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Written by: Valerio Farris
Popular on Food52
68 Comments
cesmomof6
December 22, 2017
OK, practicality issues aside, who actually slather on a 1/4 in thick layer of peanut butter on a sandwich!?!
Mine are substantially thinner layers. So much so that smearing on parchment and freezing would be ridiculously tedious and difficult to emulate on parchment, though I'm betting it would freeze a lot faster too.
Mine are substantially thinner layers. So much so that smearing on parchment and freezing would be ridiculously tedious and difficult to emulate on parchment, though I'm betting it would freeze a lot faster too.
Michelle E.
October 7, 2017
I don’t think the internet viewers were confused at all. As above, most didn’t think this “hack” made an already simple task easier
Janet M.
October 7, 2017
This "hack" is so bizarre, I visited her blog. She describes herself, among other things as a "wifester." 'Nuff said!
Mary K.
October 6, 2017
why aren't the PB companies doing this now, producing & selling PB slices like Kraft American cheese slices? Would you buy it?
Ernie
October 6, 2017
This is a stupid idea!
How many billions of PR&J sandwiches have been simply made w/o a lot of hoopla.
Perhaps the ("hacker" should buy a more substantial bread.
Oy vey!
How many billions of PR&J sandwiches have been simply made w/o a lot of hoopla.
Perhaps the ("hacker" should buy a more substantial bread.
Oy vey!
Anthony
October 6, 2017
Who has room in a freezer to do this? Not to mention that it seems to be one of the sillier things I've seen come from a food blogger. I've never had a problem spreading peanut butter without tearing bread, even when we still used commercially produced PB. If nothing else, it got her clicks and comments.
Melinda M.
October 6, 2017
I'm thinking if you have like 3 or more PBs to make every day, it could be a time saver. You roll out all your PB on Sunday and voila, instant sammies all week long? Who's with me?
Halli
October 5, 2017
I hadn't seen anything about this until now, but it does make sense for "natural" peanut butter and very soft bread that just tears when you try to spread really hard, thick peanut butter on it. Of course at that point once you roll it and can pick it up as a slice, you could just use it then, so I don't see what the point of freezing it is unless you need it to stay colder longer, but I don't think this is such a crazy or useless idea if you have really stiff, hard "natural" peanut butter and really soft bread.
John B.
October 5, 2017
"Hack" comes from the engineering world and it refers to something used or modified in an a way that was not originally intended by the designer. Associating hacks with time saving or efficiency may be a common assumption, but it's an incorrect one. For example, "hacking" a computer network is neither time saving nor more efficient than logging in with a regular ID and password, but it is still an unorthodox way of gaining access. A phone "hack" is more about new uses and capabilities that saving time. Similarly, a "life hack" is about unorthodox ways of approaching a common task or problem. This may be very inefficient, but it's definitely a "hack"
Deb
October 6, 2017
You make sense, and to me you're 100% correct. The problem comes when people begin to associate things in their head that have no basis in reality. Those saying this isn't a hack clearly believe a hack can only be a hack if it saves time. I'm guessing it's because that's how hacks are presented in today's social media. Regardless, I have found most hacks aren't worth the trouble it takes to read about them. I do like the comment about freezing the bread and spreading the pb on it before defrosting. Seems back in the 60's my mom made sandwiches that way because we took our lunch and didn't have fridges or all these other cutesie things to keep them in. They would be perfect by lunchtime. But yeah, I agree that in the end, this is technically a hack.
rox L.
October 5, 2017
I keep my bread in the freezer and when making p-nut butter sandwiches; I don't thaw the bread; I spread the p-nut butter on frozen slices, no tearing, and let the bread thaw and warm to room temp before serving.
Mary K.
October 6, 2017
In junior high I got two slices of frozen bread from the freezer each morning, spread on the mustard & placed on the slices of salami. Off to school with my brown back sandwich. The bread had thawed by lunchtime.
Mary-Ann
October 5, 2017
It certainly is a novel idea. Worth noting. But a hack it is definitely not!
Merry M.
