Peanut butter is one of a fascinating thing the human race has created. I know you people who love peanut butter can’t get enough of it (I’m drooling!)! I bet you have also tried numerous recipes involving this luscious ingredient!
But sometimes peanut butter is too stubborn! And, I know you know this well, the best way to melt it is inside your mouth! But you might lose your friends when they found out what you did to melt the peanut butter! Is there a better way on how to melt peanut butter?
From luscious desserts to savory dishes, I know you’ve tried it, many recipes require your peanut butter to be melted. Unfortunately, unadulterated peanut butter is thick and sticky! But I know it won’t stop you from making that cookie!
How To Melt Peanut Butter?
There are many ways to effectively melt peanut butter. Here are the things you will need to thin out your peanut butter. Don’t worry! You may already have all of them in your kitchen! Experiment and find out which one is most convenient for you!
Microwave Method
This is the simplest way to melt peanut butter that doesn’t require too many processes. You will need:
- A spoon/spatula
- Microwave-safe bowl
Via leaf.tv
Every household, I believe, has a microwave in their kitchen which makes this method the easiest! Melting your peanut butter before cooking savory dishes like Satay and some pasta recipes would make things a lot easier!
- Scoop the right amount of peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl and place it inside the microwave.
- Set the microwave for 30 seconds at high temperature.
- Take out the bowl (use kitchen gloves!) and mix the peanut butter until to distribute the heat evenly. This is a crucial step that ensures that you will give your peanut butter an even consistency.
- Repeat step 2 and step 3 until you get the desired consistency. It may take around 3-5 repetitions depending on the amount of peanut butter you are melting!
Pro tip: Mix a tablespoon of peanut oil for every two tablespoons of peanut butter to make a thinner consistency.
Saucepan Method
Not the simplest but still as effective as the first method mentioned above.
- A small sauce pan
- Spatula
Via leaf.tv
This is a handy way if you will be using peanut butter in a soup recipe or a sauce recipe. You can use the pan where you melted your peanut butter to cook the sauce.
- Put your saucepan on top of the stove and scoop your desired amount of peanut butter to melt. Do not turn the heat on yet! You want to slowly bring your peanut butter to heat to avoid having a burnt taste.
- Set your stove over low heat.
- Mix continuously to avoid sticking on the pan and have an even cook.
- Transfer to a container until needed.
Pro tip: You can dilute it with peanut oil just like in the microwave method if you want a thinner consistency.
The Whisk Method
If your recipe does not require you to heat the peanut butter, whisking it is a safe way to melt your peanut butter.You will need:
- A medium sized mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Strong arms! (will make things easier!)
If you are making some cookies or other desserts with peanut butter, a convenient way to melt it is with a whisk and a bowl. With a strong arm, you will be done in no time!
- In a mixing bowl, scoop your desired amount of peanut butter and whisk.
- Using your strong arm, whisk it like it’s the only thing that will save the earth from total devastation (or use a food processor to make things a lot easier!)!
- If you are making some dessert with peanut butter, chances are, there are other wet ingredients involved too! You can add water (the amount your recipe requires) or milk to dilute your peanut butter and make whisking a lot easier.
- Set aside, or continue whisking with the other ingredients you need
Blender Method
Blending your peanut butter is a surefire way to melt your thick peanut butter.
- A blender
- Spatula
- Milk or some wet ingredient to dilute your peanut butter (optional)
Via cathgrace.com
If you love peanut butter so much you add it your smoothies, melting your peanut butter first will give you a nice and even consistency. Using a blender can be a handy method!
- Place the desired amount of peanut butter blender and dilute it with two tablespoons of water (or with the amount of milk in your recipe) for every tablespoon of peanut butter. You can add a few more water if you want it thinner.
- Blend at low speed for thirty seconds until you get a homogenous solution. Crank up the speed to liquefy your peanut butter.
- Add the other ingredients you need, blend, and serve.
Food Processor
The food processor method may be the quickest way to deal with thick peanut butter. The only downside of this is the cleaning process.
- A food processor
- Spatula
- If you are ready, let’s see how we could make that peanut flowing like water (or at least flowing!)!
Peanut butter will be easier to mix in your cooking when it is melted. The most effective way and quickest way to do it is using a food processor. Here’s how to do it.
- Scoop the desired amount of peanut butter to be melted and put it in the food processor.
- Crank up the speed for about thirty seconds to one minute.
- Using your spatula, take out the peanut butter, set aside or mix it in your recipe.
Pro tip: If you are using coconut milk, milk, or any other liquid ingredient in your recipe, you can mix it with the peanut butter to make a thinner consistency.
Ancient Forbidden Method
You will need:
- A spoon and some mystical powers.
Via averiecooks.com
Among all the methods of melting peanut butter, there is one effective method that our distant ancestors have used. Not everyone is aware of this; no one can question its efficacy. Pay extra attention.
- Open the peanut butter lid.
- Dunk your spoon as deep as how much you will be using.
- Rotate the spoon, give it a spin, do it up and down and chant some incomprehensible muttering. Do this for about a minute (or two!), and you will be surprised that your peanut butter is now creamy!
Now, you can get a slice of loaf and smear it on. Enjoy your sandwich!
Extra Pro Tips
There are a lot of recipes that require a melted peanut butter. Well, just peanut butter. But being a home cook, we all know that peanut butter can be a little hard to mix with your recipe when it’s not melted!
1. In A Smoothie
Don’t forget to melt your peanut butter first when making a smoothie. Dilute your peanut butter with a some of the other liquid ingredients before adding everything else. You will have a hard time mixing a thick peanut butter on an already evenly blended smoothie.
Your attempt to evenly mix peanut butter will thoroughly mix the other ingredients which will make your smoothie too thin!This applies to other thick ingredients as well!
2. In Savory Dishes
Melting your peanut butter first before mixing it on sauces and soups will give you a better homogeneous solution and even flavoring. You can thin your peanut butter with some neutral oils like canola oil and vegetable oil. Peanut oil will do best to enhance the flavor of your recipe!
3. In Pastries and Desserts
It’s best to melt peanut butter and thin it with all the other wet ingredients to have a smooth, homogenous mixture.
Final Words
Peanut butter is not just delish; it also nourishes (forgive my rhyme, I’m not a poet!). It’s packed with lots of calories, and it has high protein content! No wonder many athletes has this in their diet regimen.
There are many ways to melt it! Feel free to do which one is most convenient for your recipe!I hope you enjoyed reading this and found some useful information on how to melt peanut butter! The next time you need a dose of peanut butter and jelly, just use the ancient forbidden method to melt your peanut butter and have an even smear on the loaf!
What are your thoughts? Have some comments or suggestions? Leave it below, and I will get back to you soon!