Fun Facts about PB on National Peanut Butter Day!

When Marcellus Gilmore Edson first patented peanut butter in 1884, he probably didn’t realize it would become a taste sensation that would sweep the nation. Whether you go crunchy or smooth, on January 24th we put down our cell phones and pick up our spreading knives to celebrate National Peanut Butter Day.

Peanut butter is a spread or paste that is made from ground, dry roasted peanuts.  The peanuts can be ground alone or combined with other ingredients to modify the taste of them. The most common extra ingredients are salt, sugar and emulsifiers of some sort (although purists will tell you it’s better when it’s stripped down to the “old fashioned” method of just peanuts and salt). Peanut butter has the same texture as cashew butter and almond butter. Oil is often added to peanut butter to give it a smooth and creamy texture. Honey, sugar and other sweetness will change the flavor to a sweeter taste. But why? When it’s so perfect all on its own.

Here are some Fun Facts about Peanut Butter to help you celebrate!

• The earliest peanut butter spreads were made by the Aztecs and Incas about 1000 BC.  This paste was not early as creamy as the peanut butter we love.
• In the United States, many people believe that George Washington Carver was the inventor of peanut butter. However, that isn’t correct. Mr. Carver promoted the 300+ uses for peanuts – citing peanut butter abeing one of those uses – but he didn’t actually invent it.
• The first commercial-style peanut butter was made in 1884 by Marcus Gilmore Edson developed a process to make peanut paste from milling roasted peanuts between two heated plates.
• Dr. Ambrose Straub patented a peanut butter making machine in 1903. Americans were first introduced to peanut in 1904 at the Universal Exposition in St. Louis.
• To make a 12 ounce jar of peanut butter, you will need about 540 peanuts!
• Studies show that, usually, men like chunky peanut butter, but women and children prefer the smooth type.
• There is a record in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most peanut butter and jelly sandwiches eaten in one minute.  The record is 6 sandwiches set by Patrick Bertoleti in 2012.
• Americans spend more than $800 million in a year on peanut butter.
• The average peanut farm is 200 acres.
• 2 Peanut Farmers have been elected president of the USA – Virginia’s Thomas Jefferson and Georgia’s Jimmy Carter.
• One of Bill Clinton’s favorite sandwiches featured peanut butter and bananas.
• During Girl Scout Cookie season (which is kicking off around now), bakers use about 230,000 pounds of peanut butter each week to bake Tagalongs and Do-si-dos.
• Peanuts grow underground like potatoes do.
• Peanut butter was originally made for people who had no teeth!
• Each year Americans consume enough peanut butter to cover the floor of the Grand Canyon.
• Peanut butter is a good source of vitamin E, B6, niacin, calcium, potassium and iron.

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