Touring - Best Peanut Butters, Peanut Butter Recipes, and Peanut Butter Jars for Touring?

A lot of cyclotourists eat peanut butter.

What are the best and worst brands? What are your favorites?

Any in-depth analyses of peanut butters? Any special qualities you've noticed? Any favorite jars and uses for them?

Or any other observations on the subject?

d? Any favorite jars and uses for them?

Or any other observations on the subject?

Plastic jars good... glass jars bad.

And I avoid which ever stupid brand it is that changed its jar so that the bottom bulges out wider than the main part of the body. In their quest to make less peanut butter take up the same shelf space (and fool the unwary), they also made it near impossible to get the last of the PB out of the jar.

Generally, I find the "all natural" brands tastier, but often too dry to spread on soft bread and I'm not giong to carry a toaster.

Deleted ....

Sorry, my original post was rude. I just thought it was kind of a waste of time to discuss, so I should have just moved along and not discussed it. My bad, carry on.

Real PB has just two ingredients, peanuts and salt. Anything else is junk. Thus far, I've only seen it in glass jars.

Peanut Butter ice cream? (not peanut butter cup, just peanut butter and vanilla ice cream)...

Jay

Justin's nut butters come in foil packs (like gels). You could leave the jar at home and save space and weight. They taste pretty good too.

http://justinsnutbutter.com/products.php

Paul

Real PB has just two ingredients, peanuts and salt. Anything else is junk. Thus far, I've only seen it in glass jars.

The Costco natural peanut butter comes in plastic jars. I can't remember the brand.

Paul

I'm not big on peanut-flavored shortening, so I tend to go for the "natural" peanut butters. I haven't run across any in a plastic jar, though.

I like the "Teddy" brand, but the "Smuckers" brand is almost as good and quite a bit cheaper (and available in larger jars).

I like peanut-butter tortilla wraps. They don't take up much space, they're not bothered by the heat, they're almost impossible to "squish", and you can eat them with one hand.

I'm not big on peanut-flavored shortening, so I tend to go for the "natural" peanut butters. I haven't run across any in a plastic jar, though.

I like the "Teddy" brand, but the "Smuckers" brand is almost as good and quite a bit cheaper (and available in larger jars).
That's what I've used for the last few years although I haven't seen it in anything larger than the 16 oz size.

I made some protein bars (http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Protein-Bars-114461) that included PB that turned out pretty good. They were like a healthier Scotcheroo. I wrapped them in foil and they traveled and kept reasonably well.

If you come across a natural foods store (even some larger supermarkets) the stuff that you actually process on site is incomparable. I'm talking about these machines topped with a large plastic hopper of whole peanuts, that grind the butter into a plastic container. Not hydrogenized fats, no sugar, no salt. It's the food of the gods, and worth the trouble of seeking out. Unlike the glass jars of natural peanut butter, this stuff hasn't had time to separate, so it doesn't require stirring. I don't joke about food. This is the stuff.

East Wind Nut Butters! No hydrogenated oils, and you can get peanut, cashew, or almond (though the latter two are understandably more expensive). Plus, they're made by a worker-owned collective.

There are several reasons to avoid peanuts. Aflatoxins, and acidity in the body being two claimed reasons. A third being that they aren`t almonds which my doctor wants me to eat. So for me it is almond butter all the way

If you come across a natural foods store (even some larger supermarkets) the stuff that you actually process on site is incomparable. I'm talking about these machines topped with a large plastic hopper of whole peanuts, that grind the butter into a plastic container. Not hydrogenized fats, no sugar, no salt. It's the food of the gods, and worth the trouble of seeking out. Unlike the glass jars of natural peanut butter, this stuff hasn't had time to separate, so it doesn't require stirring. I don't joke about food. This is the stuff.

I'm inclined to agree with you on this one. I have nothing against processed foods as such (they often provide added functionality, in the case of peanut butter, a much extended shelf life, and a smooth creamy mouth feel). In this case, I've always favoured crunchy anyway, and the shelf life isn't that much of an issue. Sure, it might not make it 6 months without spoiling, but who cares, I'll eat in in a week or so.

Kirkland Signature Organic Creamy - comes in plastic jars (cylindrical, not bulgy!) 28 oz each, twin packs for $6 something. This peanut butter with bananas is a staple in our household.


The Costco natural peanut butter comes in plastic jars. I can't remember the brand.

Paul

+1 on the natural PB's - peanuts and salt.

