Peanut Butter

Who doesn't love peanut butter?

Peanut butter is a "nut butter" made from roasted peanuts that have been ground to make a thick and creamy paste.

In the US, peanut butter must contain a minimum of 90% peanuts. The remainder can be comprised of sweeteners, salt, and stabilizer ingredients that keep the peanut oil from separating out of the paste.

To make peanut butter, manufacturers first inspect the peanuts for quality and then roast them.

After roasting, the peanuts are fast-cooled, which ensures even roasting and color, and prevents oil loss.

The peanuts are then blanched: a mechanical process which removes the outer skin of the peanut by rubbing between belts or passing through a set of mechanical brushes. The skin is often blown to the side by air.

Subsequently, the kernels are split and the hearts are removed.

The peanuts then undergo a two step grinding process to make peanut butter.

The first stage of grinding involves only the peanuts. After the preliminary grind, they're ready for any salts, sweeteners, sugars, and stabilizer to be added for the second grind.

Grinding in two steps produces a better quality peanut butter product versus one longer grind, which often changes the flavor of peanut butter butter because more heat is generated that way.

Runner peanuts are the variety of peanut most desirable for making the best peanut butter. They are the type of peanut that are most uniform in size, which is beneficial to the roasting process.

Evenly roasted peanuts provide the best flavor and texture for peanut butter.

Peanut butter can be refrigerated depending on the desired texture.

Peanut butter has high levels of monounsaturated fats and resveratrol, and is hence believed to be good for cardiovascular health.

It is also rich in vitamins B3, E, and folate and minerals like magnesium, and arginine.

In addition, it provides a good amount of dietary fiber, which is beneficial for gastrointestinal health and maintaining blood sugar levels.

Interesting Facts about Peanut Butter

• Since peanuts are in the plant family, they do not contain cholesterol, making peanut butter a cholesterol free protein source.


• In the US, peanut butter was reportedly first used in the 1890's by a physician as a protein substitute. He recommended it to his patients without teeth as an alternative to meats that were difficult to chew.


• Peanut butter made its public debut at the World's Fair in St. Louis, in 1904, by concessionaire, C.H. Sumner.


• Any peanut butter that contains less than 90% peanuts in the US may not be called peanut butter. (It must be called peanut spread.)


• Since peanuts are really legumes, peanut butter is not really a true nut-butter.


• Runner peanuts are also those enjoyed during one of America's favorite past-times, baseball... known as "ballpark peanuts."

Order Peanut Butter

Cooperative Purchasers is happy to offer quality wholesale peanut butter at the best prices.

We are proud to carry creamy peanut butter and crunchy peanut butter varieties.

The lead time on peanut butter orders can vary, so keep that in mind when ordering. (Large quantities may take up to 10 days or more.)

Our knowledgable customer service representatives can assist you with your peanut butter order, from pounds to pails to pallets.

Contact us for details.