To Stir or Not To Stir

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That is the hummus question.

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The other day, DadHTP informed me that you are supposed to stir the flavored hummus tub when you first open it.  You know what I mean – I’m talking about the hummus and pine nuts, hummus and sundried tomato, and hummus and caramelized onion blends you can buy at the store.  The ones with the delicious center pocket of goodies? Yeah. Those!

 

Whenever I buy hummus, I immediately eat the center out with a few potato chips – because it’s so damn delicious.  Then I’m stuck with plain ol’ boring hummus that I finish off over a couple days.  When Dad told me that you’re supposed to stir it up, it made sense, but honestly – I was shocked!  I never thought of that before.  And three people that I’ve asked since never thought of it, either.

 

So – does anyone else just eat the center of goodies first?  Or do you mix it all up?  Has the thought to mix it even crossed your mind?!  Did I just blow you away!?  I didn’t think hummus was capable of being mind-blowing, but hey – I was knocked sideways when I realized some people mix it up.

{ 101 comments }

 

  • Lisa June 14, 2013, 11:25 am

    I never thought of that before either! haha

  • Kate June 14, 2013, 11:31 am

    No Stir. No way!

  • Kim June 14, 2013, 11:36 am

    I kind of like to be selfish and have all the yummy goodness to myself… But I guess stirring it makes sense.

  • Lisa June 14, 2013, 11:36 am

    The ever debating hummus question.
    I always stir, I can’t stand when things are uneven in flavor like that!

  • Ashey June 14, 2013, 11:37 am

    Ahhh!!! This is SUCH a frequent debate in our household. Boyfriend firmly stands on the “stir” side and I just dig in and start eating. I ration the delicious toppings bit by bit but I started to realize that when we don’t stir he just takes all the toppings in one or two big dips. I think he started doing this so I would cross over to the dark side and it was a pretty effective plan. Last night I opened a fresh container of hummus, presented it to him and asked him to stir (because I just couldn’t bring myself to do it). I swear he has never looked more smug than in that moment.

  • Tiffany June 14, 2013, 11:37 am

    Funny…I never thought to stir it either!

  • Caitlyn @ City and the Cubicle June 14, 2013, 11:42 am

    No stirring over here! Truly it never crossed my mind, haha.

  • Emily:2:DESIGN:CENTS June 14, 2013, 11:45 am

    I never thought to stir! I always pick through it as I work my way through the hummus, probably would make more sense to stir.

  • Vicky June 14, 2013, 11:45 am

    Mind blown! Stir in? Really?! Why didn’t I think of that!

  • Sarah @ Yogi in Action June 14, 2013, 11:46 am

    I stir it always! My boyfriend was really shocked when I stirred it though- he also wanted to eat all the delicious stuff in the middle immediately.

  • Vikki June 14, 2013, 11:51 am

    I also always stir. I never thought not to do that.

    • Nicole June 14, 2013, 12:06 pm

      I’ve always stirred it…I’ve always figured that you were supposed to stir it to mix in all of the flavor goodies

  • Kristen D June 14, 2013, 11:55 am

    At first, I never stirred it because I thought there was more of the deliciousness mixed in and the toppings were just a bonus… but then when I realized it’s just plain hummus underneath I started stirring and never looked back! Spread the wealth!

  • Priyanka June 14, 2013, 11:58 am

    I always stir!

  • HeatherFromKC June 14, 2013, 11:58 am

    I never stir. I am greedy and want to eat all the yum in the middle for myself. I will try the stir method next time.

  • Megan LH June 14, 2013, 11:59 am

    I never thought that not stirring was an option. I guess I always wanted it all mixed together evenly. I’m the odd woman out, I suppose. 🙂 Now I’m tempted to try it without stirring.

