Jackie, I love boiled peanuts, but have tasted some that were terrible. A friend brought me some boiled peanuts from a convenience store in Georgia that were so nasty that I couldn't eat them. They tasted old and mushy. I don't like canned boiled peanuts at all. If those were the only ones I had ever eaten, I would hate boiled peanuts, too.
Many people don't like boiled peanuts. Many of us love boiled peanuts. The unique taste and texture of boiled peanuts make them a polarizing food.
It may be that you will never like boiled peanuts. It may be that your first taste were of bad boiled peanuts. What was the source of the boiled peanuts that you ate?
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. To me, good boiled peanuts are not mushy, not overly salty, and do not taste like dirt. I boil my own peanuts from high quality dried Valencia peanuts. I carefully measure the amount of salt I use to suit my personal taste (not as salty as many). The amount of salt should enhance the natural flavors, not overpower them. I boil my peanuts until they soften, but still have a bit of firmness to them, not mushy at all. I don't like mushy boiled peanuts.
Boiled peanuts are boiled beans. If you don't like beans, you probably won't like boiled peanuts. Boiled peanuts have a unique taste, not exactly like any other bean. Some say boiled peanuts have a meaty taste. Some say they taste similar to pinto beans, lima beans, or other beans. Some say they taste similar to edamame (boiled soybeans), but more savory. To me, boiled peanuts have a gentle peanut flavor, combined with a meaty taste. I like to shell them and eat them with rice.
You have made up your mind that you hate boiled peanuts on your first experience. Remember, all boiled peanuts are not created equal.
My approach to new foods is "I'll try anything twice."