The only one I see commercially available is 'Smuckers.' There are other so-called 'natural' offerings, but they always have other crap in them.

You can scoop the butter into a zip-loc bag for toting along, which is how I used to do it when backpacking.

So for me it is almond butter all the way

That's usually what we use at home and on tour. It cost more money, but it tastes really, really good. Our last few tours we've actually used hazelnut almond butter. It's even better.

We've a most excellent natural brand around here called Krema. It's the kind you have to stir first. Good stuff. Might be regional however.
http://www.krema.com/products.asp?dept=1016

http://www.krema.com/images/hot_spicy.jpg

Only ingredients in the Costco brand - organic dry roasted peanuts, salt. You can also grind your own in a food processor with dry roasted peanuts. We do this at home with almond butter & hazelnut butter, but generally buy PB.

Kirkland Signature Organic Creamy - comes in plastic jars (cylindrical, not bulgy!) 28 oz each, twin packs for $6 something. This peanut butter with bananas is a staple in our household.

Grinding it yourself at the health food store is my favorite way to go. If I can't do that, Adams Crunchy Peanut Butter is my next choice, and it's awfully good as well. I've only seen it in glass jars, but it's pretty simple to transfer it into a zip lock bag or plastic container.

You can also sometimes find PB in tubes, at least you used to. Or if not, I think Cochlan's sells tubes (look like toothpaste) that you simply fill with anything in the back, roll it up and clip it shut and then there is a screw-cap on the other side you dispense with, you can fill it up with anything, including Peanut Butter and bring that along. Cleaning is a pain but it works... You can probably find Cochlan's stuff at camping stores like Campmor, you've also probably have seen Cochlans but maybe not familiar with the name as they have green labels and you can find them pretty much anywhere cheap camping supplies are sold.

Jay

When I'm out in rural America there's often not much choice. I don't want peanut butter that has to be stirred. I want the smallest jar I can find so I don't have to carry so much. I'm happy to stop and buy more when it runs out. I like plastic jars because of the weight thing. So, for me, it's Skippy crunchy. At home I'm able to be more picky if I want.

When I'm out in rural America there's often not much choice. I don't want peanut butter that has to be stirred. I want the smallest jar I can find so I don't have to carry so much. I'm happy to stop and buy more when it runs out. I like plastic jars because of the weight thing. So, for me, it's Skippy crunchy. At home I'm able to be more picky if I want.

+1 except I like the creamy variety vs. crunchy. I tried Krema once, and I was sorely disappointed. Bland with the consistency of runny mustard. I'll go to great lengths to eat healthier brands and foods when possible, but peanut butter isn't one of them. Jif or Skipppy in a small plastic jar is the standard for me.

There are several reasons to avoid peanuts. Aflatoxins, and acidity in the body being two claimed reasons. A third being that they aren`t almonds which my doctor wants me to eat. So for me it is almond butter all the way

http://mazeofthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/peter-pan-peanut-butter.jpg

Other observation: There were rumours around camp that somebody had been sneaking peanut butter at night and leaving the lid open, turns out raccoons LOVE peanut butter and will do pretty much anything to get some including figuring out how to open your bag and twist the lid off to lick the sweet creamy goodness out! That raccoon probably didn't care about the aflatoxins though, so maybe the jokes on him!

I like the "Teddy" brand, but the "Smuckers" brand is almost as good and quite a bit cheaper (and available in larger jars).


Really? Around here Smucker's is usually more expensive, but Teddie is local--I've actually ridden past the factory. I also sometimes get PB from the Superior Nut Company, another local--as in the factory is a few blocks from my house--operation. They use plastic jars.

MacCruiskeen: yeah, around here Teddie is almost *twice* as expensive as Smucker's.

I love tabasco on my peanut butter tortillas... :love:

Came across some interesting comments on trans fats. It seems as though the natural peanut butters are probably a better choice from a health perspective, or for avoiding artery and heart problems. Some leading doctors have commented on this. Robert Atkins (Cardiologist, MD Cornell Medical School) has this to say,

Trans fats lurk in just about all prepared convenience foods, but especially in baked goods and foods such as breaded fish fillets and french fries. Many fast-food restaurants cook their french fries, chicken nuggests, fried chicken, mozzarella sticks, and other fried foods in trans fats. Most margarines and peanut butters (in both cases, with the exception of nonhydrogenated versions usually found in natural food stores) contain trans fats -- as does Crisco -- it's what makes vegetable oil become solid or creamy.

