8/29/05 | Jif Peanut Butter
[ Currently Eating: Peanut Butter Sandwich ]
If ever there was a Cheap Eats food that so many people around the world already eat without knowing it, it’s probably Peanut Butter. Besides providing endless hours of fun for your dog’s tongue, it can be a real life saver to have in the pantry for those between meal snacks. And it’s (relatively) cheap. I know some people who subsisted on peanut butter sandwiches in the “lean years”…
You can make the traditional peanut butter sandwich, or use it as a dip with veggies like carrots or celery. Or you can go Elvis with a Peanut Butter and Banana sandwich if you’re feeling adventurous. Or maybe make Vietnamese peanut dipping sauce for spring rolls. And there are a billion deserts to make with peanut butter in them from cookies to pies.
We usually buy the smooth variety of Jif Peanut Butter. The smooth type just seems to have more uses for it; I know a lot of recipes specifically call for non-chunky peanut butter. Not that I don’t also dig chunky peanut butter. Also, I always get the “Jif” and “Skippy” mixed up; and quite often call it “Jiffy”. Maybe because Jiffy is the popcorn brand (Jiffy Pop).
Peanut Butter also seems to last nearly forever, even after it’s opened. I know it can go stale though (smelling stale peanut butter = not recommended). But if you aren’t making sandwiches on a regular basis and just using it for between meal munchies, a jar can still last you a long time.
When I was in 5th grade we had this in-class discussion that was supposed to demonstrate how improtant it is to write down exact detailed instructions for doing tasks. In this case, the instructions were on “How To Make A Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich”, and the teacher would take a student’s written instructions and try and follow them exactly using bread, jars of peanut butter and jelly and utensils.
It was hilarious, because kids would leave out important things like “unscrew the lid of the jar” or “use a knife to spread the jam” (so the teacher would take a finger and spread it)
For my own part, I caught flak for my first instruction which was “Take the Bread out of the Freezer”. Nearly everyone laughed about this which puzzled me because as far as I was concerned sandwich bread was stored in the freezer permanently (my mom would by bulk and just leave it in the freezer. I never ate “fresh bread”). I also was made fun of for “Spread the Peanut Butter Nice and Evenly on the Slice of Bread”. This instruction gave me a reputation for being a neat freak.
So as you can see in the picture, the peanut butter is not that nicely spread… I’m trying to get over my retentive ways. What IS the best way to spread peanut butter anyhow? I find that trying to spread it on bread that hasn’t been at least a tiny bit toasted can make the sandwich bread rip. Someone said to spread it like you’re frosting a cake, start in the middle and move outward in a circular motion. Well, any suggestions for spreadability are welcome but I’m going to have to give peanut butter a pretty high score for it’s longevity and usability.
Cheap Eats Score: 9/10
August 29th, 2005 at 4:31 pm
My nutritionist has me buying natural PB. It actually taste great but it has to be refrigerated and isn’t cheap.
August 29th, 2005 at 4:46 pm
I think I’ve seen “natural” Peanut Butter in specialty stores… but yeah, it was a little pricey! It must be pretty great tasting though… I wonder if it’s possible to “make your own peanut butter”?
August 29th, 2005 at 9:46 pm
I buy the Jif twin pack of 40-ounce bottles from Costco. They last me about three months. As for chunky peanut butter, I really like it, but I seem to use it up much faster than I would creamy peanut butter.
August 29th, 2005 at 11:05 pm
marvo – i was going to make some interesting talk about how peanut butter is good for smearing all over the body, but i think i remember you already wrote up something like that on impulsive buy =)
August 30th, 2005 at 4:52 am
Use a spoon to spread the peanut butter. It works better than a knife.
August 30th, 2005 at 7:22 am
I love peanut butter, one of my very favorite things ever. I buy the all natural peanut butter too. I love it and I can get it in the regular grocery store. And don’t forget about fluffernutter sammiches! Peanut butter and marshmellow cream. MMMM My favorite though is a toasted pita with peanut butter and honey. I also like dipping my apples in it. I currently have PB ice cream in my freezer. I’m literally obsessed with it. LOL
I think Alton Brown has a recipe for making your own PB. All he used was a food processor and it seemed pretty easy to make.