October 5, 2017
Freeze the bread, spread peanut butter, wrap. By lunch the sandwich is perfect
Deb
October 6, 2017
I mentioned in my reply to another post, my mom did this back in the 60's - the freezing bread, making sandwiches, then they'd defrost and be perfect by lunchtime. Goes to show, not everything on the internet is either unique, original, or practical.
Mary K.
October 6, 2017
I did this same thing everyday for my school lunch. Didn't realize it was so innovative still today. ha.
Sam M.
October 5, 2017
Coincidence that I read this one hour after trying to “hack” enough brittle peanut butter out of the refrigerated jar to make a sandwich. (I failed.) the confusion lies with those who still use heavily sugared and hydrogenated peanut butter such as Jif and Peter Pan. Peanut butters containing only peanuts and salt will go rancid if left out, but can become brittle and hard when refrigerated (if the oil that separates at room temp. hasn’t been stirred in thoroughly). I think this idea is a brilliant time-saver and frustration-eliminator!
Barb
October 5, 2017
You can only heat a product up so often, as each time hastens it's journey to rancidness.
Lisa L.
October 9, 2017
I use natural peanut butter all the time, never refrigerate it, and have never had a jar go rancid.
cyndi
October 5, 2017
While I agree that this is an unnecessary "hack", I'm more worried about the negative attention this article creates. So many of the responses are mean-spirited. There's enough of that already. Stop it.
Peg W.
October 5, 2017
Stupid ideas deserve criticism. This idea was surpassingly stupid and wasteful.
MissLindyS
October 5, 2017
Oh come on now, this isn't real, IS IT? PLEASE TELL ME IT ISN'T. PRETTY PLEASE.
Sue W.
October 5, 2017
I just use a spoon to get it out of the jar and a rubber spatula to spread it on the bread....simple and no sticky slimey knife handle!
Roberta
October 5, 2017
Dumb dumb dumb! Waste of baking paper and extra energy to freeze. Not very environmentally friendly! And who has time for this??? Not me I have kids, friends and a life!
Helen S.
October 5, 2017
This is exactly why people think food bloggers are dumb. I can't think of anything dumber with all the chaos going on in the world. And to think she gets paid for this? Does she have a boss that looks at what she does?
lplynch
October 5, 2017
Maybe she's using natural peanut butter that's super-stiff, especially if she's keeping it in the frig? Still not worth all that effort from my view.
Tam
October 5, 2017
I think the word "hack" (time saver) seems to be what got people in a twist. I'm going to try it without the expectation of it saving me time - more as a new trick. Especially because I buy the peanut butter you stir...I'm going stir the jar up, spread it out, top with fun things like coconut, dried cranberries or cherries and chocolate chips and put it on toast when I feel like a snack. Hack? Not so much...good idea? Could very well be.....(-:
elaine J.
October 5, 2017
I took a break from work to read this, and have decided that you all don’t have enough to do. How silly!
Live-Nimble
October 5, 2017
nope! not that big of a problem, although if your peanut butter is really stiff, or super chunky, it could be a big help.
joan
October 5, 2017
I don't recall having any real problem spreading peanut butter. Would nuking it a little help spreading, like warming cream cheese. The hack seems like more work than the problem.
Peg W.
October 5, 2017
Thank God SOMEONE gets this! One of the best-practice uses for a microwave is for slightly warming things like PB, jam, butter, etc.
Sarah
October 5, 2017
Maybe if it wasn't called a "hack," then the Internet wouldn't be so confused over this. Most people use the word "hack" to mean time-saver, and saving time this "hack" does not, what with the overnight wait.
JenMarie
October 5, 2017
I can't believe I wasted my time reading this article. C'mon Food52... you're better than this.
James C.
October 6, 2017
Agree. What nonsense. The question of whether or not this is a”hack” is lame. And the notion that making a PB sandwich needed any streamlining is also lame. And who the hell wants frozen PB? Please stop.
JimR44
October 5, 2017
I thought the headline was about that sandwich guy "hack" from The Food Network.
Nona
October 5, 2017
I wasn't criticizing, but suggesting another alternative to the writer's solution to having peanut butter tear the bread when she tried to spread it.
Patti B.
