Peanut butter is a staple in many households that has been around for generations. Whether it’s spread on toast, used in baking, or simply eaten straight from the jar as a snack, there’s something undeniably satisfying about the creamy, nutty flavor of peanut butter. March 1st is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day, and peanut butter lovers know that a good recipe can make all the difference in your snacking experience. The best peanut butter should balance flavor and texture while being easy to spread or dip. But with so many different brands and varieties on the market, choosing the best one can be a daunting task. Your preference should focus on texture and ingredients while staying within your budget.
Your preference for creamy or crunchy peanut butter might even give insight into your personality. A study conducted by OnePoll examined the peanut butter preferences of 2,000 Americans – evenly split by their preference of crunchy vs. creamy. Researchers say that those who enjoy the crunchy kind have a cheerier outlook on life. Sixty-three percent of those who prefer crunchy peanut butter describe themselves as optimists, compared to 56% of those who prefer creamy. No matter what your personal preference is, the right brand of peanut butter still matters!
Peanut butter is here to stay. According to a recent survey by Statista, peanut butter is consumed by over 299 million Americans. The most popular brands are still JIF, Skippy and Peter Pan, due to consistency in quality and taste throughout the years. More consumers have turned to making their own spreads, as well as alternatives like almond butter or other nut butters.
If you’re interested in discovering your next favorite brand of peanut butter, StudyFinds is here to help. We’ve researched and compiled a list of the top five recommendations across 10 expert websites. If you have a go-to peanut butter brand or home recipe of your own, share it in the comments below!
The List: Best Peanut Butter, According to Experts
1. Jif Creamy Peanut Butter
Jif is a solid choice that has the most peanut flavor and can be eaten alone or with your favorite bread or snack. “The toasty-nutty notes are much more prominent, and the soft, whipped texture is ‘so good, so fluffy,’” says Bon Appetit.
Jif’s secret to making such a tasty peanut butter is adding molasses to their formula for a hint of rich sweetness that isn’t overpowering. Mashed writes “the sweetness from the molasses doesn’t overwhelm the flavor from the peanuts. Instead, it helps elevate the peanut flavor to a whole new level that their competitors can’t reach.” Jif also makes a wide range of peanut butter products to choose from.
Jif has been a family favorite for years, as the company was first founded in 1958. “There’s a reason why Jif is America’s most popular peanut butter — it just tastes damn good and has a perfectly whipped consistency,” raves Today.
2. Skippy Creamy Natural Peanut Butter
Skippy’s natural creamy peanut butter is free of preservatives and flavoring so you can enjoy peanut butter without worrying about what you’re putting in your body. Unlike most natural peanut butters, you don’t need to stir it due to the separation of oil. Cuisine at Home explains “It is also a gluten-free, tree nut-free, certified product suitable for people with any dietary requirements.”
This peanut butter is a great middle when it comes to thickness, and also comes in a crunch variation if you’re a fan of more texture. Neither version compromises on flavor. “Skippy’s natural spread tastes like freshly roasted peanuts with a nice dose of salt,” adds Taste of Home.
“A little sweet, a little salty and very smooth, Skippy Natural Creamy hit all the right notes. It has a buttery texture and the right balance of both salt and sugar. It’s also richly peanutty and had just a little welcome stickiness that forces you to pause and enjoy each bite,” descibes Food Network.
3. Smucker’s Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
There’s only 2 ingredients in this brand of natural peanut butter – peanuts and salt. It might take you a minute to mix the separated oil and peanuts together, but it’s still easy to spread with an adequate amount of texture after doing so. Food Network adds “There is a little grit to this spread as it lacks the extra oils to smooth it out, but for many people having a little texture in their natural peanut butter is welcome and expected.”
This peanut butter is probably the closest you can get to a homemade peanut butter in a jar. If you’re a fan of natural flavor and grittiness, this mix is for you. Today writes “It’s also very peanut-forward— like you’ve taken a handful of them and created a thick paste in your mouth.”
4. 365 by Whole Foods Market Peanut Butter
Another great natural option is Whole Foods’ version, which is only made with peanuts and nothing else. There are no additives but the flavor still comes out to be mild enough to go with anything. The Spruce Eats says “We love that organic, dry-roasted, grown-in-the-USA peanuts are the only ingredient and aren’t weighed down with any added sugar, salt, or oil.”
“This peanut butter’s texture is so outstanding that it almost distracted us from its equally exceptional nutritional content,” writes Active. If you’re looking for a peanut butter that’s guilt-free and has no extra additives, this is the choice for you. The completely natural flavor might take some getting used to if you’re accustomed to peanut butter with additives.