  • Michelle June 14, 2013, 12:00 pm

    STIR!!! Then you have a tub of yumminess! My hubby hates it when I do that though because he thought it looked nicer before mixing. This is the same guy who gets mad at me when he puts everything in the salad and then I toss it b/c he had layered everything to look pretty…. yup…. love my crazy hubby. 🙂

  • Maren June 14, 2013, 12:02 pm

    haha I always stir it up after taking a bite of it un-stirred…I hate plain, boring hummus! 🙂

  • Lauren @ Lettuce Eat Cake June 14, 2013, 12:03 pm

    I dislike the idea of stirring because I prefer the texture of topping on top of the hummus. Consistency bores me, so why would I want all my hummus to contain the same amount of topping? I don’t eat all the topping at once, but I’ll scoop carefully to make sure some topping is in as many bites as possible until the topping is gone.

    On a related note, I just outed myself for always eating hummus right out of the container… People who visit my house, I hope you’re not reading this. And I promise I never double dip, at least!

  • Danielle June 14, 2013, 12:07 pm

    Stir! I’m relatively new to eating hummus regularly and not liking plain hummus, it only made sense to stir the flavor in.

  • Kim L. June 14, 2013, 12:08 pm

    I have never even thought to stir it! I eat all the ‘goodies’ first and then finish up the rest. I’ll have to try stirring it next time : )

  • Elizabeth June 14, 2013, 12:09 pm

    I never thought to stir and I do what you do!

  • Katie June 14, 2013, 12:10 pm

    I just recently saw one of my roommates stirring the Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and I was floored! Before that, I always used to eat around the sides first and then save the middle part of the end! It was my favorite. Now, I stir it all together and it’s SO good. Wow..I can’t believe I spent this much time talking about hummus…

  • Stephanie @ Athlete at Heart June 14, 2013, 12:10 pm

    I always stir!! It never occurred to me not to do it!!

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats June 14, 2013, 12:12 pm

    if it’s flavored hummus the rest is flavored too (at least in my experience) so I don’t mix.

  • Katie O June 14, 2013, 12:13 pm

    This brings up another question for me! I’ve recently gone gf for health reasons and i an missing pita chips for eating hummus with. What are your favorite hummus dippers?

    • Caitlin June 14, 2013, 12:18 pm

      Tortilla or potato 🙂 Thank god potato chips are usually GF!

    • Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed June 14, 2013, 12:53 pm

      Carrots & peppers!

      • Katie O June 14, 2013, 11:20 pm

        All sound awesome and I never would have thought of potato chips! Yum!

  • Eli's Mom June 14, 2013, 12:20 pm

    We don’t stir. It’s extra work… 😀 Does Henry like hummus? My LO does (in moderation since there’s salt). 🙂

  • Carol June 14, 2013, 12:27 pm

    I am definitely a center eater !!!! Best part – NEVER stir !

  • sara @ fitcupcaker June 14, 2013, 12:29 pm

    I have to mix in the middle goodness, yum! THe other part is just boring, haha

  • Grace @ Grace Dishes June 14, 2013, 12:29 pm

    I stir it together. I never thought of eating the middle first then leaving the side LOL! How fun.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

  • Erica June 14, 2013, 12:30 pm

    I always stir it it up. It never occurred to me not to! Mind blown haha

  • Shelly @ EpicOrganic.net June 14, 2013, 12:30 pm

    I never thought of stirring it up! I just eat all the good stuff then begrudgingly sigh through the boring rest of it 🙂 Would it be as good stirred up? Hmm.

  • Aishah @ Coffee, Love, Health June 14, 2013, 12:35 pm

    Well it doesn’t matter to me, because I am EXTREMELY allergic to hummus- that usually blows everyone away!! lol

    • Live Love Yum June 15, 2013, 12:26 am

      Wow! What are you allergic to? The chickpeas? Tahini? Oils? I’m curious because it hasn’t been sitting well with me lately and I notice I’m puffy the morning after I eat it.

      Otherwise – I don’t stir usually because I only buy plain hummus. The few times I’ve bought the ones with toppings to just try it I’ve actually scooped out the middle and chucked it…such a waste of food but yech to me…!

  • Ashley O. @ The Vegetable Life June 14, 2013, 12:36 pm

    Hahaha I never stir it up, but I also don’t eat it first… I try to steal a little center and a little plain hummus with each chip!

  • rachel June 14, 2013, 12:41 pm

    i never stir – i just assumed i should dip a little of the plain hummus and then dip a little of the middle goodness

    i’m methodical in distributing the goodness, but i definitely don’t want it mixed together.

