads
• Candies and confections like peanut brittle
• Trail mixes combined with raisins, nuts, seeds and chocolate

The peanut’s versatility crosses the savory divide as well, adding fantastic flavor and protein to dishes like Thai curries, African stews and Chinese stir fries.

Peanut Allergies

Peanut allergies afflict over 6 million Americans:

• Can provoke potentially life-threatening reactions
• Traces posing risk requires vigilant labeling
• Testing available to confirm peanut allergy
• Emergency treatment involves epinephrine injection
• Creating peanut-free spaces protects sensitive groups

Thankfully those without allergies can fully enjoy peanuts, and awareness makes spaces safer.

Peanut Oils

Peanut oil, extracted from shelled seeds, comes refined or unrefined:

• Refined peanut oil – versatile high heat cooking oil with neutral flavor
• Gourmet peanut oil – Unrefined oil with light nuttiness meant for lower heats
• Source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats
• High smoke point for frying and stir-frying
• Adds light aroma without peanut flavor

Expeller and cold pressed methods allow oils to retain nutrients.

History and Origins of Peanuts

Peanuts traces back over 3000 years to:

• Cultivated in ancient Incan and Aztec civilizations
• Regarded as reincarnated souls returning underground
• Arrived in Africa from South America via Spanish explorers by 1500s
• Peanut plant’s botanical name Arachis hypogaea comes from Greek
• Peanut spread globally from Africa to Asia and beyond

Today peanuts stand as the 12th most cultivated crop internationally.

Peanut Clipart and Images

Peanut clipart offers classic iconography:

• Cartoon peanut characters with arms and legs
• Single peanut vector image
• Cracked open shell with nuts visible
• Peanut butter textures and illustrations
• Cute anthropomorphic peanuts

Designers gracefully incorporate peanut graphics into kids designs, cafes, health food branding and more.

Using Peanut Clip Art

Peanut images mix whimsy with naturalness:

• Showcase in agriculture or botany graphics
• Use peanut butter smears in cafe flyers
• Apply stylistic cracked shells to packaging
• Create trail mix illustrations with assorted nuts
• Decorate fitness sites and content with energetics peanuts

Lend a touch of lightness with this happy fruit!