banner

 

Peanut Butter Jar

How Peanut Butter is Made

Basically, all peanut butter is made by a similar process. First, the raw, shelled peanuts are roasted and cooled, then the skins are removed (blanched.) Some manufacturers split the kernels and remove the heart of the peanut as well. The hearts can be saved to make peanut oil and the skins left over from blanching can be sold for animal feed. The blanched peanut kernels are electronically sorted or hand-picked one last time to be sure only good, wholesome kernels are used in peanut butter.
The peanuts are ground, usually through two grinding stages, to produce a smooth, even-textured butter. They are heated during the grinding to about 170 degrees F . Once the emulsifiers are added and mixed, the butter is cooled rapidly to 120 degrees F or below. This crystallizes the emulsifiers, thus trapping the peanut oil that was released by the grinding. To make chunky peanut butter, peanut granules are added to the creamy peanut butter. The peanut butter is then packed into containers for sale at stores.
peanuts group

 

Peanut Butter, the World's Most Perfect Food

Peanut Butter JarsOk, ok. I know, that's arguable. But I cannot imagine life without the gooey goodness that is peanut butter. Creamy or crunchy, low-calorie or high fat, natural or processed, Jif or Skippy - it totally doesn't matter. I eat it in some way, shape or form every day - as breakfast on toast, heated as an ice cream topping or savored right off a spoon. And it's nutritional value makes it highly sought after for food banks and other charity locations who feed the homeless.

Dogs apparently agrees, as many can munch on it for days. If you are a dog lover, it can also be a source of great humor - just try to not break out into a smile when you watch your dog smacking it off the roof of his mouth. In fact, web sites like YouTube are full of peanut butter eating dog videos...but that is a story for another day (and another web design project).Dog

I truly lament the poor souls in the world whose allergies prevent them from enjoying this fantastic treat. It is not only absolutely delicious, it is an excellent source of protein and heart-healthy fats and keeps the old tummy full for hours. No matter whether it is served on bread or crackers, as a dip for fruits like apples or bananas, baked into goodies like cookies, muffins or pies, it is equally yummy.

The creator of peanut butter (commonly credited to Alabama farmer, botanist, researcher and inventor George Washington Carver) should be sainted. It is, hands-down, the world's most perfect food. It is easily digested, and its smooth nature makes it ideal for persons with dental issues like tooth loss.

The truly astounding thing is that it is easily made at home for an all-natural and versatile snack. All you need is a food processor (or, if you have the patience and are willing to exert a little elbow grease, a mortar and pestle) and a small amount of a neutral-tasting lubricant like vegetable, peanut or soybean oil to get you started. You can add flavorings like cinnamon, honey or vanilla to jazz things up if you'd like, or eat it "straight up".

Kid Covered in PB

 

...SOME KIDS JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH!

As the little one above demonstrates, peanut butter is a delight for the senses, reminding us of our childhood and the fact that some of the best things in life are also the simplest. When you are in the need for a quick pick-me-up, have a taste to give your body some energy.
Get back to your roots with your basic PB&J sandwich (the recipe is on our recipes page) - you will be happy you did!

 

Home |Recipes |History |Nutrition |Fun Stuff |Links