I also keep all bread in the freezer.
When I was growing up my mom would buy chips in bulk and also keep the bags in the freezer. Sounds weird but it actually worked and kept them fresh.
August 30th, 2005 at 9:28 am
Jennifer – good tip, i’ve used a spoon b4. but haven’t compared it side by side with a knife.
Andie – My mom used to make peanut butter and honey sandwiches. I didn’t have a fluffernutter until very recently…it’s an east coast thing mainly right? You will not believe the things my parents keep in their freezer, they have the giant standalone kind that opens from the top. The other day, the freezer (of 35 years) finally broke and we had to empty it. Near the bottom, there was frozen squid, limpets and other “fish-bait” that my dad had brought back from Hawaii… when we visited in 1984!
August 30th, 2005 at 11:11 am
LOL LOL that cracked me up! My parents have the deep freezer chest too. I was talking to my mom last night and she said while digging in the freezer she found a package of spinach she didn’t even know she had. Lord knows how old it is. LOL I have the stand up kind that looks like a fridge and I pack it full! I buy bulk for us and for our dog (he eats fresh food) so it gets a good workout.
I had no idea fluffernutters were an East coast thing! Learn something new everyday.
August 30th, 2005 at 5:58 pm
This is going to sound really disgusting, but my favorite sandwich growing up was a peanut butter and carrot sandwich. MMMMmmm. I still like them from time to time.
The deal with brands: My mom only bought Skippy, and I tended to be brand loyal to the brands Mom chose. My roommate in college did a taste test with Skippy and Jiff, and I chose Jiff. It was noticeably better. Now my sister swears that Peter Pan is more peanut-y. I didn’t do a blind taste test, but I agree with her. That doesn’t mean that I will be switching any time soon. I have to convince my fiance/roommate first.
August 31st, 2005 at 8:20 am
While I grew up on Skippy, I now can’t stand any peanut butter that isn’t “natural style”–that is, the nonhydrogenated type that you have to stir up before using. Skippy, Jif, etc., all taste weird and artificial to me.
The best commercial brand is Smucker’s Natural–chunky, always, please. It’s in every supermarket in my neck of the woods, and I don’t think it’s much more expensive than the peanut butter with hydrogenated oil. (Of course, with a name like Smucker’s, it’s got to be good.)
August 31st, 2005 at 9:05 am
bingsy – well, carrot and peanut butter doesn’t sound TOO bad. after all, i used to dip carrot sticks in peanut butter. That sounds like a mighty crunchy sandwich though =)
jim – i am going to have to check the prices on Smucker’s peanut butter then… if it is similar i’ll definitely give it a go. That is, after I polish off this new jar of Jif i just bought. I like the Smucker’s brand jam/jelly so i’m interested! thanks for the tip.
October 9th, 2005 at 3:44 pm
Heyyy, my science teacher did this, too, only he didn’t actually read our instructions in front of the class.
October 9th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
lena – they only read certain parts of the instructions for each person in front of the class. But it was still quite embarrassing.
October 26th, 2005 at 7:57 am
I am looking for an all Natural Peanut butter that is non-hydrogenated and does not contain Rape seed or canola oil. No problem if it is salted.
December 8th, 2005 at 8:03 am
Found your website for the first time today, and I’m loving it =)
And yes, you can make your own peanut butter if you have roasted peanuts. Just put them into a grinder and grind away. Add salt if desired.
I am lazy, so I generally buy it from Whole Foods. Its not super-cheap, but I enjoy it enough without the salt that its worth it.
December 8th, 2005 at 10:02 am
joseph – how come you need it to not have those particular oils… is it an allergy?
heather – welcome! What is the consistency of the homemade peanut butter you make like… is it approximately the same as that of store bought commercial variety?
