Technical aspects of peanut butter production processes: Roasting and grinding processes review

Abstract

A concise understanding of technical aspects underpinning successful peanut butter production is critical for the peanut butter industry. This paper reviews the critical technical drivers of quality peanut butter production. The synergetic relationship between roasting, grinding and stabilization processes and corresponding physiochemical changes and their influence on peanut butter color, flavor, texture, storage stability, shelf life, and overall consumer product acceptance is discussed. Potential of promising novel technologies like infrared, microwave roasting, and some novel peanut butter stabilization methods is evaluated. Quality of peanut butter is by far determined by temperature–time profile used in roasting, fineness of grind, type(s) and amount of added ingredients. The synergistic relationships between production technical aspects and resultant quality of peanut butter are more complex than what is usually assumed. Further research on the novel technologies like infrared and microwave roasting is still required for them to be fully adopted in the peanut butter industry. Practical applications Far from the general erroneous assumptions that peanut butter production is a simple process that does not require much technical and scientific rigor, successful and high-quality peanut butter production is informed by a solid technical and scientific knowledge base. The problems of poor peanut butter quality can be easily addressed by tapping from this scientific base. This study provides a single point, comprehensive reference source material on the technical drivers of peanut butter quality attributes from a processing perspective. Researchers, process, and production engineers can use this base knowledge in designing and optimization of peanut butter production processes. A clear understanding of the link between processes and physiochemical changes that are influential on peanut butter quality can be a key technical enabler to the peanut butter industry.