What's so dangerous about them? Everything! Trans fats accumulate in your body and are not readily metabolized. These unnatural fats have been shown to raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol. In each case, this is exactly the opposite of what is desirable. Even worse, they raise the level of triglycerides in your blood....

He goes on to mention (in the book Atkins for Life) that trans fats are much worse than saturated fats or dietary cholesterol. He cites studies that have implicated trans fats in heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, and other serious health problems, and recommends checking ingredients lists for hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils. Unlike many other doctors, Atkins does not recommend avoiding other fats; but he strongly recommends avoiding these.

Dr. Andrew Weil (whose undergraduate and medical degrees are from Harvard University) also speaks out strongly against them:

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02012/anti-inflammatory-diet

This site goes into the issue of hydrogenated vs partially hydrogenated:

http://www.bantransfats.com/faq.html

If a product label says that it contains "hydrogenated" oil without the word "partially" before it, does that mean it's OK?

The terms hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated are used interchangeably by some companies and by parts of the government writings, so be careful. We have found that many products labels that say "hydrogenated" without the word "partially" before it really mean "partially hydrogenated."


***
The good news is that more companies seem to be making peanut butters that contain no hydrogenated oils. Many supermarkets are now stocking them. Even Skippy has hydrogenated-oil-free versions. And most of the "Old Fashioned" peanut butters seem to be free of trans fats and synthetically altered oils.

Came across some interesting comments on trans fats. It seems as though the natural peanut butters are probably a better choice from a health perspective, or for avoiding artery and heart problems. Some leading doctors have commented on this. Robert Atkins (Cardiologist, MD Cornell Medical School) has this to say,

Trans fats lurk in just about all prepared convenience foods, but especially in baked goods and foods such as breaded fish fillets and french fries. Many fast-food restaurants cook their french fries, chicken nuggests, fried chicken, mozzarella sticks, and other fried foods in trans fats. Most margarines and peanut butters (in both cases, with the exception of nonhydrogenated versions usually found in natural food stores) contain trans fats -- as does Crisco -- it's what makes vegetable oil become solid or creamy.

What's so dangerous about them? Everything! Trans fats accumulate in your body and are not readily metabolized. These unnatural fats have been shown to raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol. In each case, this is exactly the opposite of what is desirable. Even worse, they raise the level of triglycerides in your blood....

He goes on to mention (in the book Atkins for Life) that trans fats are much worse than saturated fats or dietary cholesterol. He cites studies that have implicated trans fats in heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, and other serious health problems, and recommends checking ingredients lists for hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils. Unlike many other doctors, Atkins does not recommend avoiding other fats; but he strongly recommends avoiding these.

Dr. Andrew Weil (whose undergraduate and medical degrees are from Harvard University) also speaks out strongly against them:

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02012/anti-inflammatory-diet

This site goes into the issue of hydrogenated vs partially hydrogenated:

http://www.bantransfats.com/faq.html

If a product label says that it contains "hydrogenated" oil without the word "partially" before it, does that mean it's OK?

The terms hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated are used interchangeably by some companies and by parts of the government writings, so be careful. We have found that many products labels that say "hydrogenated" without the word "partially" before it really mean "partially hydrogenated."


***
The good news is that more companies seem to be making peanut butters that contain no hydrogenated oils. Many supermarkets are now stocking them. Even Skippy has hydrogenated-oil-free versions. And most of the "Old Fashioned" peanut butters seem to be free of trans fats and synthetically altered oils.

While I'm inclined to take anything Andrew Weil says with a grain of salt, he is right on this. Problem is though, since trans-fats are held in such low regard by the public, they have been virtually eliminated from most food products. You can still find them here and there, but at this point, most food manufacturing companies have exchanged trans-fats for other things.

Trans fats are mostly gone, but the new sources of trans-fat free oils like palm oil are troubling...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaJjPRwExO8

While I'm inclined to take anything Andrew Weil says with a grain of salt

Noes! Not salt! Bad!

But seriously, Weil is kind of a quack. Not as much of a full-bore quack as say, Mercola, but still pushes the quackery.


Problem is though, since trans-fats are held in such low regard by the public, they have been virtually eliminated from most food products. You can still find them here and there, but at this point, most food manufacturing companies have exchanged trans-fats for other things.

