Making Peanut Butter from Scratch for National Peanut Butter Day

• It’s National Peanut Butter Day! 
• 
  
• 
  
• 
• 
  
• The average person consumes more than six pounds of peanut products each year, making peanut butter a very popular household food. 
• 
  
• Peanut butter was invented by George Bayle, a St. Louis snack food maker, during the 1890s. For many years, peanut butter manufacturers struggled with the oil separating from the grainy solids of the peanut butter. In 1923 Heinz became the first company to homogenize the peanuts into the spreadable butter we know and love today. After perfecting the recipe, peanut butter soon became a classic American food.
• 
  
• Did you know that it takes 550 peanuts to make a 12 ounce jar of peanut butter? Peanuts are cholesterol free and an excellent source of protein. In fact, it’s the high protein content that causes peanut butter to stick to the roof of your mouth.
• 
  
• Did you know? About half of all the peanuts grown in the United States are used to make peanut butter. Runner peanuts – the variety mostly grown by farmers in Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi – are favored for peanut butter because of their strong peanut flavor and uniform size which makes for an even roast.
  Other lesser-known peanut butter facts include:
  • Peanut butter today is remarkably similar to that produced a century ago. To legally label the spread as peanut butter, it must contain a minimum of 90 percent peanuts with no artificial sweeteners, colors or preservatives.
  • Peanut butter contains more than 30 essential nutrients and phytonutrients.
  • Peanut butter plays a vital role in overcoming malnutrition and global hunger. Peanut butter is on the basic needs list for local food banks and January is a month of critical need in food banks
• Peanuts are not actually nuts at all! They are legumes – in the same plant family as beans, peas and lentils.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• To celebrate National Peanut Butter Day, bake some peanut butter cookies, spread some tasty peanut butter on toast, or enjoy a spoonful right out of the jar!

Materials needed:

• Roasted peanuts in shells
• Corn or vegetable oil
• Measuring cup
• Food processor or grinder (for crunchy style peanut butter)
• Food blender (for smooth style)
• Tablespoon
• Teaspoon
• Jar

1. Crack open the shells and remove the peanuts. Measure out about one cup.
2. Remove the red skin from the peanuts.
3. If you want chunky peanut butter, put the peanuts in a food processor or grinder and run the chopped mixture through three or more times until the peanut butter is the consistency that you like. For creamy style peanut butter, chop up the peanuts in a blender.
4. Add about one to two tablespoons of cooking oil in small amounts and regrind or blend the mixture until the peanut butter is the familiar paste consistency.

Homemade peanut butter contains no preservatives or other additives. To avoid spoiling, keep any unused portion in the refrigerator.