Is a peanut a fruit?

A peanut is not a fruit. It is a legume. Legumes are plants that have edible seeds inside of a pod. Other examples of legumes are peas and beans.

Peanuts are a popular snack. According to the Peanut Institute, peanuts account for 67 percent of nut consumption in the United States. Peanuts are eaten raw or cooked. They are a good source of protein, B vitamins, vitamin E and healthy monounsaturated fat. Peanuts grow on plants rather than trees. They begin as a flower that grows toward the ground and burrows under the soil. The flower then matures into a peanut with a leathery tan pod that contains two or three seeds.