Saying trans-fats are "much worse" than saturated fats is something of an exaggeration. They do contribute to heart disease and cholesterol; but so does saturated fat. The main difference is that trans fats have no use in the body. There's absolutely no nutritional function for them. It is also true that a small amount of trans-fats exist in beef and dairy--it is created by the digestion of ruminants. But 97% in the typical diet comes from processed foods. It's pretty easy to avoid, though. I mean, there's nothing that's made with hydrogenated oils (of any kind) that is essential to eat.

I had to fact-check a terrible book on the topic once (the author couldn't even get simple math right). The author also refused to make any of my corrections.

This guy has some wickedly decadent peanut butter recipes:

Nothing pleases me more than sitting down with 10 jars of peanut butter and a spoon to taste and review each one. Sometimes I think that’s what heaven would be like, except you wouldn’t get full and the jars wouldn’t run out. But my spiritual beliefs in peanut butter have yet to enlighten me as to why all the different brands, varieties and flavors of peanut butter that exist in America have yet to spread to the rest of the world. In terms of peanut butter technology, the US is light years ahead. No complaints here except that I’m unable to leave the country for extended periods of time. Now for this round of reviews, I go over some crucial store brands you may have missed....

http://www.peanutbutterboy.com/category/peanut-butter/

*******
More recipes and reviews can be found here: http://www.peanutbutterboy.com/all-recipes/

On the topic of different kinds of fat in peanut butter: I've started to see some brands add omega-3 fats (supposedly heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory, in moderation). A brand called "Smart Balance" gets its omega-3 from flax oil. Vegetarians beware: Jif gets its omega-3 from anchovies. And sardines. And tilapia.
http://www.jif.com/products/ProductDetail.asp?prodID=938

I buy peanut butter at Trader Joe's. TJ's claims its peanut butter to be organic. You can get it with salt or without salt added. Comes in plastic jars and costs less than $4 per jar. TJ's peanut butter does separate, so you need to stir. It's also a bit thin when warm, but the taste is very good.

I got my first jar of Krema (http://www.krema.com/products.asp?dept=1016), as mentioned by gitarzan, and it's the bomb!:love: Spicy good with some grape jelly!!:thumb:

"But seriously, Weil is kind of a quack. Not as much of a full-bore quack as say, Mercola, but still pushes the quackery."

Can't say as to that. But he did go way up in my estimation when I heard he was a Harvard ethno plant biology guy first with that crew around Richard Evans Schultes. How a guy ultimately finds a way to edge you towards your own best interests (and his cash register) is another mater. But talk about a background.

I just assume we are talking all natural 100% peanuts-only stuff. If one is eating the cake icing variety of toping, it's a different discusion.

Peanut butter recipe:

- organic peanut butter (or other nut butter)
- honey
- powdered milk
- hot chocolate powder

1 part PB, 2 parts honey, 1 part powdered milk, 1 part hot choc. powder. Stir it all together and stick it in plastic squeeze tubes (available at most camp stores). Either squeeze it into your mouth for quick energy boosts or make sandwiches with tortilla shells and jelly (or fresh fruit bought along the road).

This was derived from the recipe found here (that uses corn flour for more carbs): http://www.ultralightbackpacker.com/moosegoo.html

I like it on chocolate

"But seriously, Weil is kind of a quack. Not as much of a full-bore quack as say, Mercola, but still pushes the quackery."

Can't say as to that. But he did go way up in my estimation when I heard he was a Harvard ethno plant biology guy first with that crew around Richard Evans Schultes. How a guy ultimately finds a way to edge you towards your own best interests (and his cash register) is another mater. But talk about a background.

Damn, Weil used to pal around with Schultes? I didn't know that. I have to say, I do think he is a bit cooler now, no more likely to be trusted, but cooler no less.

As far as peanut butter, I like it in a tortilla with a sprinkle of salt (I sweat a lot, so I need to replenish my electrolytes, or so I tell myself) and then a few dashes of tapatio hot sauce.

straight up, I love organic peanut butter, but honestly how often can you find that in a 7-11. I love me some Skippy, chemicals and all. I get a 5 pound bag of whole wheat self rising flour, some skippy peanut butter, a jug of honey, and I am good to go. On foot or on bike, that is all you need, unless you cant make a fire, then you are screwed.

Trans fats are mostly gone, but the new sources of trans-fat free oils like palm oil are troubling...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaJjPRwExO8
Man that's sad, disturbing too. I guess a lot of us don't realize the real impact of things.