By Are you a fan of nutty spreads? Do you love the creamy goodness of tahini or the classic taste of peanut butter? Or maybe you're just looking to mix up your spread game and want to try something new. Either way, you're in luck! In this blog post, we'll be comparing tahini vs. peanut butter head to head. From taste and texture to shelf life and substitutes, we'll cover all the important points to help you decide which spread reigns supreme. So grab a spoon and let's dive in!
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What is Tahini?
Tahini is a nut butter made from ground sesame seeds and oil. It is commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine and has a nutty, slightly bitter flavor. It can be used in dips, sauces, and dressings, and is a key ingredient in hummus.
Tahini contains many vitamins and minerals, along with healthy fats. It is a great way to add creaminess to dishes, marinades, and sauces without adding cream!
What is peanut butter?
In it's simplest form, peanut butter is ground dry-roasted peanuts.
It often contains other ingredients such as salt, sweeteners, and oil. These other ingredients change the taste and texture of peanut butter to allow it to come in many varieties.
Peanut butter and tahini both have a high fat content of 16g fat per 2 tbsp.
Taste and Texture
How do tahini and peanut butter differ in taste and texture?
Tahini has a mild, earthy flavor that can also be slightly bitter. In contrast, peanut butter has a nutty and very distinct flavor. Tahini works well in recipes where it's not meant to be the star of the show. Peanut butter is great in recipes where it's nutty flavor can shine!
Tahini is fairly runny and thin, while peanut butter can range from smooth to chunky.
Shelf Life
How long goes tahini last?
You should always check the use-by (or similar) date on tahini purchased from the store. However, a good rule of thumb is that tahini will last for a couple months in a cool, dry place after opening.
An opened container of tahini should be expected to last for up to 6 months in the fridge.
How long goes peanut butter last?
Peanut butter can vary how long it will last based on the ingredients, so check the use-by date on the container. In general, unopened peanut butter should last 6 to 9 months in the pantry and up to 3 months after opening when stored in a cool, dry place.
Opened peanut butter should be expected to last for up to 8 months in the fridge.
How can you tell if tahini is bad?
Although tahini can last a very long time, it will eventually go bad. Keep an eye out for mold, this is a sure sign it's time to toss your tahini. It may also start to smell bitter or like chemicals if it's bad.
Also, tahini will likely dry out after a long while. Although it's probably still okay to eat, when it's dry it's lost a lot of the best qualities that make it so delicious!
How can you tell if peanut butter is bad?
When peanut butter goes bad it often dries out and becomes darker in color. It will also start to smell bitter or metallic. Mold is also a sign of peanut butter gone bad.
Substitutions
What's a good substitute for tahini?
Sunflower seed butter is typically the best substitute for tahini. They both have similar consistencies, being that they're fairly thin and runny when it comes to nut butters. They also both have mild flavors that don't overpower a dish or sauce.
What's a good substitute for peanut butter?
The two best nut butters that make solid substitutes for peanut butter are cashew butter and almond butter. This is because they're the most similar to peanut butter in both flavor and texture. All three are creamy, fairly thick, and have distinct nutty flavors.
Tahini and peanut butter can be substituted for one another in some situations, but not all.
Substituting tahini and peanut butter for one another in recipes such as dips, sauces, or dressings is not recommended. This is because their flavor profiles are different enough that they likely won't compliment the other ingredients in these types of recipes. Lemon garlic hummus made with tahini is amazing, but would be a pretty funky if you tried to make it with peanut butter.
Tahini and peanut butter can be substituted for one another in baked goods and smoothies. They both make great thickeners to smoothies.
Conclusion
Both tahini and peanut butter are versatile spreads that can add flavor and texture to a variety of dishes. Tahini has a more mild, earthy flavor, while peanut butter is sweet and nutty. If you're looking for a tahini substitute, try using either nut or seed butters. If you need a peanut butter substitute, you can use another nut butter.
Looking for recipes that use tahini, peanut butter and other nut butters? Check these out!
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