What Is Clean Peanut Butter And How To Make It

What is clean peanut butter? Let’s take a closer look…

I get a lot of questions from people who are new to clean eating, wanting to know what constitutes a peanut butter that is clean.

A tablespoon sits on a cutting board filled with peanut butter that is dripping over the edge of the spoon. Peanuts are also scattered about. It shows what is clean peanut butter.... just peanuts.

As with all labeled food products, you have to take two things into account when deciding if something is clean.

1) How much is it processed and altered from it’s original state?

2) What is in the ingredient list? (Read more on how to read food labels for clean eating here.)

Peanut Butter Ingredients

The truth is, figuring out if a particular peanut butter is clean is pretty simple. Finding a clean peanut butter at the store can be a little more difficult. But not impossible!!

This is the actual ingredient list from a jar of NOT-SO-CLEAN peanut butter:

In this guide called, 'What is clean peanut butter' this image shows an ingredient list from a jar of peanut butter that is not clean.

The only thing that comes to mind when reading this is, “WHY???

Here is the actual ingredient list from a jar of CLEAN peanut butter:

In this guide called, 'What is clean peanut butter' this image shows an ingredient list from a jar of peanut butter that is clean.

See the difference?

I would NEVER go to the store to buy some copper sulfate to cook with at home. But peanuts… I would definitely buy those.  Keep in mind that a few brands out there have some added salt. Unless you must restrict your salt intake specifically, this does not make the peanut butter unclean. Salt in healthy amounts is clean and necessary.

So what are some some good peanut butter brands that are clean?

  • Trader Joe’s Organic Peanut Butter
  • Adam’s Peanut Butter
  • MaraNatha
  • 365 (Whole Foods store brand)
  • Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter – Creamy
  • Brad’s Organic Peanut Butter (Costco)
  • Teddie Old Fashioned All Natural Peanut Butter

And if you can’t find any of those at your local super market and don’t want to order any online, here’s how to make your own at home. It’s quick and easy, and you just cannot get any cleaner than homemade!

CLICK PLAY TO SEE THE PROCESS IN ACTION!!

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85 Comments

  1. WOW. I was just snooping around your blog via Pinterest, and I just wanted to let you know that I really, really like it. Specifically this post – I had no idea that THAT was how you made peanut butter! I thought it was some kind of huge science experiment, lol. I’m definitely going to be trying that. Thanks for the post 🙂 (And now, I’m going to continue to dig around your awesome blog!)

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Rennie – Thanks! I hope you find something you’ll enjoy. 🙂

  2. Thanks so much for the feedback. I have come to the conclusion that I need a food processor. I am not sure why my Vitamix did such a great job the first time it made peanut butter but it has been downhill since. I still eat it even if it is not the consistency I prefer. Still better than store bought. Thanks again!!!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Kayla – Sure!

  3. Nothing wrong with Krema brand either! 🙂

  4. Erin@whathefork says:

    Meijer in MI has a line of Naturals Products and they only have Peanuts on the ingredient list and it is GMO free. It is far less expensive than many of the better known Organics lines.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Erin – Good to know! Thanks!

  5. For those of you who like PB2, have you looked into Betty Lou’s Just Great Stuff powdered peanut butter? The ingredients are: Organic Peanuts, Organic Coconut Sugar, Sea Salt.

  6. I am new to the eat clean thing and I have watched your peanut butter video, you make it look easy. If I were to make this, how should I store it and for how long. I also want to make Nutella and have the same question re: how long I can store it.

    Thanks!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Jill – Store it in the fridge for up to about 6 weeks. If the nuts go rancid, you’ll be able to taste it like with any nut. This keeps for a while like most peanut butters.

  7. Cathy Popo says:

    I assume this would work with almonds??

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Cathy – Almonds have less fat, so you may have to use a little oil. I have a video on youtube for how to make a good almond butter if you’re interested.

  8. Stores like: Sprouts, Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods etc. have a peanut butter grinder in the bulk aisle. This is a great place to get Peanut, Almond or my favorite, Honey Roasted Peanut Butter. I won’t buy or eat anything else. As an added bonus, it’s usually MUCH cheaper that the likes of Jif, Skippy, etc and tastes SO much better!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Brian – True! They can be a little dry sometimes though, but you can always mix in a little oil if needed.

  9. Leopard Paradise says:

    I am in LOVE with Peanut Butter & Co peanut butter…LOVE! the ingredients: peanuts, evaporated cane juice, honey, natural honey flavor, palm fruit oil, salt. Please tell me its ok…please! 🙂

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Leopard – Sorry, it’s not clean. I would imagine that the sugar is the reason you love it so much. Peanut butter is yummy with added sweetener!

  10. Hello,

    I have been using Nature’s Promise, what is your opinion on this brand? Thanks!!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Stacey – I don’t know this brand. But if you’d like to post the ingredients here, I’d be happy to tell you.

  11. Open nature (Safeway) old fashioned creamy peanut butter is clean and I’ve been buying it for a long time but hadn’t thought about peanuts and gmo’s. I tried looking it up but can’t find anything. How do I find out, call?

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Kim – It’s pretty difficult to get companies to be honest about gmo’s. They are afraid of backlash. And some employees just don’t know. So the best thing to do is just buy organic PB.

  12. Kirkland (Costco ) Natural PB is good only has dry roasted peanuts and its cheaper 🙂

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Sheila – Good to know! Thanks!

  13. MaraNatha’s products are in glass from china or so the cardboard boxes declare. I work in a Kroger store and unpack them often and I was horrified.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Rachel – Good to know! Thanks!

  14. If you make the homemade peanut butter like in the video; how many calories is in that?

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Megan – It would be the same calories as what is listed on the bag of peanuts.

  15. I buy Krema, nothing but peanuts. Found it at Walmart.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Rhonda – Fabulous!

  16. Some sites say that some ‘dry roasted’ processes use MSG. If a peanut butter uses ‘dry roasted’ peanuts how do you know if there is MSG or not? [Sure, I know they SHOULD put it on the label but trusting big business is not my strong point.]

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Zeak – As far as I know, MSG is required to be labeled by law. If yo have a source for information that says different, I’d love to take a look.

  17. Gayle Moore says:

    Koeze Company, Grand Rapids, MI makes a natural peanut butter, peanuts and sea salt is all listed. And it tastes awesome!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Gayle – Thanks for sharing that! 😀

  18. Annabelle says:

    hello. thank you for all your tips. I buy a ‘Natural’ peanut butter which ingredients are peanuts and olive oil. Is that ok? i also found another one which contains 99% peanuts and a preservative E471. Which one is best between those two?
    thank you!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Annabelle – if those are the only ingredients listed, then the one with olive oil is best.

  19. Publix has a store brand that only has peanuts as the ingredient

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Tish – Good to know! 🙂