    • Jennifer June 14, 2013, 4:37 pm

      Agree! I do the same thing but I don’t want to stir it.

  • Mary June 14, 2013, 12:47 pm

    I stir it up immediately!

  • Breanne June 14, 2013, 12:47 pm

    I stir.

  • Kayla June 14, 2013, 12:57 pm

    No! I eat it without stirring!!
    Its the whole magic of it- like 7 layer dip you dip down and get a bit of everything!

  • Nikki June 14, 2013, 12:58 pm

    Hahaha! Never crossed my mind! I usually just scoop out some of the middle goodness each time 🙂

  • Laura J June 14, 2013, 12:59 pm

    I don’t stir, that’d ruin the prettiness of the tub. I do ration the flavors & try to eat it evenly though

  • Laura June 14, 2013, 1:02 pm

    I was taught by my middle eastern ex-boyfriend never to stir. Everything on top is supposed to be a garnish, make it look beautiful, and add to the flavor of each taste. I think you should do whatever you want though!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) June 14, 2013, 1:12 pm

    Hhhmmm, I never thought about this. I’m more concerned about not stirring my oatmeal. I’m a layer kind of person and it’s a strict rule not to stir my oats. I would have to say no to stirring the hummus too.

  • Caitlin June 14, 2013, 1:13 pm

    I start off eating a bit of the center goodness with some of the plain hummus and then eventually stir it all up. It doesn’t surprise me that I stir it because I stir everything together- my husband will top a salad with dressing and then just eat it without stirring it up to get coat everything in dressing (ridiculous!).

  • Paula June 14, 2013, 1:13 pm

    I make my own so I can have as much of the good stuff as I want. And I save a ton of money too. I just made some roasted red peppers so I stirred them in. Yum. Make your own, but don’t use canned chick peas, only fresh cooked and still a bit warm. That makes amazing hummus.

  • Ashley June 14, 2013, 1:14 pm

    Stir it up! Always:). I tend to get the garlic though and can’t imagine eating a whole bite of minced garlic (though I do love it)!

  • Kristy @ Kristy's Health Revolution June 14, 2013, 1:18 pm

    Well, really the best way to do it is to stir the middle with a chip. Then you get an overload of goodness with the first bite but you still save a little of it for the rest of your hummus. #protip

  • Jessica June 14, 2013, 1:22 pm

    STIR!!!

  • Cate June 14, 2013, 1:24 pm

    Stirring first is the only way to go – that way all the goodies last as long as the hummus lasts.

  • Liz June 14, 2013, 1:26 pm

    You are not the only one blown away because so I am! Stir it? But…But?! I can’t wrap my mind around it. Its such a foreign concept…I just eat the goodness off the top (roasted garlic..mmhhmm!!) Thank you for this new debate topic 🙂

  • erin June 14, 2013, 1:26 pm

    I’ve never stirred it and honestly it never even occurred to me to stir it up!

  • Kate June 14, 2013, 1:38 pm

    This might save my marriage! I honestly never thought to stir it–and apparently neither did my husband, who ALWAYS goes right for the goods in the middle and never leaves any for me. 🙂 Now that sucker’s getting stirred to keep things fair!!

  • Katie D. June 14, 2013, 2:22 pm

    I never stir, I save the middle for last – as a reward for getting through all the plain hummus 🙂

  • Alison June 14, 2013, 2:23 pm

    We ALWAYS buy Sabra hummus and I really never thought to stir! Wow.
    But I do love the good stuff and we often buy the huge tubs from Costco, so I feel like there’s not enough toppings to distribute throughout the whole tub of hummus. #hummusloverproblems

  • Reghan June 14, 2013, 2:24 pm

    I’ve always mixed it! Never crossed my mind to leave it as it was haha

  • Mary-e June 14, 2013, 3:07 pm

    It never occurred to me to not. To me it’s just like granola that comes with your yogurt, you stir it when you open it. Who would eat just the granola?

  • Maryz June 14, 2013, 3:13 pm

    This is so funny! I never thought of that either! I take a chip or whatever I’m dipping and get a little of the good stuff with the plain hummus. Makes perfect sense to stir it all up!