5. Justin’s Peanut Butter
This brand is actually famous for their gourmet dark chocolate peanut butter cups, but they also make natural peanut butter spread as well. According to All Recipes, “this one is also available in small squeeze pouches, making this peanut butter the easiest to transport so you always have a little pack to squeeze onto an apple or banana for a healthy breakfast or snack on the go!”
The only ingredients in this peanut butter are dry roasted peanuts and palm oil. Palm oil is a Non-GMO, non-hydrogenated oil that acts as a stabilizer and reduces oil separation. This means less stirring for you every time you dip into a jar. “Besides peanuts, the product contains palm oil that has been sustainably sourced, cutting down on the effects of deforestation where it is grown,” adds Restaurant Clicks.
You might also be interested in:
- Best Dunkin’ Donuts
- Best Foods for Fiber
- Best Candy Bars of All-Time
- Best Chocolates
- Best Types of Cheese
Sources:
- Bon Appetit
- Mashed
- Cuisine at Home
- Taste of Home
- Today
- Food Network
- The Spruce Eats
- Active
- All Recipes
- Restaurant Clicks
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links
SKIPPY. Horrible that’s the only peanut butter I used to eat but for years I get sick from it so now I only eat JIF do what did Skippy do to change it
JIF all the way even with jelly!
Please reconsider the use of palm oil in any product! It is one of the world’s leading deforestation drivers😠. The huge swaths of tropical forests and peatlands being cleared in Indonesia store more carbon per hectare than the Brazilian Amazon!! Google for more info. Bottom line. Palm oil is in more products you may imagine with greed behind it all.
Well since Jiff has made their jar smaller and raised the price on it, jiff does not come too my house. IT’s anything but jiff even Peter Pan with honey is better than Jiff with smaller jar and higher priced, most people I know feel the same way
To me smuckers is best, the taste is outstanding.
I like Teddie All Natural Super Chunky Unsalted Peanut Butter. It is relatively cheap, compared to the premium brands, which has Hydrogenated Oil, known to clog Arteries? Teddie has the Natural Peanut Oil, at which I turn the jar upside down to settle the oil to the bottom of the jar. So Delicious!
I like Teddie Smooth Unsalted Peanut Butter. I get the one with the glass jar . It only has peanuts for ingredients..
I like Teddie All Natural Super Chunky Unsalted Peanut Butter. It is relatively cheap, compared to the premium brands, with the added Hydrogenated Oil, known to clog Arteries? Teddie has the Natural Peanut Oil, at which I turn the jar upside down to settle the oil to the bottom of the jar. So Delicious!
Hello 🙃hello 🙋♀️Hello🐥
I was delighted to come across the insert in comment about “Crazy Richard”
I splurged – $4.39
I bought it-
I tried it-
I loved it-
That was approximately one year ago.This is the brand i now use.
I never purchased those three famous brands.
I was buying Kroger Creamy.
I liked “Better “Than” , which i found at Trader Joe’s, although I havent seen it in several years. Ok’ Yay 2 votes for CrazyRich! Has no added sugar, no molasses, no “FULLY” Hydrogenated oil
Last Thought is
Food for Thought-
“Crazy Rich” listed ingredients
Peanuts
Other brand – Ingredients are listed
Underneath the Ingredients says:
Contains: Peanuts
Ummm ,,, hmmm,,, I sure f^n hope so
Ooops , ( had to get ($%÷* )one in )
Be well take care <3
Las Vegas Nevada
Teddy’s peanut butter is better than any of these and doesn’t add sugar to their product,
You claim Jif adds molasses but it also adds sugar and is listed as the second ingredient
Teddy, Easily the best PB out there. Nothing but peanuts and salt, if you want it.
I agree. After tasting every brand of PB I could find… Teddies blows everyone one of these other brands out of the water. No comparison!! JIF?!? Are you kidding??
We don’t need sugar in our peanut butter.
Jif and Skippy have added sugar and hydrogenated oils or palm oil. What experts are these, not health experts for sure. I think you are getting paid to advertise the big boys. Disappointed with this review.
Agree! Thought it was advertisement for Jiffy.🤢
Nothing taste better than SKIPPY’s HONEY ROAST PEANUT BUTTER!! it’s awesome just plain on a spoon out of the Jar!!! You should at least give it a try n just maybe your taste buds will fund a NEW heaven in Peanut Butter Taste!!!!
Most of these brand replace the natural peanut oil with rapeseed oil for more profit
What About Peter Pan Peanut Butter?
I love peter pan peanut butter. That’s the only peanut butter I will eat.
