Frequently Asked Nut Butter Questions

What is nut butter?
It's "a spreadable foodstuff made by grinding nuts into a paste. The result has a high fat content and can be spread like true butter, but is otherwise unrelated." (Wikipedia) We are absolutely not talking about anything defined by Urban Dictionary.

What is nut butter made of?
Nuts... And sometimes added oils, sweeteners, preservatives, supplements, and salts. It depends on the brand and the type. For our big list of nuts & seeds (and their associated butters), click here.

Why are some nuts "nuts" and some nuts "seeds"?
Because our language is limiting to the bountiful diversity of mother nature... and get this: nuts are actually fruits! The definition of a nut is a fruit containing an edible seed within a hard shell. So all nuts are seeds... but not all seeds are nuts. I'm still trying to figure this out myself.

What is natural nut butter?
A natural nut butter is one that contains only nuts (and perhaps some salt) with no stabilizers - aka emulsification agents. The nut butter will separate and oil will rise to the top over time, requiring the consumer to stir it before use. NOTE: This term is not regulated by the FDA or USDA... so read the ingredients if you're looking for a pure and natural nut butter!

Is there butter in nut butter?
No, but nut butters are spreadable like a traditional dairy butter. And they have a lot of fat just like a dairy butter. There are a lot of things named after butter because of their similar consistency, not ingredients, i.e.: apple butter, shea butter, rock butter, and hyena butter.

Is nut butter good for you?
Yes, in moderation. Check out our Health Benefits of Nut Butter page for all the details.

Which nut butter is best? And what's the healthiest nut butter?
It depends on what you're looking for! There's no way to pin down "best" and "healthiest" in this complex, vibrant world of ours... But I can offer my professional opinion as a Nut Butter Enthusiast & Certificated Nutritionist. There are recommendations throughout this website, but why not start with my Top 4 Nut Butters of All Time?

How do I use nut butters?
The sky is the limit... Eat it straight out of the jar, put it on ANYTHING (bread, crackers, pancakes, Oreos are commonly accepted ways), mix it into yogurt, use it in baked goods, stir it into sauces and soups! You tell me - how do you use nut butters?

How do I make nut butter?
You've got to grind nuts with a capable machine. Check out our How to Make Nut Butter guide.

Can I make nut butter without a food processor?
I've never tried and I wouldn't recommend it, but I did include a section on that in my How to Make Nut Butter guide.

Is it cheaper to make homemade nut butter?
Maybe! But probably not. Buying raw nuts by the pound at your local grocery store can get pretty expensive... Nut butter companies buy in such large quantities that they can sell you the ground nuts for cheaper than you can probably buy them. Still, the freshness and fun of creating your own nut butter is PRICELESS!

How long does homemade nut butter last?
Treat it like a natural nut butter - it doesn't have any extra preservatives (or emulsifiers) so it's best kept in the fridge. Once it's in there, I'd say at least 6 months, maybe more! I don't usually have nut butters around for more than 3 months max...

Should I remove oil from natural peanut butter?
No, it's a key component to the tasting experience and it's supposed to be there - it just takes a little extra work. See the question below.

How do I mix separated nut butter?
The process of mixing the oil and solid parts of the nut butter is called emulsification. To get it re-emulsified, stir carefully - I start with just the top third and slowly incorporate more and more of the solid part as I go. You can also check out our Product Guide for nifty nut butter stirrers that do this job for you. If you're extra lazy and don't mind waiting, try setting the jar upside down and letting the oil seep through the paste in reverse.

How do I store natural peanut butter?
Most are okay as shelf stable. Check the jar for specific instructions. My rule of thumb: if I had to stir before eating - then it gets stored in the fridge. And this goes for any natural nut butters. That sea of oil means it's full of fat - and fat will go bad - and rancid fat is very toxic to the body.

Can nut butters be frozen?
Yep! Freezing will not affect your nut butter's taste or texture. Just be mindful if you're using a glass jar - the nut butter may expand during the freezing process and lead to a cracked container.

Can nut butters go bad?
Yes - nuts have a lot of fat and fat will go rancid after awhile. Does it smell "off" or like weird rubbery kids toys? Throw it out. Does it have mold growing on it? Throw it out. Do you feel repulsed when you taste it? Throw it out.

How much nut butter can I eat per day?
That's entirely up to you... but I would recommend not much more than a few servings. Listen to your body - stop eating when you're full! Nut butter is full of good-for-you fats - but some brands also pack in harder-to-digest refined oils and sugars. Too much of these and you'll get a stomachache or headache or worse.

Are nut butters good for keto?
Ketogenic diets limit carbs and encourage fats & protein - that's good news for most nut butters! So steer clear of nut butters with added sugar and you're good to go. Some nuts have fewer carbs than others so that can be a consideration too - check out our post The Best Nut Butters for Keto Diets.

Can vegans eat nut butter?
Yes, generally. Watch for nut butters with added honey or collagen. Also be wary of unidentified added oils - some may be from fish, like Jif's Omega-3 product. If you're really serious, you should also avoid Skippy - their sugar is filtered through animal bones to remove impurities and make it pure white before being added to their peanut butter.

Is nut butter fattening?
It depends on how you eat it... everything in moderation, I say! Most of the calories in nut butters are from fat, so if you need to gain weight - it's a great option! If you need to lose weight - it may still be a great option (they're healthy fats), but monitor your servings so you don't overeat.

Can I substitute nut butters for other nut butters in recipes?
Depends on what you're making... but try to match consistency and flavor! For example cashew butter is used because it's quite neutral, so if you sub peanut, expect a stronger peanut flavor. For a recipe that calls for "drippy almond butter" - don't use your shelf-stable palm-oil-including peanut butter that is almost the consistency of play-dough. You're asking for trouble.

Where should I buy nut butters?
Your locally owned grocery store! Or direct from a brand's website. And if you can't do either of those, the big online retailers will definitely have some options for you. And if you're already here reading my website, you can support it by using the Amazon links provided to buy your nut butters & accessories.

Why are some people allergic to nut butters?
Allergies to peanuts and other tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, etc) are common. The allergic reaction is caused by the immune system overreacting to proteins in the nuts. It is not fully understood why the immune system reacts as it does, but thankfully there's a growing list of yummy seed butters that are safe for those folks to eat!

Nut Butters vs. Spreads? What's with the lingo?