Best Natural PB ever

[Kaido]

I've been on a small quest to find some good natural peanut butter that had the right balance of characteristics, and after a couple years of searching, I've finally been successful:

Stop & Shop "Nature's Promise" Organic Smooth Peanut Butter (Salted)

What's great about this brand:

1. Tastes fine
2. Not uber sticky
3. KEEPS IN THE FRIDGE AND DOESN'T TURN ROCK HARD
4. Hardly any oil to mix
5. Shelf life is almost a year
6. Family thinks it's normal peanut butter & will eat it too

I've tried a pretty decent variety of natural peanut butter and nothing has even come close to this stuff. I wouldn't say it's the best tasting natural peanut butter ever, but it's certainly not bad - just not "awesome" (Peanut Butter & Co. has some amazing flavors). Most natural peanut butters half a shelf life of 6 months or so, but this actually has a much longer shelf life (at least 8 or 9 months, not sure when the can was put on the shelf at the store so I can't be sure).

When I opened it, there was hardly ANY oil in it. Usually you have to mix it like crazy, at least the first time, and some brands I've tried I've had to mix it EVERY time (it gets messy). I don't know if the ingredients makes a different, but this brand uses sea salt (organic peanuts & sea salt, that's it). Initially I was going to mix the oil in, but it was more or less just a sheen on the top layer and was gone after I had the first few tablespoons. Somehow, it's not insanely sticky either. It's like 90 or 95% as thick as regular PB, which is fabulous.

Another BIG deal for me is that, in addition to not being crazy sticky or super oily, it retains its consistency in the fridge! Natural PB is supposed to go rancid pretty fast, so you're supposed to refridgerate it, but I usually don't. I usually go through a can before it goes bad (since I'm the only one who eats the Natural stuff in my house), plus most Natural PB's get REALLY hard in the fridge. If you use them on bread, it just tears the bread up. Not so with this stuff!

So, there's an extreme over-analyzation of some Natural PB for you. In case you're wondering, Stop & Shop is a local grocery store (like Publix, Albertsons, Shaws, etc.). I don't know if Nature's Promise is their own "health food" line or if they've partnered with them or what, but A+ on their product. I usually finish off my day with a couple of rice cakes and about 2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter (nice good-fat & mini-protein hit, plus it makes you feel super full within minutes), so it's really really nice not to have to fight my food lol.

Peanut butter happiness, achieved! :awe:

 

[Megatomic]

The best easy to find natural peanut butter in my experience is Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter, either creamy or chunky. I go through that stuff like crazy.

 

[Kipper]

Look at the ingredients label. I can guarantee you there is more than one ingredient besides "peanuts." More than likely, another oil as a secondary ingredient blended in so that it will maintain its texture.

 

[Megatomic]

My natural peanut butter contains only peanuts and salt.

 

[kia75]

Is there a reason to eat yucky "natural" peanut butter instead of yummy generic peanut butter?

Every natural peanut butter I've ever tasted has been horrible compared to regular Peanut butter and is twice as expensive! The label comparison shows both are just as healthy as the other.

So why spend so much more money on an inferior product just because it has the word "natural" in it?

 

[Kaido]

Look at the ingredients label. I can guarantee you there is more than one ingredient besides "peanuts." More than likely, another oil as a secondary ingredient blended in so that it will maintain its texture.

From OP:

I don't know if the ingredients makes a different, but this brand uses sea salt (organic peanuts & sea salt, that's it).

 

[Kaido]

The best easy to find natural peanut butter in my experience is Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter, either creamy or chunky. I go through that stuff like crazy.

Smuckers eh? I'll see if I can find that this weekend. Smuckers always makes good stuff, if only for the delicious-sounding name :biggrin:

 

[Kaido]

Is there a reason to eat yucky "natural" peanut butter instead of yummy generic peanut butter?

Every natural peanut butter I've ever tasted has been horrible compared to regular Peanut butter and is twice as expensive! The label comparison shows both are just as healthy as the other.

So why spend so much more money on an inferior product just because it has the word "natural" in it?

Natural Peanut Butter = blended peanuts, or blended peanuts + salt.

Jif Creamy Peanut Butter ingredients: MADE FROM ROASTED PEANUTS AND SUGAR. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: MOLASSES, FULLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OILS (RAPESEED AND SOYBEAN), MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, SALT.

Hydrogenated oils = no good for you. Clogs your arteries. Tastes 100x better tho :awe: I don't particularly care for the taste of natural peanut butter, but it's got a lot of good fats and a bit of protein, so it makes a really good snack because the fats make you feel really full in just minutes, and keeps you feeling that way for hours. I have a couple tablespoons every night in place of a last meal, since I don't want a bunch of food in my stomach when I lay down, and I don't want cravings so I eat junk food haha.

 

[Megatomic]

Smuckers eh? I'll see if I can find that this weekend. Smuckers always makes good stuff, if only for the delicious-sounding name :biggrin:

It's not hard to find, even Walmart carries it. I am so committed to the brand that I went to their website and bought a stirrer from them.

Smuckers fo life! ha

 

[Kipper]

Kaido, I see your point, but there has clearly been some sort of addition to this peanut butter to change the composition. For example, I believe there's a Smart Balance peanut butter with omega-3s that has the same sort of properties mentioned. Unless, of course, the difference is psychological (which is possible). I'm not sure if the salt makes a difference, although I suppose it might affect it somehow (sea salt makes no difference).

