Peanut Butter

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Although many of us still approach peanut butter with distrust, the quality product of finely ground peanuts is a source of many useful substances and a good addition to a complete diet. Peanut butter is made from roasted peanuts, which are ground into a paste with the addition of vegetable oil and sometimes spices such as salt.

Homeland of peanut butter is the United States and logically there is its most mass production - more than half of the produced peanuts with hot dog country goes to make this product for spreading. Its popularity is also great in English-speaking countries and their former colonies such as Canada, Australia, Great Britain, South Africa, New Guinea, New Zealand, the Philippines and the Netherlands.

Peanut butter is a relatively new food product, being commercialized at the beginning of the last century, around 1903 with the United States. Immediately after North America, the largest production of oil and peanut products is concentrated in the People's Republic of China and Argentina.

With an oil content of at least 50% peanut butter is not comparable with the other types of oils we use - cow's, vegetable, hydrogenated, etc. In addition to being incredibly tasty and appetizing, peanut butter has many advantages over other spreads in terms of its nutritional value. There are several types of oils that are made from peanuts.

Types of peanut butter

- Natural peanut oil - this oil is unrefined and is prepared from fresh peanuts, which are pressed by a special technology. It is poorly filtered and, unlike refined, unrefined peanut oil, may not work well for people with peanut allergies due to the protein allergen. Unrefined peanut oil should not be subjected to heat treatment;

- Refined peanut oil - is prepared by chemical extraction from dried or roasted peanuts with repeated filtration, thanks to which all protein residues are removed. Refined peanut oil is suitable for heat treatment - for roasting, frying, etc.;

- Raw peanut butter - This peanut oil is less refined and not completely raw. It retains most of the vitamins of raw peanuts. You should approach this product with caution - it may be hydrogenated and may become rancid if not stored properly. If this happens, never consume this raw peanut butter, as it may contain highly toxic aflatoxins;

- Refined peanut butter - that of the most widely consumed peanut butter in the United States and Great Britain. It contains less vitamins, but is quite resistant to rancidity. It is also sometimes produced by hydrogenation, which means that it is a source of harmful trans fats;

- Coarsely ground peanut butter - its very name suggests its consistency - it is coarsely ground and when eating you can feel the large particles of ground peanuts that crunch in your mouth;

- Finely ground peanut butter - its production technology is such that it acquires a smooth pasty consistency reminiscent of melted cheese.

Composition of peanut butter

Peanut butter can be a source of many nutrients. In addition, due to its smooth texture, it is a suitable food for people who for one reason or another can not take solid food that requires prolonged chewing. As a source of many proteins, it can replace meat to some extent.

Probably the most valuable ingredient in peanut oil is the substance resveratrol, which is a natural plant antibiotic. Some plants produce it to protect themselves from harmful fungi and bacteria.

The good fats in quality peanut oil are important for the human body. Usually the fat content in a jar of the product reaches 30-50%, 30% are proteins and less than 20% are carbohydrates. In general, peanuts are rich in vitamins such as A, D and E, which are important for metabolism, heart, skin, bones, etc. Due to the rich content of niacin (vitamin B3) peanuts and unrefined peanut oil are very important if we want to have beautiful and healthy skin.

Although a solid source of calories, peanut butter can provide a large amount of plant proteins, which are especially important for children, vegetarians and people who do not eat meat often. In 1 tbsp. peanuts or peanut butter contain 25% of the daily requirement of Vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant. Peanut butter also contains many essential minerals, such as magnesium, copper, phosphorus, calcium and zinc.

IN 100 g peanut butter contain:

626 kcal; 0 g Protein; 9.4 g Carbohydrates; 49 g Fat 2.3 mg; Iron; 182 mg Magnesium; 8.8 mg Vitamin E; 0.3 mg Vitamin B1; 0.4 mg Vitamin B6.

Selection and storage of peanut butter

For a long time now, peanut butter in various cuts and brands can be found on the shelves of local stores. Bulgarian peanut butter can even be found on the market. It is usually available in glass jars and less often in plastic ones, which is not the best solution for its storage.

When choosing peanut oil, be sure to read its contents and pay attention to whether it is produced by the method of hydrogenation. If so, it is not advisable to buy it. Be sure to store peanut butter, natural peanut oil and refined peanut oil in the refrigerator and do not expose it to light and heat to avoid rancidity. Be sure to observe the expiration date indicated on the package.

Culinary use of peanut butter

Peanut butter is a product that is made for direct consumption. That's why you can get the most benefit from peanut butterif you eat it straight from the jar or spread it on a slice of wholemeal bread.

However, advanced culinary thought, which is looking for more and more fields to conquer, has decided that it can use peanut butter in some other culinary works. It is successfully used for making cakes and biscuits, various creams and sauces, and is often added to mashed potatoes or pumpkin.

Some people like to add peanut butter to their breakfast of oatmeal or muesli. As for peanut oil, it can be used to flavor salads if it is cold pressed, or for cooking in various forms if it is refined.

The biggest a favorite of peanut butter are sandwiches and it is no coincidence that we can see them quite often in combination. In the United States, they like to spread a layer of jam on the peanut butter slice. Peanut butter itself is widely used in the food industry for the production of various crackers, sweets and various peanut-flavored products.

Benefits of peanut butter

Quality peanut butter can bring many benefits to our body. Due to its high protein content, peanut butter is a good alternative for people who do not consume animal products. Niacin, which is contained in peanuts, plays a very important role in the good structure of the skin, hair and nails.

It helps the normal functioning of the digestive system, eliminates gastrointestinal disorders and bad breath as a consequence. In addition, vitamin B3 promotes the absorption of energy from the food we consume, and there is evidence that it can overcome alcohol dependence.

Peanut oil contains mainly unsaturated fats, which are essential and important for the normal functioning of the body. They help maintain low cholesterol levels, while reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Peanut butter turns out and antimicrobial effect due to resveratrol, which improves the activity of the immune system. In addition, there is evidence that resveratrol and its molecule are important in combating a number of serious diseases. This natural antibiotic can help against cancer, aging, various viruses and inflammations. It helps the nervous system by protecting it and slowing down aging, etc.

It is said that breakfast with peanuts or peanut butter several times a week can reduce the risk of heart attack by almost half because they strengthen the blood vessels around the heart.

Harm from peanut butter

There are also some health risks from consumption of peanut butter. In the first place, it is an unsuitable food for people with allergies to peanuts and legumes. Some oils can cause mold or rancidity, resulting in the formation of the toxic compound alpha-toxins in peanut oil. That is why the storage of the product is of special importance.

You should not overdo it with peanut butter, because it is still butter and as such is a source of significant amounts of fat and calories. In addition, peanut oil, for the production of which the hydrogenation process is used, introduces artificial trans fats into our body, the harm of which is the subject of many scientific developments and has been proven undesirable for intake by children and adults.