HELOISE: Peanut butter: In fridge or not?

Dear Heloise: For years, I have put my peanut butter in the refrigerator and have been told by family and friends that I do not need to. I still did and found it always to be hard to spread.

I looked on the jar and saw “No refrigeration necessary.” So I switched and keep it in the cupboard. Now I read in a magazine that peanut butter should be kept in the refrigerator like other condiments, except for oil. What is your take? I read your article in The (Harrisburg, Pa.) Patriot-News.

Esther Katz in Harrisburg, Pa.

Esther, thanks for reading my column in your paper. The answer is no! Leading manufacturers say that peanut butter does not need to be refrigerated. Peanut butter’s consistency may change when it is in low temperatures, making it thicker than if left in the pantry.

Heat can cause peanut butter to lose some of its flavor — for example, the temperature in a summer cottage or a cabin without air conditioning.

You can refrigerate the peanut butter to keep it at its freshest, but it will be hard to spread. Natural peanut butter also can be refrigerated.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: My husband and I are trying to save money this year by not eating out for lunch. After we eat dinner, I put the leftovers in small containers that we can easily grab and take for lunch the next day. This is much easier than putting it in one large container and having to dish up lunches the next morning.

Janelle in Florida

Dear Heloise: I keep a spray bottle of vinegar on the counter by my sink. I spray all of my fruits and vegetables, then rinse well (very inexpensive). A muse once told me that vinegar would kill bacteria.

Judy, Woodville, Ala.

Judy, yes, vinegar will kill some bacteria. However, a good “washing” with running water, using a vegetable brush or rubbing the fruit or veggie with your hands, works on most. The exception is rough, textured surfaces, such as cantaloupe, pineapple, etc., where a veggie brush definitely should be used. Isn’t vinegar useful for so many things? To receive my handy six-page pamphlet filled with money-saving vinegar uses, send $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (61 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. To remove stains from aluminum pots, boil 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the pot. Wash, rinse and dry.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Because I cook only for myself, when I need chopped onion, celery or peppers for stews and soups, I go to the salad bar at the grocery store to buy the amount needed, instead of buying a large stalk of celery, large pepper or onion. Plus, I don’t have to clean or chop these items, so no waste.

Sylvia Cantor in Parma, Ohio

King Features Syndicate