Homemade nut butter and flour

alexaransome
alexaransome Posts: 16 Member
edited October 5 in Social Groups
Ok guys, in the UK its seems rather tricky to get hold of the nut flours and butters available in other countries (other than at great expense).

I've read a few posts about making your own, and my question is - what equipment are people using?

I tried putting some dessicated coconut in my blender, but it was lumpy and tricky to remove (do use in cooking though still). I've heard some used coffee grinders. Can anyone recommend something that I may be able to find in the UK? Thanks!

Replies

  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    I tried putting some dessicated coconut in my blender, but it was lumpy and tricky to remove (do use in cooking though still).
    Were you trying to make coconut butter or coconut flour? I don't know how to make coconut flour, but I made coconut butter the other day in my wee little food processor and it turned out splendidly. The thing is that you have to keep scraping down the sides and pulsing. When done it should be pretty liquid and pour easily (until it cools down).

    You also have to make sure that it isn't the "reduced fat" coconut or sweetened stuff--although that sounds like it wasn't the case for you. I'm guessing that you maybe just didn't keep at it long enough? You could also add a bit of coconut oil to get things going. I didn't need to do that, but I know that some people do. Check out videos on YouTube of people making coconut butter to get an idea of how long it takes.
  • alexaransome
    alexaransome Posts: 16 Member
    Thanks - I was going for flour but got... lumps! I definitely need to invest in a new food processor of some kind. Would you recommend your one?
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    Thanks - I was going for flour but got... lumps! I definitely need to invest in a new food processor of some kind. Would you recommend your one?
    I've never made coconut flour. I think you need to separate the pulp from the milk first, though: http://www.ehow.com/how_5497666_make-coconut-flour.html Did you do that when you tried to make it? It kinda sounds like a big hassle to me. Have you looked on the Amazon UK store for coconut flour? That tends to be my go-to place for stuff like this (though I am in the US). Coconut flour is expensive, but I have found (in my very limited experience using it) that a little bit goes a long way.

    My food processor is just a little cheapie one. Black & Decker, I think? It isn't anything impressive or high-powered (it gets hot easily, so I have to stop frequently) but it gets most jobs done.
  • jamk1446
    jamk1446 Posts: 5,577 Member
    I've read that coconut flour is actually made from the pulp after some of the fat has been extracted. So using the lower fat coconut flakes might actually work better for making coconut flour.

    In general, you might have better luck with a food processor for making nut flours and butters rather than a blender. Unless you can get one of the nicer ones like Vitamix or Blendtec. Sorry, I have no idea if these brands are sold in the UK or if not, what their equivalent brands might be.
  • alexaransome
    alexaransome Posts: 16 Member
    thanks guys.
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    In general, you might have better luck with a food processor for making nut flours and butters rather than a blender.
    Probably, though I saw a couple videos of people making coconut butter with regular blenders, so it can be done. It might just take a more time and more scraping & pulsing.
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