I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
The solid part is very hard, below the oil.

Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?

I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.

ple wrote:
>
> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>
> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>
> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.

This is why many people only buy that natural crap once.
If you refrigerate it, let it come up to room temperature first.
After that, it's just stir forever and I would think a fork would
be better to use than a spoon.

I suppose you could microwave it to warmer and make it softer
but not sure that would be good to do each time you use some.

I use Jif. Never a problem and I love the taste.
If I want natural peanuts, I'll buy whole unshelled peanuts.

On Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 5:29:49 AM UTC-4, wrote:
> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>
> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>
> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.

This month's Cook's Illustrated recommends a stand mixer with
the paddle attachment.

Certainly, getting it out of the jar and into a bowl will give you
more room to work on it.

Cindy Hamilton

ple wrote:
> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>
> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>
> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>
Use it before it separates, at least it has not got the additives that
stop it happening

On 10/8/2016 3:26 AM, ple wrote:
> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>
> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>
> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>
I don't like "natural" peanut butter, but I remember that my father used
to store it upside-down and in the refrigerator. That would reverse the
position of the oil. But it was still very stiff for spreading.

MaryL

On 10/8/2016 7:53 AM, MaryL wrote:
> On 10/8/2016 3:26 AM, ple wrote:
>> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
>> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>>
>> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
>> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>>
>> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>>
> I don't like "natural" peanut butter, but I remember that my father used
> to store it upside-down and in the refrigerator. That would reverse the
> position of the oil. But it was still very stiff for spreading.
>
> MaryL

When I used to buy it I would store it upside down in the pantry before
opening it so the oil was on the bottom when I turned it over and opened
it. It was easier to mix together that way since I could stir and
soften up the hard peanut part without slopping the oil all over the
place. But it was still hard to do.

I make my own peanut butter now. I blend a pound of peanuts in the food
processor for about 5 minutes until I have peanut butter, and then I
refrigerate it before it has a chance to separate.

On 10/8/2016 7:29 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 5:29:49 AM UTC-4, wrote:
>> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
>> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>>
>> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
>> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>>
>> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>
> This month's Cook's Illustrated recommends a stand mixer with
> the paddle attachment.
>
> Certainly, getting it out of the jar and into a bowl will give you
> more room to work on it.
>
> Cindy Hamilton
>

I can see myself doing that at 5:30 AM getting ready for work. I reach
for the Skippy.

F Murtz wrote:
>
> ple wrote:
> > I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> > The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
> >
> > Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> > with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
> >
> > I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
> >
> Use it before it separates, at least it has not got the additives that
> stop it happening

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

If I get the urge for a peanut butter sandwich, I don't want to thaw for
2 hours then mix in for another 30 minutes. Give me Jif or give me
death. Quick ant easy peanut butter snack. I prefer it spread on hot
toast and a thin slice of swiss cheese on top.

Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>
> On Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 5:29:49 AM UTC-4, wrote:
> > I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> > The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
> >
> > Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> > with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
> >
> > I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>
> This month's Cook's Illustrated recommends a stand mixer with
> the paddle attachment.
>
> Certainly, getting it out of the jar and into a bowl will give you
> more room to work on it.

IMO, it's a fail food product unless you have way too much time
on your hands. Probably not even so "healthy" as the peanuts
are most likely GMO anyway. heheh

"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

On 10/8/2016 7:29 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 5:29:49 AM UTC-4,
> wrote:
>> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
>> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>>
>> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
>> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>>
>> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>
> This month's Cook's Illustrated recommends a stand mixer with
> the paddle attachment.
>
> Certainly, getting it out of the jar and into a bowl will give you
> more room to work on it.
>
> Cindy Hamilton
>

I can see myself doing that at 5:30 AM getting ready for work. I reach
for the Skippy.

==========

Oddly enough I just saw something about that which says it should never be
put in the fridge!

I don't know personally. D eats it and keep it in the fridge.


--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk

ple wrote:
> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>
> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>
> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.

turn the (unopened) jar upside down and leave it for an hour or so

tert in seattle wrote:
>
> ple wrote:
> > I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> > The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
> >
> > Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> > with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
> >
> > I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>
> turn the (unopened) jar upside down and leave it for an hour or so

LOL! YOu've obviously never actually tried that.