October 5, 2017
This will work well for some, and not at all for others. Big deal, what's to criticize.
grace.lynn.3720
October 5, 2017
I don't understand why so many people are making this into something negative. It's a unique way of taking something very normal and making it slightly different. I would try it just to see what it tastes like. If I don't like it, then I won't make it again. It's simple as that! Criticism is unnecessary here.
Peg W.
October 5, 2017
And who are you to tell people not to criticize silly, wasteful ideas? Back off.
Nona
October 5, 2017
Perhaps if the writer of the hack used a sturdier, and healthier, bread, the kind of bread that takes no guff from anyone, she wouldn't have so much trouble spreading. I keep my peanut butter in the refrigerator, which makes it less runny and easily spreadable, but within a minute of scooping it out of the container it is ready to go. And if you toast the bread first, it's a piece of, well, a piece of toast.
LittleFrier
October 2, 2017
a lot of people are "hacked" off on this thread. ;) seems a like fun thing to do with your kids. also...you could possibly do a whole batch of these and then store and have them in a pinch.
Ttrockwood
October 1, 2017
I think what everyone is reacting to is taking what has always been a superfast easy thing and implying that simply spreading pb on the bread directly from the jar is somehow not good enough or correct.
Since the pb is not used in a new and inventive way, and this method is not faster i don't understand using the word "hack" here and i really really wish everyone- including this website!- would stop it already.
Since the pb is not used in a new and inventive way, and this method is not faster i don't understand using the word "hack" here and i really really wish everyone- including this website!- would stop it already.
Peg W.
October 5, 2017
Thank you. The Martha Stewart minions on her site use "hack" constantly, and most of the ideas are pretty much worthless. "Hack" to me has a very, very negative connotation. STOP USING IT.
Rebecca
October 1, 2017
There seems to be misunderstanding that a 'hack' is by definition time saving. It's not. Hack is originally a computer term for altering a software or hardware to work outside the creator's original intent. This is a peanut butter hack because Bev is using it in a way then it was originally intent. It's just not a 'hack' intend to save time, but to use peanut butter in a different way.
Michael B.
October 1, 2017
Very good point Rebecca. But I don't think there's a misunderstanding because, for better or for worse, the food blog-sphere has appropriated the word hack to mean "time saver".
Gail
October 5, 2017
I find it rather amusing Rebecca, for you to be defining a word, when you clearly find difficulty using "then" and "than" appropriately
Rebecca
October 5, 2017
We all have are specialties. Computer science is mine. Obviously manners are not yours.
Katie
October 5, 2017
You took the words out of my mouth Ms. Rebecca.
I think your comment was insightful, and offered a view the rest of us might not have seen; it’s a shame someone felt the need to reply with unhelpful snark.
PS: I’m sure the grammar police would be amused by the fact that said judgemental comment, failed to include a period at the end of the sentence.
I think your comment was insightful, and offered a view the rest of us might not have seen; it’s a shame someone felt the need to reply with unhelpful snark.
PS: I’m sure the grammar police would be amused by the fact that said judgemental comment, failed to include a period at the end of the sentence.
JenMarie
October 5, 2017
Eeeshhh.... why the hate? No need for that sort of negativity. You know the old saying, if you can't say anything nice...
ST
September 30, 2017
My kid invented a much better version of this! https://vimeo.com/114714136
Marlene T.
October 5, 2017
I would love to see your son's video but don't want to subscribe to Vimeo
BerryBaby
September 30, 2017
Sounds like something I'd try.
The word 'hack' and 'genius' are both used far too much. JMO but I wouldn't be upset if they both disappeared.
The word 'hack' and 'genius' are both used far too much. JMO but I wouldn't be upset if they both disappeared.
Terri N.
September 30, 2017
I think this sounds great. It would solve the messy problem of my nutella-fluffernutter creation - would keep the layers at the start much better.
Bob
September 29, 2017
Valerio, I agree that "hack" may be the key point of confusion, however, a post from you recently, "The Best Way to Cut a Cake for Three People" shares a similar issue. If you know three people that obsessed with dividing a snack, then Food52 should develop that demographic with, maybe, "GeekFood52".
Michael B.
September 29, 2017
I think it's a very cool idea but where the author went wrong is by using the term "hack". Hack implies that it will save you time or make something easier. This does neither of those. It's still pretty neat and I'm gonna give it a try.
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