Double-check the label.

Incidentally, I have had no problems with peanut butter turning "rock hard" in my refrigerator.

 

[Kipper]

Natural Peanut Butter = blended peanuts, or blended peanuts + salt.

Jif Creamy Peanut Butter ingredients: MADE FROM ROASTED PEANUTS AND SUGAR. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: MOLASSES, FULLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OILS (RAPESEED AND SOYBEAN), MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, SALT.

Hydrogenated oils = no good for you. Clogs your arteries. Tastes 100x better tho :awe: I don't particularly care for the taste of natural peanut butter, but it's got a lot of good fats and a bit of protein, so it makes a really good snack because the fats make you feel really full in just minutes, and keeps you feeling that way for hours. I have a couple tablespoons every night in place of a last meal, since I don't want a bunch of food in my stomach when I lay down, and I don't want cravings so I eat junk food haha.

Sort of. The key difference is the FULLY hydrogenated oils, which makes the fatty acid fully saturated, rather than trans (which is basically an unsaturated fat masquerading as a saturated fat). So in theory, the fully hydrogenated oil should have the biochemical properties of any saturated fat in the body, but without the deleterious double insult to cholesterol levels. Which would explain why there is no trans listed on the nutrition facts, despite the fact the serving size has not changed.

 

[polarmystery]

It's not hard to find, even Walmart carries it. I am so committed to the brand that I went to their website and bought a stirrer from them.

Smuckers fo life! ha

I go through the smuckers natural PB like mad also. Great stuff.

 

[darkxshade]

What are your opinions on Skippy Natural PB?

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/532327/skippy_natural_peanut_butter_the_best.html?cat=5

It's not your standard natural PB by definition since ithas a bit of sugar in it but I tried a jar and it's amazing. Like the article above, I figure the pros outweigh the cons. It's really easy to spread too.

 

[Megatomic]

I've never used Skippy Natural, but in response to the spreadability issue the Smucker's Natural will spread over soft,fresh bread when cold if it's mixed properly before being refridgerated. But if you don't, you will tear the bread into pieces. Been there, done that.

 

[Deeko]

I eat regular skippy - not the natural kind.

Damn hippies.

 

[TallBill]

I buy Krema crunchy pb. Only ingredient is peanuts. I can spoon down all 2,660 calories in one sitting if I'm not careful. $2 a jar.

When I hit the grocery store I'll buy 5-6 jars of it, and one jar of JIF.

 

[Kaido]

I buy Krema crunchy pb. Only ingredient is peanuts. I can spoon down all 2,660 calories in one sitting if I'm not careful. $2 a jar.

When I hit the grocery store I'll buy 5-6 jars of it, and one jar of JIF.

Yeah, THAT'S the other kind that I was thinking of. Spanish roasted peanuts, right? They don't carry it anywhere locally, so I was ordering it online for awhile. That stuff tastes amazing for natural peanut butter. But I think it takes the crown for King of Stickiness, haha. My Krema was always uber-gooey. Is it like that off the shelf, too?

 

[TallBill]

Yeah, I have to drink water with mine, but the taste is great. The creamy stuff isn't that amazing, but the crunchy is actually really good and cheap.

 

[JellyBaby]

My PB contains dry roasted organic peanuts, organic palm oil, organic sugar and salt. Nutrition label is appx. the same as regular creamy PBs but this one has only 55mg of sodium/serving and no hydrogenated oils (hidden trans fats).

 

[StageLeft]

Just don't buy Smart Balance with Omega,that is unless you do enjoy the taste of fish in your peanut butter.

 

[Kaido]

Yeah, I have to drink water with mine, but the taste is great. The creamy stuff isn't that amazing, but the crunchy is actually really good and cheap.

Yeah I remember drinking water with my Krema as well. I'm quite pleased with this new stuff. Really hits all the metrics for edible & usable natural PB

 

[Kaido]

Mmm, Lingonberry & PB sandwich:

http://www.davelikesfood.com/post/242087769/lingonberry-pb-sammich-i-love-you-ikea

If you haven't had Lingonberries before, walk, no run to your nearest Ikea. Order some Lingonberry juice, some Swedish Meatballs in Lingonberry sauce, and grab some Lingonberry jelly on your way out. You'll thank me later

 

[biggestmuff]

If you have a food processor, peanut butter can be made in 3 minutes flat or less. Just buy a jar of dry roasted peanuts and dump them into the processor. I suggest the low salt variety. The first minute the nuts will get chopped up. The chopped nuts then form a ball during the second minute. From the second minute up until the three minute mark, the ball will turn into crunchy butter then into creamy. Just stop the food processor where you like the consistency. I go the full 3 minutes. Enjoy!

 

[Kipper]

Just don't buy Smart Balance with Omega,that is unless you do enjoy the taste of fish in your peanut butter.

This isn't so much the peanut butter as it is the particular container you had. Your PB probably went rancid. The smart balance product does not contain fish oil, it contains ALA. Big difference. Of course, marketers don't care as long as they can make misleading health claims on their products and it sells like gangbusters.

 

[immy85]

crunchy smuckers>>>