On Sat, 8 Oct 2016 09:48:22 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

>On 10/8/2016 7:29 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>> On Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 5:29:49 AM UTC-4, wrote:
>>> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
>>> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>>>
>>> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
>>> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>>>
>>> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>>
>> This month's Cook's Illustrated recommends a stand mixer with
>> the paddle attachment.
>>
>> Certainly, getting it out of the jar and into a bowl will give you
>> more room to work on it.
>>
>> Cindy Hamilton
>>
>
>I can see myself doing that at 5:30 AM getting ready for work. I reach
>for the Skippy.

Once you mix it you should be o.k. for the duration of emptying the
jar. The peanut butter goes into the jar warm from the grinding
machines and that plus transit plus storage allows the oil to travel
to the top.
P.S. I always used a table knife to cut through the PB, straight to
the bottom of the jar and mixed it that way.
Janet US

ple wrote:

>I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
>The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>
>Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
>with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>
>I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.

I gave up on peanut butter long ago, I much prefer almond butter...
there are many flavors/styles but I like this one:
http://www.maranathafoods.com/produc...-butter-creamy

> gingerbread wrote:
>
> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>
> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.

Treat it like crystalized honey... loosen the cap and stand the jar in
a pot of barely simmering water. Once warmed through it's easy to
mix, use a clean screwdriver. Once blended keep in fridge and it will
remain blended. That's how I used to deal with Smuckers. Yesterday
evening I decrystalized a half jar of honey with one minute bursts of
my microwave oven's defrost feature, worked perfectly with four
minutes... try it with natural peanut butter... I no longer have PB.

On Sat, 08 Oct 2016 10:04:59 -0400, Gary > wrote:

> IMO, it's a fail food product unless you have way too much time
> on your hands. Probably not even so "healthy" as the peanuts
> are most likely GMO anyway. heheh

Hubby will buy that stuff every now and then, claiming he eats peanut
butter. He doesn't. The extend is he'll eat it on a stalk of celery
once and then it stays in the refrigerator. Then our argument is over
if it should stay there. I'm more likely to use it if it's in the
cupboard soft, he thinks it will go bad. It doesn't. It might if you
leave it there for years, but I eat peanut butter faster than that.
In any case, I don't like stirring it - so it eventually ends up as
gluten free peanut butter cookies (great recipe).


--
Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them.

it gives you a chance to exercise some...?

actually,
i've started making my own natural peanut butter
buy some peanuts, and put them in a food processor

it takes a little practice, but it works
experiment with different types of peanuts, and
whether or not you add a little oil
[also,
i think it costs a little less in the end]

marc

On Sat, 8 Oct 2016 11:22:30 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

>it gives you a chance to exercise some...?
>
>actually,
>i've started making my own natural peanut butter
>buy some peanuts, and put them in a food processor
>
>it takes a little practice, but it works
>experiment with different types of peanuts, and
>whether or not you add a little oil
>[also,
>i think it costs a little less in the end]
>
>marc

I can grind my own at most of the stores I shop at.
Janet US

On Sat, 08 Oct 2016 09:18:39 -0600, Janet B >
wrote:

>On Sat, 8 Oct 2016 09:48:22 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>
>>On 10/8/2016 7:29 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>>> On Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 5:29:49 AM UTC-4, wrote:
>>>> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
>>>> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>>>>
>>>> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
>>>> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>>>>
>>>> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>>>
>>> This month's Cook's Illustrated recommends a stand mixer with
>>> the paddle attachment.
>>>
>>> Certainly, getting it out of the jar and into a bowl will give you
>>> more room to work on it.
>>>
>>> Cindy Hamilton
>>>
>>
>>I can see myself doing that at 5:30 AM getting ready for work. I reach
>>for the Skippy.
>
>Once you mix it you should be o.k. for the duration of emptying the
>jar. The peanut butter goes into the jar warm from the grinding
>machines and that plus transit plus storage allows the oil to travel
>to the top.
>P.S. I always used a table knife to cut through the PB, straight to
>the bottom of the jar and mixed it that way.
>Janet US

I agree, use a table knife and cut through.

koko

--

Food is our common ground, a universal experience
James Beard

On Friday, October 7, 2016 at 11:29:49 PM UTC-10, wrote:
> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>
> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>
> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.

