The $3 Piggly Wiggly Snack I Go Out of My Way to Get

Piggly Wiggly was the closest local grocery store to my first post-college apartment in Birmingham, Alabama. Back in 1916, the grocery chain was the first self-serve supermarket, where customers chose products from shelves themselves without help from a store employee. While this model is standard now, it was a revelation at its inception.

The chain has has survived, despite larger chains entering the scene, with their mall-town atmosphere, local products, and racks of Piggly Wiggly T-shirts. While I no longer live within walking distance of the Pig, I’ll still go out of my way to swing by the store to pick up one of my favorite snacks: Peanut Patch Boiled Peanuts.

If you spend enough miles on a Southern highway, you are sure to pass a hand-painted road sign for boiled peanuts. Packed hot into paper bags, the tender, salty, and sometimes spicy peanuts are the perfect road trip snack. These boiled canned peanuts deliver those same flavors at home. Peanut Patch makes its boiled peanuts from just-harvested South Carolina-grown green peanuts. If you are used to crunching on roasted peanuts, keep in mind that boiled peanuts have a very different texture. While similarly salty, boiled peanuts are soft and tender.

These South Carolina-grown peanuts are already seasoned and boiled, so they can be eaten straight from the can or chilled. I prefer them warmed up with a dash of hot sauce. Pour the contents into a saucepan and cook over medium heat until warmed through, or if you are in a rush you can heat them in a microwave-safe container until piping hot. When a crowd comes over to watch the game or to play board games, I serve the boiled peanuts in a slow cooker to keep them warm for hours.

Find it in stores: Peanut Patch Boiled Peanuts, $3.29 for 25 ounces

What is your favorite snack to buy at Piggly Wiggly? Share your picks in the comments below.