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86 Comments
ula
March 8, 2020
As a Crunchy PB FAN, I have to mention Crazy Richards, Laura Scudders and Peter Pans Simply Ground.
I'm always searching for the chunkiest PB w Oil on top
Price is not a huge consideration.
If I find a favorite, I order multiples!
I'm always searching for the chunkiest PB w Oil on top
Price is not a huge consideration.
If I find a favorite, I order multiples!
Martha J.
March 1, 2020
I only buy Adams or Laura Scudders, or we grind our own. I used to also like Trader Joe's, but we have now stopped buying anything that comes in a plastic jar, so many TJ items are out for us. Interesting discussion!
Carole
February 29, 2020
My husband and I have eaten Smucker's for years and love it! We do alot of "fasting" as Orthodox Christians and go through a lot of peanut butter. Smucker's is the BEST!
Jill F.
February 29, 2020
Santa Cruz Dark Roasted Peanut Butter is my family’s hands down favorite! I buy several jars at a time as it’s a necessity.
Dennis
February 29, 2020
I've been a big fan of the TJ's salted PBs for quite a while, both crunchy and creamy. As someone who has eaten peanut butter from an open jar and a spoon since childhood, this is the best snacking PB around. But the Smucker's is actually better for cooking. (Oddly enough, nobody in my family ever complained about me eating the PB straight from the family's shared jar. And yes, they knew I did, because this was my favorite TV watching snack!)
Ruth
February 28, 2020
We've been Smuckers customers for years, tried TJs and didn't love it. In recent months I've been alternating between Smuckers and Wegmans house brand, though. I think my PB holy grail is from a company called Walnut Acres, which went out of business many years ago. When I was a kid they had a peanut butter-sesame-honey spread that was divine. Just as well it's no longer available, since I used to eat it by the spoonful, and I'm sure the calorie count was sky high.
Alice H.
February 28, 2020
I mean, I guess now we just have to as Valerio what their favorite bottled red sauce is, or maybe lentil soup, or frozen riced cauliflower. Why bother testing if the data is in this person'e head already?
Debbie
April 3, 2019
You missed Teddie! By far the best and probably the least expensive. https://teddie.com/
raoul47
April 3, 2019
Teddies , you have seen it on Sesame Street here is the linc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKcrnTZ9IaE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKcrnTZ9IaE
April M.
April 2, 2019
I've always loved smuckers natural peanut butter. it's SO delicious and super yummy.
Pomme D.
August 25, 2018
I see I’m late to the party on this one, but so many people here seemed to love Adams that I had to look it up— would you believe it’s available at the Smucker’s online store along with Laura Scudder’s?
[email protected]
July 20, 2018
We are fans of Wegman's natural crunchy peanut butter. It is simply the best we have found! no added salt or anything else.
Mary C.
June 11, 2018
I was on Team Adam’s-Crunchy PB when I lived on the West Coast. Now, living in Maine, I’m Team Teddie Super Chunky ATW.
Ramona N.
May 7, 2018
Old Home? Since Real Peanut Butter inexplicably went out of business, this is next best thing.
louisa
April 28, 2018
Smucker's is good, but I've always been fond of making it on my own with unsalted, Virginia peanuts. I just bought a batch from Hope and Harmony Farms (https://hopeandharmonyfarms.com/) and am really liking how the butter is turning out!
Brenda P.
April 22, 2018
You have to do this all over again because you did not include Cream-Nut peanut butter. Zingerman’s carries it. They will only use high grade Virginia peanuts. No sugar. You missed out. I have tried many of the butters in your study. I used Smuckers for years.
jet53
April 13, 2018
Just buy roasted peanuts and run them in the food processor until smooth. It will take longer than you think. Give it 3 to 5 minutes. Then add salt to taste.
Completely smooth without added oil, and won’t break, despite no sugar.
Completely smooth without added oil, and won’t break, despite no sugar.
Carolyn P.
April 13, 2018
What about Teddy’s? It’s made in MA and not distributed widely but it’s amazing! Dry roasted nuts with salt. You should check it out! Every time we go back to MA we buy a big jar to take back to NYC.
Sydne N.
April 12, 2018
If no one else has mentioned it, Smucker's is Laura Scudder's on the West Coast. That discovery, gleaned from a Bon Appetit article on those no-bake chocolate peanut butter-oatmeal cookies from my chidhood, transformed my peanut butter consuming life! No added sugar, slightly gritty/crunchy texture...give it a good, thorough stir once, and then refrigerate!
GigiR
April 13, 2018
Oh, that makes so much sense. Never heard of Smucker’s peanut butter, but I was raised on Laura Scudder’s.
Rebecca R.
