What is the best way to mix the oil that sits on top of a freshly opened jar of natural peanut butter?

BRY2K

I can't attest that this is the "best" way necessarily but there is a product that uses an "an up and down plunging motion to mix the oils in natural peanut butter and works especially well with stiff, heavily settled product". See here: http://witmerproducts.com/pbutter.html Here is some more trusted advice: One must insert a thin but sturdy implement all the way to the bottom of the jar and begin to carve out a path into which the oil can sink. This will moisten your peanut butter and make it more amenable to stirring. It's no small task since the peanut butter at the bottom is dense and tough to penetrate, even with a sharp edged implement. One quick move and the oil will fly out onto your gown. Once the first path is carved, one must remove the implement by slowly pulling straight up (a huge bolus of peanut butter will be attached to your implement and you must take care not to let it slide down too quickly or it will plunge into the oil and--again--create a huge mess with oilsplash. http://dgm.typepad.com/sunny_side/2007/01/stir_it_up_litt.html Feb 28 09, 2:26 PM

rlaj	Here is a special tool made for just that purpose. http://www.amazon.com/Witmer-Company-Peanut-Butter-Mixer/dp/B000A3I3BA Feb 28 09, 2:27 PM

queproblema

I finally decided I prefer that sweetened, homogenized kind that's chock full of transfats :-O but back when I was trying to learn to like the natural kind, I just stored in on the shelf upside down. Never had a problem. I've been unable to convince my friends how well this works, and they empty the contents into a mixer, mix it on low, and return it to the jar. It's a pain but probably less of a pain than trying to stir it in the jar, whether with a knife or fancy little gadget. Just call me Heloise. http://www.infobarrel.com/How_to_Prevent_Natural_Peanut_Butter_Oil_Spills [Link added for Heloise -- Zb] Feb 28 09, 2:44 PM

Spaudrey

My general method is to stick a steak knife to the bottom, and slowly mix until the oil has started to penetrate through the butter. After that it gets a little easier. But I felt compelled to write, because of the one who wrote about putting the jar upside down before opening. I am going to try that on my next jar. We'll put it to the test. Thanks. Feb 28 09, 3:14 PM

queproblema

Caveat: I can't remember if I did that AFTER opening the jar or only BEFORE. (Vague if unreliable memory of oil seeping out across the shelf...) Feb 28 09, 4:20 PM