Comments on: Think I can sue for damages?

By: Julia

Julia — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:56:25 +0000

I don’t refrigerate PB but I bought some natural cashew butter and that said to once open, I take it out a couple of minutes before I use it and let it sit before scooping and found that works good then put back.

By: ginger

ginger — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:37:26 +0000

Careful w microwaving the peanut butter. I was scraping for the last refrigerated molecule of my au naturale pb and had the brilliant idea of microwaving it….hit START and a mere second later there was a loud clap of thunder and lightening from the microwave…not all the silver paper had been ripped off the jar. that stank, by the way. literally. and spared me some peanut butter calories.

By: Sylvia C.

Sylvia C. — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 21:24:07 +0000

Jennette,

I can tell by this peanut butter post, alone, that you have quite a loyal following!

;)

It was great meeting you the other day at the conference!

Best to you!

Sylvia C.

By: Purple Girl

Purple Girl — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:49:07 +0000

Regarding putting peanut butter in the fridge, I took a food chemistry class in college, and according to my professor it doesn’t need to be refrigerated–even the natural stuff. I remember this because he yelled at me for saying it did. :) But there are four factors that contribute to food spoilage, and one of them is water moisture, which peanut butter lacks.

Rancidity is a totally different story. However, nut butters are highly saturated and therefore not terribly prone to rancidity at room temperatures. If you keep it in the cupboard, away from light and heat, you should be fine.

By: Migraineur

Migraineur — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:40:04 +0000

I read this trick in Cooks magazine – when you buy the jar, empty the whole damn thing into a large, flat containter and mix thoroughly. It won’t separate again (they say). I imagine if you store it in the flat container, it will come to room temp really quickly.

I haven’t tried any of this, just passing it on.

By: Margie

Margie — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:36:07 +0000

As the others above who are familiar with natural peanut butter know, yes, you should put it in the fridge after you’ve opened it–unless you use it quickly enough that it doesn’t spoil.

But because natural peanut butter doesn’t have any of those unhealthy bad-for-you trans-fats (which is what makes the name brands like Jif and Skippy so spreadable), you have to stir the oil into the peanut solids. Remember, the oil from peanuts is one of the “good fats” (I’m sure PQ knows this, as she’s a South Beach follower). AND–here’s the important part–once you get all the oil stirred into the PB, if you put it in the fridge, it won’t separate as quickly.

Yes, stirring it is a pita. ;) I always use a metal butter knife.

As for softening it, if you’re using the Kroger kind (like I do), I’ve found that often little bits of the seal–which has some metal in it–stick to the rim of the jar. And we all know how bad it is to put metal in the microwave–so DON’T PUT THAT PEANUT BUTTER JAR IN THE MICROWAVE (sorry to shout–it’s important!). There was a time when I was making PBJ sandwiches every morning for someone in the family, so putting the jar in hot water (you can heat THAT in the microwave, as long as you use an appropriate container) for a few minutes works great for me!

One other point for those of you who aren’t familiar with the difference between “natural” peanut butter and the “regular” commercial brands that don’t need to be stirred: Natural peanut butter doesn’t have added sugar. It’s just peanuts and salt. :) Nobody needs added sugar in their peanut butter.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:34:09 +0000

I use the same peanut butter! And I have a solution for you.

When you bring it home, turn it upside down in the fridge. The fats will redistribute throughout and provide a softer product. It gets devilishly hard if you aren’t a good stirrer like me.

Love your site!

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:54:24 +0000

I tried microwaving it once too, and I would tell you to be careful – the seal that had been there was foil, and I didn’t notice there were little bits of it still on the jar when I put it in to nuke it. A sparking microwave is a scary microwave.

By: Kym

Kym — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:37:59 +0000

I never knew anybody kept peanut butter in the fridge, are we supposed too? *grins* All these years I must have peanut butter poisoning by now!

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:11:37 +0000

you could use a metal spoon to scoop it then put it in the measuring spoon.