  • Kristina June 14, 2013, 3:15 pm

    My boyfriend informed me that I should be stirring my hummus. It was a total derp moment for me! 😉

  • Jennifer June 14, 2013, 3:45 pm

    I am firmly in the no-stir camp. Pretty sure you would get some interesting looks at a middle eastern restaurant if you mixed the garnishes on top of hummus around with the hummus.

    • Rebecca June 15, 2013, 6:47 pm

      When I think of a garnish I think of the stuff on a plate that’s for decoration and not to be eaten (like parsley). Never occurred to me that there are garnishes that are meant to be eaten. I would think it’s more flavorful for a longer time period to stir it all together. They must not think of it that way. If I’m ever eating hummus around a Middle Eastern person, I guess I won’t stir. Or it could be a topic for discussion, like this post!

  • Charity June 14, 2013, 3:58 pm

    I’ve thought of it, but never did it. I do however eat the outside stuff with a bit of inside stuff on each cracker. I guess that’s along the lines of spreading the yummy center with the whole tub.

  • chelsey June 14, 2013, 4:19 pm

    I know I’m supposed to stir it, but I never do!

  • Rebecca June 14, 2013, 4:49 pm

    I don’t eat a whole lot of hummus (should eat more because I’ve found at least one I really like) but I stir a lot of things. I especially stir things like sour cream because they get watery and yucky when not used–the stirring tends to transfer over to other things. I had Greek yogurt once–the kind with the fruit at the bottom–and I had to stir it to mix everything. It was gross otherwise. (Still not a fan of Greek yogurt, though my dad eats it a lot.)
    I’d probably do both and see which way I preferred. 🙂

  • Lauren @ The Highlands Life June 14, 2013, 4:58 pm

    I never stir. I always just a little bite of the stuff in the middle with a big bite of hummus.

  • Bitch on a Diet June 14, 2013, 5:16 pm

    Well that makes a lot of sense, but I still kind of like getting all the good stuff first.

  • Kris June 14, 2013, 5:40 pm

    I never stir it, and never considered. I consider the topping a garnish, and I garnish my hummus with a little of the topping. And, I don’t dip. I use a knive to spread it on crackers, pita chips or bread. My husband eats it exactly the same way.

  • Luv What You Do June 14, 2013, 6:19 pm

    I eat the center goodness for sure! When I make my own, I add lots of extra olive oil and when that’s gone I add some more : )

  • Katie June 14, 2013, 6:35 pm

    Oh, you have to stir it!!

  • dee June 14, 2013, 6:40 pm

    I save the goodness for last!

  • Maggie @ Just a Couple More Pages June 14, 2013, 6:43 pm

    I have thought about stirring it, but I never do. It just seems weird. I do however take a little bit from the middle and a lot from the outside when I eat hummus. I’m a save-the-best-for-last person though.

    (And how good is that pine nut hummus?)

  • Lee June 14, 2013, 7:14 pm

    We always buy the supremely spicy one and stir it up.

  • Suzanne June 14, 2013, 7:42 pm

    No to stirring! My brothers despise the middle, so it’s all mine to eat! The garlic one however, should maybe be stirred unless a toothbrush is close at hand!

  • Jenn June 14, 2013, 7:56 pm

    I’ve always mixed first thing. Never thought not to:) The yummy goodness is all the way through!

  • Amber K June 14, 2013, 8:30 pm

    I’m partial to the original flavors when it comes to hummus, so I’ve never thought about it!

  • Christina June 14, 2013, 8:47 pm

    I love the jalepeno and cilantro hummus from TJ’s. I usually get 2 servings of taking a dab of the stuff in the middle out of each tub, then I have a serving or two of plain hummus. I think it would look gross all mixed together.

  • Tricia June 14, 2013, 9:29 pm

    I eat a little of the middle with some plain hummus and then I stir it all up.

  • BroccoliHut June 14, 2013, 9:59 pm

    I, too, just eat the center goodies straight-up!

  • Mia June 15, 2013, 12:48 am

    My mind is blown by how many people there are that have never thought to stir!!!!