February 28, 2020
So great to know! LOVE Laura Scudder's Nutty (Austin) and couldn't find in Eugene. Yay this is like Hellman's and Best Foods. Thank you, Sydne, altho by the date you'll probably never see my gratitude
maya
February 28, 2020
When I moved West to CA from NYC decades ago I couldn't find Smucker's and settled on Laura Scudders as the closest to the beloved brand. Over Christmas break my son (who has pretty much eaten a Laura Scudder's peanut butter sandwich every school day of his 15 year old life) tried Smucker's at his NY grandmother's and declared it the BEST peanut butter he had ever had. I re-tried it and had to agree...now I buy it on Amazon.
Rebecca R.
February 29, 2020
Yep I now know that thanks to you, but funny to see people thinking (tasting) a difference. Took me a long time to learn this about Hellmans and Best Foods. Not sure why companies choose to brand differently in different regions. Confusing😉 Thanks again for clearing up the mystery!
maya
February 29, 2020
Smucker’s bought Scudders in 1994 but I’m not sure they changed the “recipe” and make the two peanut butters the same. Would be interesting to find out but to me they taste different. I started eating Scudders in 1987 and it hasn’t changed since then. Also my son had no idea he was eating a different peanut butter When he declared Smucker’s the best after eating only Scudders for years.
Siobhan
April 12, 2018
TEDDY’S peanut butter is the best I’ve found yet, idk if it only exsists in NY. I moved to LA and have yet to find This best of basic.
Carolyn P.
April 13, 2018
Yesssss! I didn’t know they distribute in NY- I just moved here from MA and haven’t seen it yet!
cocoabrioche
April 12, 2018
Teddies Natural Peanut butter, just peanuts and salt (or not). I think it's much smoother with more flavor than say Trader Joe’s - though my favorite is the super chunky. They also make some with flaxseed, It's made outside of Boston, but available online. I checked when my husband was thinking of moving cross-country!
Jean G.
April 12, 2018
Why has nobody mentioned Whole Foods peanut butter out of the grinder? Freshly toasted peanuts and nothing else? The grind it yourself almond butter is even better.
CliffG
February 28, 2020
Beat me to it...by almost 2 years! We only grind Whole Foods so it is fresh and, surprise, it tastes like peanuts! I have a half jar for Santa Cruz in the back of the fridge in case we ever run out but that has not happened in years.
Mary O.
April 12, 2018
The best Teddy’s. Made in Massachusetts and can be hard to find. Great peanut taste and smooth consistency.
Jamie
April 12, 2018
Hmm, I’d rather have nasty hydrogenated oil than palm oil, which is awful on the environment. I’ll stick with my good old sugary Skippy’s.
Scott
April 10, 2018
(Looks in kitchen cabinet) Smucker's for the win!
You have to like a commercial food product with only 2 ingredients. (peanuts and salt)
A good "food hack" is storing your natural PB upside down. one little stir is all that's necessary.
You have to like a commercial food product with only 2 ingredients. (peanuts and salt)
A good "food hack" is storing your natural PB upside down. one little stir is all that's necessary.
Emma L.
April 17, 2018
Yes! Our contributor, Alice, does this, too! https://food52.com/blog/19209-a-handy-but-hands-off-trick-for-storing-natural-oil-topped-peanut-butter
Cecilia
April 9, 2018
Hmm...I feel strange adding that my preference is either Trader Joe's Creamy Salted or Trader Joe's Organic Valencia, Creamy salted...but I always, always add a big spoon of extra salt when I open a new jar and stir it in (I blitz the salt in the food processor to make the particles finer and easier to dissolve). I guess I really, really like salty peanut butter? Unsalted peanut butter is an abomination!
NaoHorton
April 8, 2018
Yes, Matt Hermenau - I just checked the label on my TJ's peanut butter, organic and Valencia peanuts. I also just had a spoonful to check, it's what I think peanut butter should be...
Matt
April 8, 2018
Trader Joes has two different natural peanut butters though. One is "standard" I would say, and the other is made with Valencia peanuts (Kirkland [Costco brand] also is made with Valencia peanuts, so I would venture they're from the same manufacturer).
Out of the two TJs, the valencia one is more flavourful.
Out of the two TJs, the valencia one is more flavourful.
Matt
April 8, 2018
I agree that 365 is salty. The sell an unsalted one (green lid) that is very good.
Emma L.
April 17, 2018
I kept *almost* buying the TJ's Valencia version, then sticking with my usual salty-creamy. Must try!
NaoHorton
April 8, 2018
Trader Joe's crunchy, unsalted. I have a problem with the winner based on other products they produce...checking in from Seattle
A.S.
April 8, 2018
FYI- the hydrogenated oils stabilizer should have been left out of this. Natural peanut butters are defined as just peanuts and salt.
A.S.
April 8, 2018
Referring to the palm oil- which is a stabilizer used in place of hydrogenated oils. Palm oils also VERY greatly progress the destruction of rain forests.