January 29th, 2006 at 1:40 am
I ate peanut butter when I was growing up but really can’t deal with it now…
I always had Skippy, Jif I won’t even discuss. Just like I won’t discuss Minute Rice. So Jif and Minute Rice=nasty.
Strange because my favourite candy is Reeses peanut butter cups.
April 26th, 2006 at 9:23 am
re: peanut butter. Hello, plastic grease yuk- this sruff is artuficial cholesterol and does not break down for food value but does clog up hey its crisco.
Why pay hard money for 50% plastic when you can get Adams(not the improve snooth, has that Hydrogenated ‘oil’ in it) or better Smuckers or fresh grind at Nat. Fd. store? Remember the food value is in the peanuts, not Universal Food Extender (Plastic grease. Corn sweetners, Food starch modified, Salt)
Always Read the Ingrediants, IF you can see the small print in similar colors, another peeve.
Just so you know now, the vegetable ‘Oil’ is made solid by saturating with Hydrogen at 600 F using a Nickel powder catalyst(carcinogenic). This stuff is the true cause of heart disease even in ten year olds. Better natures oils and fats like Lard, Tallow, Butter, Olive Oil, amd I even found cheap Grape Seed Oil for 2.45 at Trader Joes, frys very well and doesn’t burn. T.J.s also had really cheap butter 1.99lb without that Bovine Growth Hormone, hey I don’t need to grow anymore right now thank you.
So look out and Enjoy and Have Fun thank you, rolf
May 11th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
Smooth peanut butter tastes good with the nutella-like spread from CostPlus (a little less sweet and creamier than Nutella), on bread.
Peanut butter mixed with honey also tastes good over bread. I like to put it on banana nut bread.
September 1st, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Who sells Jif peanut butter(crunchy) in Québec City.
I heard about it, but I dont find it.Thank you.
February 6th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Trader Joe’s food markets sell “Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter” made from unblanched peanuts. The only ingredients are dry roasted peanuts (and salt in the salted variety). They sell unsalted creamy, unsalted chunky, salted creamy and unsalted creamy. The salted varieties are a bit more flavourful but this is an all-natural product that is delicious.
Peanut butter is a vital source of protein for many third world countries and many people in North America love it. In Europe, it’s not very popular and when I lived in Denmark, my friends and co-worked discussed the awful reactions they had when they first tasted peanut butter and its semblance to “cement.” Europeans prefer Nutella which is delicious WITH peanut butter on bread or even fruit.
February 6th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
One more thing! There is a shop in Greenwich Village in New York City that is called “Peanut Butter and Company” that sells only peanut butter sandwiches, dishes and desserts as well as their proprietary brand of peanut butter including blends like “Spicy PB” and “Chocolate PB.” It’s very fun and probably one of the only shops of its kind in the United States.
April 3rd, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Ever have carrots and peanut butter? thats sooo good!!! haha…
December 9th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
:/ Jif is so horrible. Taste sobad when compared to ‘natural’ peanut butter with hydrogenated oils.
Andthe one commented talked about the oils because they are bad for us. Really, really, bad. Most the time this is what causes trans fat to be in cheap foods. I don’t think most people care, though. xD
March 9th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I live in Canada and I buy “Just Peanuts” store brand peanut butter from Loblaws stores and its’ affiliates. It contains just peanuts, no salt, no oils and no sugars and it is GOOD and you are right, about a buck more than the regular peanut butter. We can also grow peanuts here in Canada and one can buy freshly ground local peanut butter at shops that sell Ontario peanuts in Ontario, unfortunately, they don’t make crunchy, my preference, so no sale here.
When I lived in Germany for a year back in the 70s, I couldn’t find peanut butter in the shops there so I would visit the USA PX and buy my peanut butter in large containers there. Boy was it cheap, the only problem was every time I visited a relative, the kids would ask me to leave the peanut butter behind.
I worked in Tanzania a year ago and you can buy peanut butter from just peanuts there as well. It is a good substitute for meat.