Peanut Skins Make a Better Butter

While 60 percent of the 3 million metric tons of peanuts grown in the U.S. each year goes into peanut butter, virtually none are processed with their skins.

"They're discarded as waste, which is a shame because peanut skins are high in antioxidants, specifically phenolics, and dietary fiber," according to Ruthann Swanson, University of Georgia associate professor of foods and nutrition.

Swanson and a team of UGA scientists say peanut skins can be incorporated into traditional peanut butter without alienating consumers.

Historically, consumers have found the presence of particulates in peanut butter to be objectionable, she said. "But what has happened in recent years is a movement towards healthier products in general, including nut butters, and an increased emphasis on natural (products), and the peanut butters than contain some skin particles are perceived to be more natural by the consumer."

Source: The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Science.

Artwork: Raw Spanish Peanuts
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