If you've ever wondered how to make peanut butter in your own home, you'll appreciate the simplicity and be astounded at how little time and energy it takes.
All natural peanut butters are made from fresh peanuts. Raw peanuts can be processed in the oven for roasting prior to making them into peanut butter, but it's not necessary. Because no preservatives are added, all homemade nut butters, including peanut butter, should be kept in the refrigerator.
Homemade peanut butter should not turn rancid in the fridge within the first 30 days. It should be discarded regardless of visible signs of spoilage after 30 days. If it develops a funny look or smell, discard immediately.
Ingredients You Will Need:
2 cups raw peanuts
2 teaspoons virgin olive oil
To roast your nuts, coat them in olive oil and place them in a shallow baking pan like a cookie sheet. Toast at 350 degrees for about six minutes, shaking every two minutes. Watch carefully. If you accidentally burn the nuts, the entire batch will have to be discarded.
Place the warm nuts into a food processor and begin the chopping process. Process until there are no full or partial nuts remaining.
Choose a storage unit with a lid. Store the peanut butter in special containers, ½ pint canning jars or mugs with lids. Remember that homemade peanut butter only lasts about 30 days in the refrigerator. To avoid waste, only make what can be eaten during a one month period.
Variations
When you make peanut butter, remember how great it is as a sandwich spread. Add jelly or jam to half of the jar for a one-stop PB&J sandwich. Or mix honey in with the peanut butter for a real treat on a slice of warm bread. Homemade peanut butter is also excellent when used for baking purposes.
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Apples such as Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonathan, MacIntosh and Winesap are particularly good choices when making apple butter. |
