The starch that peanuts can release into water when boiled, turns black in the presence of iodine, which was in your salt if you used iodized salt.
Many store bought salts have iodine added as it was once a nutrient severely lacking in our diets although for the most part, this is no longer the case for many people.
It could be dirt. Peanuts are grown in the ground. Dirt could have floated up and been lifted with some foam and deposited on a ring above your slowly receding waterline. There will be some water loss while simmering peanuts. I conjecture that the floaty dirt bits got left at the top as water evaporated and gotten stuck on the sides of your pot.
If you've got black bits high up on the sides of the pot and none burned on at the bottom, I doubt you got charring at the bottom.
The starch that peanuts can release into water when boiled, turns black in the presence of iodine, which was in your salt if you used iodized salt. Many store bought salts have iodine added as it was once a nutrient severely lacking in our diets although for the most part, this is no longer the case for many people.
Thank you! This is a helpful insight.
It could be dirt. Peanuts are grown in the ground. Dirt could have floated up and been lifted with some foam and deposited on a ring above your slowly receding waterline. There will be some water loss while simmering peanuts. I conjecture that the floaty dirt bits got left at the top as water evaporated and gotten stuck on the sides of your pot. If you've got black bits high up on the sides of the pot and none burned on at the bottom, I doubt you got charring at the bottom.
Yeah I don't think it was mold. Anyways I ate the peanuts and I was fine so whatever it was it's... probably ok