Buy a jar of Natural Skippy or Jif peanut butter. These will only separate slightly and you don't have to stir them. I like it better than the regular stuff because it's way smoother and has a better texture. My guess is that the peanut particles are ground so fine that the mixture becomes colloidal in nature. This reduces the need for hydrogenated oils as stabilizers.

Natural peanut butter pretty much sucks. The new Natural is wonderful! Do yourself a favor and forget about all those old natural peanut butters - that's so 1900's.

On Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 4:29:49 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>
> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>
> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.

I buy it all the time. I don't want anything in my peanut butter except peanuts and a little salt, but NO SUGAR or emulsifiers or other crap!!!

And I stir it with a butter knife. It takes a little time and effort to get the peanut oil back in the peanut butter mix. Just keep carefully mixing and pulling the peanut solids up from the bottom of the jar and mixing them with the oil and lighter components which rise to the top!

John Kuthe...

On Monday, 10 October 2016 13:37:54 UTC-5, John Kuthe wrote:

Juhn UNKuthe blabbles:


Just keep carefully mixing and pulling the peanut solids up from the bottom of the jar and mixing them with the oil and lighter components which rise to the top!
>


Are you describing your toilet just after you've taken a dump...???


--
Best
Greg

i just had an idea

try a hand mixer - the newer style smallish long skinny ones, or the older hand held type...?

marc

[the old electric hand mixer]

i did it; not perfect, but it works

it was a little messy, because of the whirring blades,
and i couldn't get all the way down in the [large] jar,
and i had to finish it with a large table knife,
but it made the process Much easier...

i think it's worth at least trying

marc

On Monday, October 10, 2016 at 2:37:54 PM UTC-4, John Kuthe wrote:
> On Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 4:29:49 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> > I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
> > The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
> >
> > Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
> > with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
> >
> > I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>
> I buy it all the time. I don't want anything in my peanut butter except peanuts and a little salt, but NO SUGAR or emulsifiers or other crap!!!
>
> And I stir it with a butter knife. It takes a little time and effort to get the peanut oil back in the peanut butter mix. Just keep carefully mixing and pulling the peanut solids up from the bottom of the jar and mixing them with the oil and lighter components which rise to the top!
>
> John Kuthe...

Hey, Kuthe - have ever wondered why people assume you're *** even when you're not? You mincing, prancing fairy.

Have you ever wondered why, even with your multiple degrees you are put on the very fringes of your profession(s) (or just fired outright)?

Do you wonder why the only friends you have are new friends who haven't gotten to know you?

Do you wonder why your ex-wife would rather eat glass than talk to you?

Do you wonder why your son is so ashamed of you?

Do you wonder why people accept your Christmas Candy with a weak smile, before they dump it in the trash (we all have "that" friend).

Do you wonder why you're poor? You go on and on about buying the house you live in. The Chinese person who owns it deserves it because he worked all his life for the money to buy it. You don't make enough money to buy a decent car. You've peaked in your mid-50s and that's just sad. Especially since you're about as successful as my son has been so far. He's 23.

L. O. S. E. R.

On 10/8/2016 8:53 AM, MaryL wrote:
> On 10/8/2016 3:26 AM, ple wrote:
>> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
>> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>>
>> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
>> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>>
>> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>>
> I don't like "natural" peanut butter, but I remember that my father used
> to store it upside-down and in the refrigerator. That would reverse the
> position of the oil. But it was still very stiff for spreading.
>
> MaryL

That's exactly what I do with it. First I stir it up (in the sink!) and
then store it upside down in the refrigerator. It's a little thick but
just take it out of the fridge to let it soften a bit before using it.
I love the taste of the natural peanut butter. It's so... peanutty!
And no added sugar or other added crap. It really does taste better.

Jill

jmcquown wrote:
>
> I love the taste of the natural peanut butter. It's so... peanutty!
> And no added sugar or other added crap. It really does taste better.

