Spectrum margarine- is it nasty or did I just get a bad tub?

[cruelshoes]

I am trying to figure out if the Spectrum Margarine I bought is just not my thing or if I got a bad tub. First if all, the texture is all wrong for margarine. It's kind of foamy when I drag my knife through it. The taste is really bad - kind of a cross between bitter and sour. I tried to melt it in the microwave, and all I got was a hot foamy pile that looked bad and smelled worse.

Is this stuff just not for me, or did I get a bad tub? I really like the Earth Balance margarine (GF/CF), but I decided to give the Spectrum a try so we would have more options. Any other GF/CF butter like substances that anyone knows of? One of the Smart Balance ones looks good.

Thanks for clearing up the mystery.
_________________
-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
9-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters have negative bloodwork - so far!

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

[Kathie]

I don't know anything about the spectrum but we've tried a number of the smart balance, we use the light for everyday use, its softer and the organic for baking. The kids can't tell the difference.

I would call on the other and ask them if they're product is supposed to be like that. The foamy thing makes it sound like is gone bad to me.
_________________
CD by Biopsy 3/25/88

[Fidissimus]

yeah, I tried a tub of that.
It didn't really melt when I put it in the microwave.
I thought it tasted like the fake butter you put on popcorn, but my tub wasn't sour at all. Neither was it foamy so that part is different from your experience. I think you might have had a bad tub - but honestly it's not that great so I'm not sure if you got a good tub you'd find it much better.
I think it works best as a thin spread for toast to give you the butter "feel". But otherwise not a good overall sub for the real thing.

I liked the Earth Balance better too. It was more like real butter (I used it to bake with quite a bit and liked it for that as well). I think we'll stick with it in future. I'll let you know if I hear of any other brands...
_________________
Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

[cruelshoes]

Thanks, Kathie and Jenn. We tossed the tub. Even if it wasn't bad, I don't think we could have eaten it. I think we'll stick with Earth Balance. Especially since it's half the price and tastes better. Here are other GF/CF spreads I have learned about:

Soy Garden
Smart Balance with Flax
Smart Balance Organic Buttery Spread
_________________
-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
9-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters have negative bloodwork - so far!

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

[NickisDragon]

If you use "stick" margarine, Fleishman's Unsalted is VERY good. It tastes good and works well for baking too. It never really stays very firm like other stick margarins--but that just makes it easier to spread. And it's labeled "pareve" so it's totally dairy free also.
_________________
The Love we withhold is the pain that we carry.
Nicki

B-Day: January 18
DX: October 2005

[cruelshoes]

[cruelshoes]

I found another CF margarine. It is Nucoa. They don't seem to have a website. It is totally dairy free. It does have trans-fats, but the percentage is very low. We generally try to avois trans-fats, but Nucoa is easy to find, at least around me.

Still haven't found the Fleischmann's unsalted.......
_________________
-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
9-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters have negative bloodwork - so far!

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt