sarbar
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Post by sarbar on Jan 23, 2020 9:35:28 GMT -8
Many PB's have sugar in them. That is common. The key is yes, a little sugar can go far and taste better. It's either sugar or salt - I keep both low. The LEgendary ones are flavored, like blueberry cinnamon roll, for example. They are really good.I mentioned it because the first item apparently has stuff added in if it is "trail mix" so would have at least some natural occurring sugar in it from fruit/berries.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 18, 2020 3:42:09 GMT -8
sarbar, we’ll have to agree to disagree . I really dislike sweet nut-butters (the TJ’s sunflower butter made me gag). It’s rather odd, because I eat PB&J... Fruit mix-ins might be good, but I’d rather mix in my own. But something about the sweetened peanut butter (especially if also creamy) just really puts me off.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Feb 18, 2020 8:20:01 GMT -8
I guess one thing these packs have is convenience and shelf life. The price seems to warrant homemade versions. Then they are also to taste. At homemade prices you don't have to restrict eating them to the special occasion of the trail. Maybe someone can confirm this but most mixes like this if they are made not too far in advance can be kept in the frig and then in your pack without issue. I think PB is pretty resistant to spoilage and high sugar things like dried fruit also are. Honey is actually antibacterial. I think I am actually going to try to use my sealer to make packs that suit my serving size and see how they do with pasteurization.
P.S. An added benefit of the hot water bath will be clean hopfully relatively scent free packs.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Feb 18, 2020 8:38:25 GMT -8
P.P.S. It just occurred to me that maybe the best way to hold 160F for a while would be to put the sealed packs in the dehydrator at that temp for a while. Keeping water at the target temp would require paying attention.
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sarbar
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Post by sarbar on Feb 20, 2020 11:42:42 GMT -8
Maybe someone can confirm this but most mixes like this if they are made not too far in advance can be kept in the frig and then in your pack without issue. The issue is raw nuts/seeds, go rancid easily. In hot weather, be wary. Keeping it in the frig keeps it from separating.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Feb 20, 2020 16:43:53 GMT -8
The issue is raw nuts/seeds, go rancid easily. In hot weather, be wary. Keeping it in the frig keeps it from separating. I read a little more on pasteurizing peanut butter and it seemed like it would likely cause it to separate. I am still going to try sealing it up with my Foodsaver then some time in the dehydrator at 160F. If it does separate then possibly massaging the packs as they cool can undo it. But as the labor goes up on this test the commercial packs cost start making more sense,
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Post by tipiwalter on Feb 20, 2020 18:14:35 GMT -8
Sounds disgusting. Nut butter, yes, but with oil and sugar (I hate sweetened nut butters), and craisins (which *might* be good). I’d say to buy regular old Adams or the natural PB of your choice (or fresh-ground if you have access to a store that sells it), and then also carry along dried fruit, etc. But, with food as with clothing, I believe in “layering” so that I can pick and choose what works well at a given moment. Recently, I’ve started adding peanut butter to my oatmeal, and it’s good. I did it because I had to give up yogurt—lactose is causing me problems—and wanted more protein for breakfast. But I like it, and it’s going into the arsenal for backpacking. I think I need to find a sturdy screw-top container that is pretty light and just plan on carrying a lot of PB (okay, the plastic jars that Trader Joe’s PB comes in are probably as good as it’ll get for that). Pretty much agree with this. Almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter etc---none of them require added anything esp sugar and palm oil and all the rest. My current PB fave is Crazy Richards--- I have a large plastic reusable jar dedicated to whatever nut butters I'm taking out on a trip---and they seal tight and do not leak. Took a pic of it on my last trip (along with a bigger jar of vegan mayo which I use in soups and dinners as a flavor garnish)---And it's okay to mix up the nut butters in one jar. It's all gonna be deposited into a cathole eventually---and all mixed up anyway.---
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on Feb 20, 2020 21:29:58 GMT -8
Have gotten those from Packit Gourmet and really liked them.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 21, 2020 2:01:37 GMT -8
The issue is raw nuts/seeds, go rancid easily. In hot weather, be wary. Keeping it in the frig keeps it from separating. I read a little more on pasteurizing peanut butter and it seemed like it would likely cause it to separate. I am still going to try sealing it up with my Foodsaver then some time in the dehydrator at 160F. If it does separate then possibly massaging the packs as they cool can undo it. But as the labor goes up on this test the commercial packs cost start making more sense, In the last couple of years I have made my own pb packets with the Foodsaver, and they’ve been fine—even the packet that didn’t get used for months. The hardest part is getting the stuff into the bags without getting the edges too gooey to seal. I think I’ll try fresh ground peanut butter this time—it’s much less messy. But I would have no fears of it spoiling on a trip. Maybe some of the seeds, like sunflower, could be more problematic, but even at home I abuse the PB and it’s never had an issue. ETA: the stuff I experimented with was Trader Joe’s natural crunchy.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Feb 21, 2020 10:26:54 GMT -8
In the last couple of years I have made my own pb packets with the Foodsaver, and they’ve been fine—even the packet that didn’t get used for months. I'm going to postpone the pasteurization test. For now just make the Foodsaver packs and see how those work out. If I can't get a significant portion of the PB out without hassle and/or mess I'll go back to the wide mouth jar method. I like the pack idea for potential neatness and portion control.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 23, 2020 2:48:26 GMT -8
In the last couple of years I have made my own pb packets with the Foodsaver, and they’ve been fine—even the packet that didn’t get used for months. I'm going to postpone the pasteurization test. For now just make the Foodsaver packs and see how those work out. If I can't get a significant portion of the PB out without hassle and/or mess I'll go back to the wide mouth jar method. I like the pack idea for potential neatness and portion control. Portion control is the main reason I’m hesitating about just hauling a jar. My husband is more than happy to down a few spoonfuls to top off his lunch...
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Post by Lamebeaver on Feb 24, 2020 14:55:22 GMT -8
a little sugar can go far and taste better we’ll have to agree to disagree . I really dislike sweet nut-butter Butter vs. Pam discussion anyone?
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 26, 2020 3:11:50 GMT -8
Lamebeaver I doubt I have what it takes to get into that kind of dust-up. But for you I’d try, only I’ll be offline for the next 8 days. Stilll:some things just should not be sweet. I count among them nut butter and coffee. And tea.
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on Feb 26, 2020 9:11:24 GMT -8
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Feb 26, 2020 16:38:00 GMT -8
I don't know if I could bring myself to eat something that was $6 a pack which translates to $29.40/lb.
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