I Guess Nobody has got the REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER, I got it when it came out & don’t purchase anything else. I’ve got a lot of people to try & since they have tried REESE, that’s all they buy too. I purchase 6-8 jars at a time.
Kraft peanut butter, only available in Canada
The best is Only Peanuts with Sea Salt!😋
I’m very surprised with this study!! Definitely NOT HEALTH experts that did this study!! They don’t say best peanut butter brands in what way, so yeah, they’re definitely being paid off by these brand makers.
Valid point. Most are sweetened or have inferior oils added to them
Adams!
the author needs to brush up on healthy peanut butter alternatives
Kraft peanut butter is the best!
I second that!
This seems like teenagers did this “study” those are definitely NOT the best peanut butters. They are the cheapest and most basic brands out there. Peanut butter I ate as a High schooler
Agreed! This list is horrible.
The best peanut butter for me, is one that is just peanuts and salt, that’s all. You get 100% taste of peanuts.
Laura Scudders old fashioned
Agreed
Yep, Laura Scudders. Had it since I was a kid and I’m in my 60s now. Real peanut butters without fake oil and sugar, will always be the best. The key here is REAL.
Hampton Farms, a less well known brand, has the perfect blend of sweet n’ salty flavor & a not too creamy or thick texture. Although it contains sugar & oils, it holds it’s own in taste & consistency when compared to more popular brands with the same ingredients.
I disagree with this list only because I was diagnosed with cirrhosis in 2017 an now I live a strict diet everyday. Peanut Butter is one of the main proteins I eat in a daily basis. If you happen to look at the ingredients on the back of Jif the oil in it is vegetable oil. The ONLY ingredients peanut butter should have is peanuts because they have their own natural oil. An if you’d look to another good one the ingredients should be peanuts an peanut oil. Of course I’m no specialist but I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been an all my bloodwork I do every 6mo says the same!! So everyone stay healthy an happy an have a good day!!! Also another one to add is almond butter just watch the ingredients on that too
The peanut butter I love is Crazy Richards natural peanut butter
Note: natural PB should be a little runny
Number 3-5 should be #1-3. Jiffy and Skippy are absolutely horrible quality PB brands. Very surprised by this article and disappointed.
The very best kind, if you’re fortunate enough is the kind you make yourself in the store using the peanut grinder.
I agree not a big fan of these. The best I’ve found that isn’t self ground is Santa Cruz chunky dark roast.
You are so right. Peanut butter with hydrogenated oil as well as sugar ate unhealthy. Peanut butter should not taste sweet for Gods sake- it needs to taste like peanuts- and Smuckers does do better than any other – especially Smuckers Chunky!
Amen. I am 76 years old. Smuckers is only peanuts and salt. I blend it with ginger, cinnamon and turmeric.
I needed to lose 60 lbs. On my ketogenic diet. When I get actual hunger, I eat a tablespoon of the PB mixture out of the covered bowl in the fridge. Hunger is gone. I am 8 lbs away from my goal weight.
Where is Laura Scutter’s. The best by far.
Smart balance creamy is Awesome in my opinion
Yes it is, and has healthy ingredients.
Brands like Jiffy are not healthy, as the contain hydrogenated oils.
Any brand wth hydrogenated oils is not good, health wise.
I am only a chunky peanut butter person. My favorite is made by Aldi. If I can’t get it, I will sadly reduce myself to Jif. However, they are the Only 2 brands I will buy, and there is a huge price difference.
Ok, for one thing it’s Jif peanut butter, not Jiffy or Jiff. And Jif crunchy is my personal favorite and it has always has been. No, it’s not health food. No, it isn’t cheap.
It’s not cheap. I paid $5,67 for the medium size. It has to always be Jiff for me too, and it has to be crunchy for me.
Obviously the writer doesn’t have good taste since the best isn’t even listed. Peter pan is by far the best!
Peanut butter co makes the best peanut butter. Smooth operator is awesome plus they have some with flavors. Not sure how wide of distribution it is around the country but if you see it give it a try you will not be disappointed at all.
I’m a ” JIF ” er all the way and my protein levels are better and my A1C is down.
I have been craving peanut now more than ever before, and I am 57. The only peanut butter I eat is Jif, but I eat the crunchy. It’s my #1 choice.
Terry loves 2 of my favorite brands skippy and Peter pan peanut butter is started since 1928 but the first brand is beech-nut.
All these peanut butters are pure, unadulterated bullshit. My neurologist’s dietician said that sunflower butter destroys all the peanut butters, period! Try it for health purposes. It is the best!!! You will throw all of these peanut butters in the garbage can!!!
Adams Dark Roast Crunchy Peanut Butter all The Way