WTF: Natural Peanut Butter

Published on Monday, June 15, 2009, by Eric Slatkin / Edit Post

I’m sick of natural peanut butter. Even after you stir it out of its congealed state, you wind up breaking your bread into clumps trying to spread it.

Everyone in my house eats the natural stuff, and I obviously want to be a part of the cool crowd. But since when is it not acceptable to eat Jif or Skippy or even Peter Pan? I know there’s a whole bunch of crap in those brands that shifts the delicate balance of one’s digestive ecosystem, but they taste so good, and spread so easily when compared to Adams or Laura Scudder’s.

My recent tipping point occurred when I tried to spread natural peanut butter over a Granny Smith apple. It felt more like laying concrete, and totally ruined the excitement of my snack.

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POST A COMMENT |9 Comments

COMMENT

  • Maybe if you had better bread, the spreading wouldn't be a problem! hee hee.

  • This takes all the trouble out of a new jar of PB.
    http://www.slashfood.com/2008/08/13/stir-your-natural-peanut-butter-the-easy-way/

  • Actually, Jif recently came out with a natural peanut butter and seems to have hit the nail on the head; it is creamy, spreadable, separates only very minimally and best of all, tastes like Jif. It's now my go to peanut butter.

  • I open the newly bought natural peanut butter, insert into 'wave, soften, stir and refrigerate. When I'm ready to eat it, I 'wave in the jar for about 20 seconds, spread as usual and back into the 'fridge. I don't want to eat cottonseed oil, tons of sugar and God knows what else, just the peanuts. It's easy and very good.

  • Oops, I made a boo-boo. The Sunflower Farmer's Market website is not www.sfm.com. It IS: www.sfmarkets.com

  • I have used a natural brand that the Sunflower Market makes with their label on it and it is not "organic" either. It is just ground peanuts (that's all), has a delicious fresh peanut taste and spreads like a dream. This jar retails for about $1.99. Their corporate office is based in CO and their stores are here in the southwest. They are becoming very popular. To locate one: www.sfm.com.

    I...+READ

    I have used a natural brand that the Sunflower Market makes with their label on it and it is not "organic" either. It is just ground peanuts (that's all), has a delicious fresh peanut taste and spreads like a dream. This jar retails for about $1.99. Their corporate office is based in CO and their stores are here in the southwest. They are becoming very popular. To locate one: www.sfm.com.

    I stopped using the peanut butter with all the additives because over time there are health consequences and the pure stuff just tastes better. There is also a danger when PB makers use moldy peanuts. We don't need any aflatoxin in our PB & J samwiches.
    I like Trader Joe's peanut butter.....however since I began using Sunflower Market's, I find I like this one better.-COLLAPSE

  • you don't have to refrigerate unless you want to keep your peanut butter for a much longer period of time.
    There are also natural peanut butters that supposedly require no stirring such as the maranatha no stir (has added palm oil to minimize separation) but I have not tried this kind.

  • But I thought you had to refrigerate them?

    My bf gave up on the natural stuff because of the same issues. I held out for a while, but found myself "sneaking" his instead.
    The natural stuff DOES taste better and is obviously better for us, but if you can't spread it, or get it out of the jar, what's the point?

  • **shrug** If you like your peanut butter with sugar and hydrogenated oils, then you should ignore the food police and eat it.

    However, there are lots of different "natural" peanut butters -- if you're interested in a more natural product you should try more brands. Or try fresh ground peanut butter from a health food store or a store with a large bulk foods section.

    I've had the best luck...+READ

    **shrug** If you like your peanut butter with sugar and hydrogenated oils, then you should ignore the food police and eat it.

    However, there are lots of different "natural" peanut butters -- if you're interested in a more natural product you should try more brands. Or try fresh ground peanut butter from a health food store or a store with a large bulk foods section.

    I've had the best luck with keeping the jar on the counter and turning it over every day or two (basically every time I notice it). Since the oil always wants to rise to the top, if the top keeps changing, the oils stay better dispersed.-COLLAPSE