How many calories in peanuts?

100g of peanuts has 584 calories. A 30g handful is 175 calories. Dry roasted are NOVA 1; honey-roasted or coated peanuts are NOVA 3-4.

How many calories in a handful of peanuts?

A small handful (~30g) has around 175 calories. Peanuts are very calorie-dense at 584 kcal per 100g, but they are NOVA 1 (when plain/dry-roasted) with 25.8g protein per 100g - one of the highest protein-to-cost ratios of any snack.

Glucose: Very LowNOVA 1

How Many Calories for Peanuts?

Q: What is the glycemic index of peanuts?

Peanuts has a glycemic index of 14, which is classified as Low GI. Plain peanuts have a GI of approximately 14, which is among the lowest of any common food. With only 12.5g of carbohydrate per 100g and high fat and protein content that further slow digestion, peanuts produce virtually no blood glucose spike. Even a large portion has minimal glycaemic impact. The exception is flavour-coated peanuts, which roughly triple the carbohydrate content to 34-37g/100g.

1 small handful (~30g) of peanuts contains around 175 calories (584 kcal per 100g). Peanuts is classified as NOVA 1 (unprocessed).

Nutrition per 100g

Nutrient	Per 100g	Per serving
Energy	584 kcal / 2422 kJ	175 kcal
Protein	25.8g	7.7g
Carbohydrates	12.5g	3.8g
of which sugars	6.2g	—
Fat	46g	13.8g
of which saturated	8.7g	—
Fibre	8.6g	—
Salt	0.01g	—

Serving size: 1 small handful (~30g) · Source: Tesco product page, October 2025

Glucose impact

Glycemic Index

Very Low

Glucose risk

Plain peanuts have a GI of approximately 14, which is among the lowest of any common food. With only 12.5g of carbohydrate per 100g and high fat and protein content that further slow digestion, peanuts produce virtually no blood glucose spike. Even a large portion has minimal glycaemic impact. The exception is flavour-coated peanuts, which roughly triple the carbohydrate content to 34-37g/100g.

Processing level

NOVA 1 (unprocessed)

Plain raw or blanched peanuts are a single-ingredient whole food — NOVA 1. Dry roasted peanuts (Tesco Dry Roasted Peanuts) contain 14 ingredients including rice flour, sugar, yeast extract, and various seasonings, making them NOVA 3 (processed). Flavour-coated peanuts (sweet chilli, BBQ) contain 26-30 ingredients including modified maize starch, making them NOVA 4 (ultra-processed).

Peanuts at Tesco

Source: Tesco product page, October 2025

Tesco Jumbo Peanuts 300G

£2.25*NOVA 1 (unprocessed)

Tesco Dry Roasted Peanuts 200G

3 UPF markers

£1.35*NOVA 3 (processed)

Tesco Salted Roasted Peanuts 200g

1 UPF marker

£1.35*NOVA 3 (processed)

Tesco Crispy Coated Peanuts - Sweet Chilli 200g

5 UPF markers

£2.00*NOVA 4 (ultra-processed)

Tesco Bbq Flavoured Coated Peanuts 200G

5 UPF markers

£2.00*NOVA 4 (ultra-processed)

*Prices were correct at the time of collection and may have since changed. Check Tesco.com for current pricing.

What to watch for when shopping

Plain peanuts (Tesco Jumbo Peanuts) are NOVA 1 and excellent value at £7.50/kg. Salted roasted peanuts are NOVA 3 — the salt is the main addition, but the nutrition stays strong. Dry roasted peanuts look similar but contain 14 ingredients including rice flour and sugar. The real trap is coated peanuts: sweet chilli and BBQ varieties are NOVA 4 with 26-30 ingredients, modified starch, and nearly triple the carbs (34-37g vs 12.5g per 100g). If you are watching calories, portion control matters — a 30g handful is 175 kcal, but it is very easy to eat 100g+ in one sitting.

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