LOL! I always laugh about this. I like Jif and that's what I grew up
with. It tastes right to me with all the added stuff. My problem with
natural peanut butter (and I've said this before here) is that it tastes
too much like peanuts. hahaha

I love plain peanuts but not spread on a sandwich. Odd, I realize.

Plus I don't have to stir my Jif. When I get the urge for a PBJ
sandwich, I don't want to have to mix it all up first.

As Cheri says, different strokes for different folks. Not arguing here,
just stating my preference.

Gary wrote:
>jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> I love the taste of the natural peanut butter. It's so... peanutty!
>> And no added sugar or other added crap. It really does taste better.
>
>LOL! I always laugh about this. I like Jif and that's what I grew up
>with. It tastes right to me with all the added stuff. My problem with
>natural peanut butter (and I've said this before here) is that it tastes
>too much like peanuts. hahaha
>
>I love plain peanuts but not spread on a sandwich. Odd, I realize.
>
>Plus I don't have to stir my Jif. When I get the urge for a PBJ
>sandwich, I don't want to have to mix it all up first.
>
>As Cheri says, different strokes for different folks. Not arguing here,
>just stating my preference.

I'm not a fan of peanut butter, I much prefer my bread spread with
tahini, goes well with orange marmalade:
https://www.amazon.com/Joyva-Sesame-...s=joyva+tahini
I also love Joyva halvah
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...a+%2Caps%2C176
I like this much better than Reese's peanut butter cups:
https://www.amazon.com/Joyva-Halvah-...s=joyva+halvah
I like all the Joyva products.
History: http://joyva.com/
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...l_3y322ljtsf_b

On 10/8/2016 11:08 AM, tert in seattle wrote:
> ple wrote:
>> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
>> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>>
>> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
>> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>>
>> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>
> turn the (unopened) jar upside down and leave it for an hour or so
>
>
Yep, and then stir it.

Jill

On 10/8/2016 11:12 AM, Gary wrote:
> tert in seattle wrote:
>>
>> ple wrote:
>>> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
>>> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>>>
>>> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
>>> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>>>
>>> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>>
>> turn the (unopened) jar upside down and leave it for an hour or so
>
> LOL! YOu've obviously never actually tried that.
>
What are you laughing about? That's exactly what you should do with
natural peanut butter.

Jill

jmcquown wrote:
> On 10/8/2016 11:12 AM, Gary wrote:
>> tert in seattle wrote:
>>>
>>> ple wrote:
>>>> I got a jar of "Natural" Peanut Butter. The oil is floating on the top.
>>>> The solid part is very hard, below the oil.
>>>>
>>>> Is there a trick to mixing this stuff, or am I stuck having to fight
>>>> with it for an hour or more, with a spoon or fork?
>>>>
>>>> I wont buy it again, unless there is an easy method to mix it.
>>>
>>> turn the (unopened) jar upside down and leave it for an hour or so
>>
>> LOL! YOu've obviously never actually tried that.
>>
> What are you laughing about? That's exactly what you should do with
> natural peanut butter.
>
> Jill

it's the stuff they put in Jif -- makes him a little giddy

"Gary" > wrote in message ...
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> I love the taste of the natural peanut butter. It's so... peanutty!
>> And no added sugar or other added crap. It really does taste better.
>
> LOL! I always laugh about this. I like Jif and that's what I grew up
> with. It tastes right to me with all the added stuff. My problem with
> natural peanut butter (and I've said this before here) is that it tastes
> too much like peanuts. hahaha
>
> I love plain peanuts but not spread on a sandwich. Odd, I realize.
>
> Plus I don't have to stir my Jif. When I get the urge for a PBJ
> sandwich, I don't want to have to mix it all up first.
>
> As Cheri says, different strokes for different folks. Not arguing here,
> just stating my preference.

I usually make my own, a small amount at a time, but I do add a packet of
Nutra-Sweet because I don't care for just the plain peanut taste without a
bit of sweet to it. I really prefer the jarred Jif or Skippy's over all of
them, but if I have a whole jar around, I overeat it constantly, so I will
make my own once or twice a month.

Cheri