Another Almond Butter Thread -- commercial grade at home?

[SedonaSun]

Hi all,

I know there's a ton of posts on making almond butter, but I have a very specific need answered.

I need to know if and how I can make a commercial grade almond butter at home. I'm using it in an item that's being sold (yay!) and it needs to have the same consistency as store-bought in order to hold the goodies together. It can't be dry and grainy, which is the best I've done with a food processor so far.

If it can be done with a Champion, I'm willing to make that investment, but I don't want to buy one if it's not going to turn out store-bought consistency.

Also, if you can get store-bought consistency at home, it the consistency consistent? :) Meaning, does it usually turn out the same each time?

Okay, one more question :) How long does it take to make a pound of almond butter?

Thanks all! Your input is hugely appreciated :p

[Allison]

I don't like making almond butter in the Champion, because it always overheats it, and you can only make a very small amount before that happens. Something to think about if you are planning on using a lot.

[SedonaSun]

Definitely good to know. Thanks Allison! :)

[simple berry]

The professional ones i've seen online are available at the low low price of $1500, after which this $7 curiosity seems worth the risk: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6198203388&category=14903

[beauty4ashes]

I'm sorry Sedona, I've never made almond butter, yet anyway. Allison how do you know it overheats it? I read if you are able to touch it with your finger and it's not to to hot, then it's ok. And the times I have ground nuts thru the greenstar it wasn't to hot. I know this probably has to do with the friction inside the machine. I'm sure there are a few brands that are exceptions, but I was told that store bought raw tahinni, and almond butter like in the bulk section of Whole Foods is junk. And that you are doing your body more harm then good by eating it. I've got to get this almond butter skills down so I will be watching your thread Sedona! Do you think that grinding nuts and seeds in the vitamix is overheating it? Anybody?

[Doe]

Emily, the only time I tried to grind almonds in my champion it bucked on the counter like a wild bull. And yes the motor did get hot, I could smell it. I quit immediately and didn't try that again. The food processor works much better, only as Sedona said it's not commercial quality.

Teri

[sweetgoddess]

This says it is for making nutbutter as well as juicing.
http://www.countrylivinggrainmills.com/Lequip.html
Thought I would pass it on to you.

I know the commercial grade nutbutter grinders are $2000 ! ugh.

[Doe]

OK, SweetG's link says: "Start with approximately one cup of almonds. Set up the juicer with the blank strainer and the nut butter end nozzle. Grind the almonds at a rate of 3-4 at a time. Overfilling the chute with nuts puts undo stress on the juicer parts." Didn't think I was overloading the champion at the time but I know it was more than 3 or 4 at one time. Maybe I'll try again using these instructions. Will let you know Sedona. Thanks Sweet G.

Teri

[Rawkinlocs]

I've made successful nutbutter using the champion. You have to pour in a little bit of oil to help it run smoother without bucking ;)

I agree, it does cause the juicer to get pretty hot, and even in the manufacturers book it says to do nut butters in small batches, then let the juicer cool off.

So, to make a lot, you'd probably be working on it all day. I accidentally made some creamy walnut butter once in the food processor. I wasn't TRYING to, but that's the consistency it turned out. I'm thinking if you add a little oil (not olive because IMHO the flavor is too distinctive) or maybe try using soaked, well-drained almonds so the consistency will come out smoother. It might take making it in larger batches and running it, letting it rest, then coming back and processing some more to get it really creamy as you want it.

I think it can be done in the processor, just gotta play around with it.

Now, I know the Vitamix website says it will make nut butters as well as the L'equip Visor (as Sweetgoddess pointed out). But I do recall a thread in the Juicing forum where someone had given the Lequip visor a thumbs down as it broke down on her (forgot who that was) BUT...the Lequip company does offer warranty and you could send it in to have it serviced IF it did break down on you.

[Doe]

Rawkinlocs, I tried soaked almonds once that were dry and the texture was very close to flour dough rather than any kind of butter. I used it for a pie crust.

Teri

[PixieGreen]

This says it is for making nutbutter as well as juicing.
http://www.countrylivinggrainmills.com/Lequip.html
Thought I would pass it on to you.

I know the commercial grade nutbutter grinders are $2000 ! ugh.

Hey... that's my juicer! I haven't tried to make nut butter in it yet, I make small batches by grinding almonds to flour in a coffee grinder and stirring in a bit of coconut oil. I'll try to remember to make a bigger batch in the juicer this week and report back.

Christa

Edited to add: I only paid $160 for mine, new. If anyone is in the market do a thorough google search.

[SedonaSun]

I tried making nut butter once with soaked almonds. It turned moldy in a few days. NOT an option!

Probably everyone buying this product right now is not raw and hasn't even heard of raw foods, so I'll just use the store-bought almond butter.

Now if it ever gets picked up by health food stores... well, I might need to purchase the totally-fer-sure raw almond butter, but I'll deal with that then.

Thanks for all your input!!

[Doe]

Flutterfly, do you think your glass jar on the blender base (from another thread) would work for nutbutter? I might try that one and see.

Teri