  • Maria June 15, 2013, 2:30 am

    I always stir 😉

  • Luna665 June 15, 2013, 5:25 am

    I guess I’ve never had this problem because i always make my own hummus, where I live (Italy) you can’t buy it ready to eat!I top mine with (some) parsely and whole chikpeas, you know, the “traditional” way; AND olive oil. I never stir it, maybe I would just “distribute” the middle toppings and add some olive oil though 🙂 My hubby eats it with bread but i love baby spinach 😉 Next time in the States I have to try the sabra hummus!My in laws love it (they don’t stir I guess LOL)

  • jen June 15, 2013, 6:42 am

    the thought of stirring has never occured to me! the first 4 or 5 scoops are all the goodies, then i sklowly eat the rest. although i can see how some people think stirring might make sense, this will remain a stir free household!

  • Dana June 15, 2013, 10:27 am

    Always stir!

  • Pauline June 15, 2013, 10:42 am

    I never stir!

    Also, this post and its replies deserves one big and loving #shitfoodiessay 😉

  • Cait June 15, 2013, 1:21 pm

    I have never stirred it!!

  • Courtney June 15, 2013, 4:55 pm

    I always stir it! Haha, I never figured that some people didn’t 😛

  • Shannon June 15, 2013, 5:03 pm

    What the?! It would NEVER occur to me to NOT stir!!! I never even thought about it. I’m sure from the very first time I ate store-bought hummus I peeled off the cover and stirred it up. 🙂

  • Karen @ Runner Girl Eats June 15, 2013, 9:25 pm

    The first time I saw someone stir it, my mind was blown. Genius.

  • Jenni June 15, 2013, 11:16 pm

    Haha! You’re hilarious. I never mix it right away. I usually take out a huge scoop to put on my plate–only a portion of it being from the middle part. Then as I eat it with my food (usually veggies and a grain), I mix it as I go, so that I can control how much of the good stuff gets into each bite. Hehe.

  • Kyla June 16, 2013, 4:50 pm

    Always stir!

  • FitBritt@MyOwnBalance June 17, 2013, 2:40 pm

    I definitely mix mine first! My favorite is roasted red pepper! Mmmmm good!

    I’m following you on Instagram! @MyOwnBalance

  • JenATX June 19, 2013, 8:59 am

    I don’t the rest of the humus isn’t just plain- it is also flavored with the “topping” that is placed in the middle. The topping is just there for presentation and a litle extra fun!

  • Erica June 19, 2013, 10:22 am

    Yep, you just blew my mind. Never even THOUGHT of stirring my hummus! I’ve always tried to “ration” the center goodness so it lasts through the life of the tub-which is not long! You just changed my hummus-loving life. 😀

  • Ashley @ Hudson on the Potomac June 19, 2013, 2:26 pm

    I am firmly in the no stir camp! However, I CHERISH the center and get extremely upset when the bf plunges head first into the center with a chip!! He says that I eat my hummus in a very OCD like manner, but whatever works! I like to dip around the outside, take a little bit from the center, eat, and repeat!

  • Tracy June 19, 2013, 8:40 pm

    Hahaha! This is so funny to me!! I’ve never considered NOT stirring! What would be the point of flavored hummus if it wasn’t all flavored??

  • Magius96 December 5, 2014, 9:50 pm

    If you were not meant to stir it, the extra ingredients would be packaged separately. If you were meant to stir it, they would have mixed it for you at the factory.

    No, you do neither! You dip your chip through the extra ingredients to get at the delicious hummus underneath. That can only be the correct method of enjoying such a delectable flavor combinations.

  • Dan May 2, 2015, 3:27 pm

    I’ve figured that you’re supposed to stir it, but I never do. I dip it into the middle and get some of the boring part too so that it’s about 50/50.
    Does anyone have a recipe to make the middle part? That’s actually what I’m looking for…

  • Felix T Kat July 29, 2015, 11:30 am

    The first few I got I would scoop from the outside to the inside getting a little of the goodstuff with the first few bits. It was when I got the spicy one that I stirred it up because one bite of just the center melted my mouth. Then I thought to myself, maybe it’s meant to be stirred all the time. Seriously, who knew?

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