Head-to-head comparison

Peanuts (dry roasted) vs Lentils (cooked): Which Has More Protein?

Peanuts (dry roasted) vs Lentils (cooked) is a genuinely useful comparison because the two differ meaningfully on more than one axis, not just total protein.

Peanuts (dry roasted)

25.8gprotein / 100g

567 cal · 49.2g fat · $ · Quality 0.52

Lentils (cooked)

9.0gprotein / 100g

116 cal · 0.4g fat · $ · Quality 0.63

Peanuts (dry roasted) is in a different weight class here, protein-wise: 25.8g per 100g vs Lentils (cooked)'s 9.0g, a 16.8g difference that's more about food category than food quality.

Quality flips the other way, though: Lentils (cooked) has the stronger amino acid profile (incomplete on its own — low in methionine, pairs well with grains) versus Peanuts (dry roasted)'s lit_estimate, moderate quality, low in methionine.

Cost is roughly comparable between the two ($), so budget isn't the deciding factor here.

Peanuts (dry roasted)'s typical serving also delivers more leucine (1700mg vs Lentils (cooked)'s 650mg) — relevant if the goal is maximizing the muscle-protein-synthesis trigger per meal, not just total grams.

Verdict

If raw protein density is what you're optimizing for, Peanuts (dry roasted) wins clearly. Choose Lentils (cooked) instead if its lower fat, cost, or prep time matters more to you than the extra grams.

Full nutrition comparison

Per 100gPeanuts (dry roasted)Lentils (cooked)
Protein25.8g9.0g
Calories567116
Fat49.2g0.4g
Carbs16.1g20.1g
Fiber8.5g7.9g
Quality score0.520.63
Relative cost$$
Prep time0 min25 min

Frequently asked

Which has more protein, peanuts (dry roasted) or lentils (cooked)?

Peanuts (dry roasted) has 25.8g of protein per 100g compared to Lentils (cooked)'s 9.0g.

Which is lower in calories?

Lentils (cooked) is lower in calories per 100g, at 116 vs the other's 567.