Ttrockwood
April 7, 2018
I am not loyal to just one brand but for peanut butters i buy over and over trader joe’s i always have on hand (I didn’t like the gritty sandy texture of smucker’s!), Santa Cruz organic dark roast creamy, and the peanut butter machine at the health food store that started my own peanut butter revelatory moment.
Oh, and always always salted-unsalted peanut butter is just wrong.
Oh, and always always salted-unsalted peanut butter is just wrong.
gray C.
April 7, 2018
Smuckers is my favorite! However, once I moved to seattle I couldn’t find it anywhere so I had to find a substitute. Adams crunchy was the closet I could get to my d favorite. I still fill my suitcase with Smuckers when I can find it on my trips back to the Midwest.
Nancy
April 7, 2018
Nancy B.
My favorite is Crazy Richard’s. It’s just nuts! Literally, no added oil, no sugar and no salt. Available in creamy or crunchy. Unless on sale, usually around $3.69 per jar. Just stir and refrigerate to keep oil from separating. Makes great peanut butter and bread and butter pickle sandwiches!
My favorite is Crazy Richard’s. It’s just nuts! Literally, no added oil, no sugar and no salt. Available in creamy or crunchy. Unless on sale, usually around $3.69 per jar. Just stir and refrigerate to keep oil from separating. Makes great peanut butter and bread and butter pickle sandwiches!
Kt4
April 12, 2018
Yes! Peanut butter that's only peanuts is the way to go. I want my peanut butter to taste like peanuts, not sugar. And my waistline *really* doesn't want added sugar.
But it has to be crunchy all the way so if I was given Smucker's slightly crunchy against 5 smooth options, I probably would choose the crunch.
But it has to be crunchy all the way so if I was given Smucker's slightly crunchy against 5 smooth options, I probably would choose the crunch.
Chuck C.
April 7, 2018
First, it seems impossible that your article didn’t reference the Marketplace article on the consumer driven legal evolution that culminated with specific definitions on what ingredients must be present, or not, for peanut butter to be called peanut butter. Why some brands only say ‘peanut spread’. https://www.marketplace.org/2017/10/25/business/uncertain-hour/s02-1-peanut-butter-grandma-goes-washington
But, more importantly, it seems impossible that you would consider any taste test valid with ‘creamy’ peanut butter. Ugh! Sticks to the roof of your mouth and chokes going down. Only ‘Crunchy’, baby, always, for the fullest flavor, not to mention actual peanut texture. :-)
But, more importantly, it seems impossible that you would consider any taste test valid with ‘creamy’ peanut butter. Ugh! Sticks to the roof of your mouth and chokes going down. Only ‘Crunchy’, baby, always, for the fullest flavor, not to mention actual peanut texture. :-)
dinaofdoom
April 7, 2018
Santa Cruz Organic dark roast style is very tasty, and great for recipes. Also have a childhood love of Teddy, having grown up in MA, but haven't tried it in more than a decade.
JudiAU
April 7, 2018
The company is called Santa Cruz Organic. Odd that you would leave that out. It is our favorite for taste and sustainability.
Ann
April 6, 2018
Jif. I have tried other peanut butters but my children didn't like them. All the kids are gone now but I noticed they all have Jif in their pantry. I will give Smuckers a try after reading your article.
kate
April 6, 2018
Teddie! For the love of Boston/New England.
ClippyZ
April 7, 2018
Another lover of Teddie!!! I like them all, but super chunky unsalted is a personal favorite.
Tyler
April 8, 2018
Yet another Teddie lover! Just opened a new jar today. I'm a fan of creamy salted, but chunky is also delish.
PerryDog
April 12, 2018
Count me in for Teddie (No Salt Creamy)! Made in Massachusetts from USA-grown peanuts, and nice peanut taste!
tenmiler
April 6, 2018
I haven’t tried Smuckers, although I’d probably be inclined to avoid a company like them for personal reasons and the preference for organic. Which is why I buy Kirkland organic from Costco. Not only is the price point kicking the ass of any of these but the salt ratio is perfect. No matter what you choose though I’ll suggest one thing: use a hand mixer to blend when you open it. One arm of the mixer can go right into the jar, just grip the jar tightly. For Adams, however, you need a jackhammer but I’m pretty sure that is concrete not peanuts in there. :)-
Farmgirl
April 6, 2018
Adams 100 percent Natural is the winner in our house, in B.C. Canada
jpriddy
April 9, 2018
Suckers bought Adams in 1998, including in Canada. It used to be the perfect peanut butter, and even now my husband buys it, though I press for an organic brand.
Chef S.
April 12, 2018
I'm with the Farmgirl! However, I pour off some of the peanut oil before I stir in the rest.
Chef Steve.......out!
Chef Steve.......out!
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