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.
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:
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:
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!
I want to try PB2, where in Kroger is it??
hi..i looked at my PB2 yes ingred are roasted pnuts, sugar, salt….HOWEVER 2TBS has 1.5 gr fat i gram sugar and ONLY 45 cal…honestly..the little bit of sugar doesnt bother me bc i hardly eat anything with added sugar..but the taste is OUTSTANDING. few calories..(which i count)…and most impt..its satisfies any craving i might have…i use it w/ polaner sugar free grape jelly (5 calories) on low carb tortilla DELICIOUS..I feel like its a big cheat..and its NOT!!
Barb – If that works for you, wonderful!
Just found your website and I think I’ll be visiting more as I need recipe ideas for clean eating.
I started making my own peanut butter with just peanuts since the local stuff was so expensive (not to mention full of unnecessary ingredients). I use my blender since I don’t have a food processor, but this looks easier. I hope I can get a food processor one day.
Mercy – They really are worth the investment. I couldn’t live without mine.
Ok. So let me say that I LOVE your blog. Use it almost daily for recipes and tips. I made your peanut butter about a month ago in my Vitamix. Seriously, mixed in about 2 minutes to perfect consistency. My husband and I at the jar in about 3 days it was so good. Well, I have made 3 batches since and it is thick and tasteless. Any idea what the problem could be? Noticed on round 2 that I bought peanuts with lots of additives and couldn’t believe they add anything to peanuts. 3rd attempt I used peanuts with the ingredient list of peanuts and it is still gritty and tasteless. I thought blending longer might help but it didn’t. Any help would be appreciated. I will keep trying and can’t wait to try the cinnamon almond butter. YUM!!! Is there a certain brand of peanuts you use?
Thanks
Kayla – I get all my nuts from Trader Joe’s. What type of peanuts did you use the first time? You might try adding 2 tsp. coconut oil and see if that helps with the consistency. It could just be a variation in a particular batch of peanuts, but if it’s consistently coming out gritty, then you have to look at not only the source of your peanuts, but also the type you originally used. Keep me updated!
The peanut butter I use 96% peanuts, palm oil and salt. Is palm oil ok?
Clarie – Sadly, no.
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!)
Rennie – Thanks! I hope you find something you’ll enjoy. 🙂
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!!!
Kayla – Sure!
Nothing wrong with Krema brand either! 🙂
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.
Erin – Good to know! Thanks!
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.
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!
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.
I assume this would work with almonds??
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.
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!
Brian – True! They can be a little dry sometimes though, but you can always mix in a little oil if needed.
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! 🙂
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!
Hello,
I have been using Nature’s Promise, what is your opinion on this brand? Thanks!!
Stacey – I don’t know this brand. But if you’d like to post the ingredients here, I’d be happy to tell you.
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?
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.
Kirkland (Costco ) Natural PB is good only has dry roasted peanuts and its cheaper 🙂
Sheila – Good to know! Thanks!
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.
Rachel – Good to know! Thanks!
If you make the homemade peanut butter like in the video; how many calories is in that?
Megan – It would be the same calories as what is listed on the bag of peanuts.
I buy Krema, nothing but peanuts. Found it at Walmart.
Rhonda – Fabulous!