Best Peanut Butter

Processed peanut butter's sticky issues

Two brands, Skippy and Jif, account for the bulk of both creamy and chunky processed peanut butter sales in the United States. Processed peanut butter differs from natural peanut butter in that it contains vegetable oil that has been processed from a liquid to a solid state by adding hydrogen to it. This partially hydrogenated oil acts as an emulsifier that prevents the oil in peanuts from separating from the peanut solids. It also creates a creamier texture and lengthens the shelf life of the peanut butter. The downside of partially hydrogenated oil is that it contains trans fat, which can raise cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease. Because the amount of trans fat in 2 tablespoons of peanut butter (the standard serving size) is less than a half a gram, manufacturers aren't required to disclose it on the nutritional label. 

For a product to be classified as true peanut butter in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that it be at least 90 percent peanuts. Any product that doesn't meet this requirement will be labeled "peanut butter spread" (albeit in a really small font). Reduced-fat peanut butters, which have corn syrup added, usually fall short of this FDA requirement.

In addition to peanuts and partially hydrogenated oil, both Skippy and Jif contain sugar and salt. Jif also contains molasses and both mono- and diglycerides, which are fats that improve consistency. Generally, the ingredients and nutritional value of creamy versus chunky peanut butters made by the same manufacturer are exactly the same.

Texture and consistency define the best creamy peanut butters

Perhaps it's the creamy aspect that's so important to peanut butter lovers that makes experts focus on smooth peanut butters far more than chunky. For that reason, we found no shortage of blind taste tests devoted to creamy peanut butter. Each of these includes at least one variety (if not more) of Skippy and Jif, so we found plenty of opinions about these leading brands. Although Jif's catchy slogan says "Choosy moms choose Jif," time and time again Skippy Creamy (*Est. $2.40 for a 16.3-oz. jar) is chosen over Jif Creamy (*Est. $3.30 for an 18-oz. jar) in blind taste tests.

One particularly convincing review says Skippy Creamy takes top honors compared to Jif peanut butter and 13 other processed and natural brands for its creaminess, spreadability and balance of sweetness and saltiness. Skippy Creamy peanut butter also beats out Jif in a blind taste test of 18 creamy peanut butters at SeriousEats.com, where testers describe it as "really smooth and creamy, slightly saltier than sweet, and rounded out with a savory roasted-ness." Skippy Creamy also maintains its appeal when baked in cookies or blended into a sauce. Skippy and Jif have nearly identical nutritional information, but Jif has 5 percent more vitamin E and a small amount of riboflavin.

Skippy Creamy takes the top spot in two other reviews that don't reveal all the other contenders, so we can only assume Jif Creamy was included. Skippy peanut butter is picked as the favorite among 16 brands (including chunky varieties) at Cooking Light magazine for its "heady aroma and balanced flavor," although it was "a touch oily." Good Housekeeping evaluates 18 creamy peanut butters and declares Skippy Creamy as the best sweetened brand.

Although not favored over Skippy Creamy, Reese's Creamy (*Est. $2.59 for an 18-oz. jar) is another consistent runner-up. One expert review recommends its "good, thick texture and powerful peanut flavor." At SeriousEats.com, the taste and texture of Reese's Creamy even edges out Jif Creamy. Testers at Epicurious,com like the " smooth and fluffy" texture of Reese's Creamy. Some found it a bit salty, but it actually has 10 milligrams less sodium than Skippy and Jif peanut butter. Reese's Creamy has more ingredients added, including peanut oil and cornstarch, which may account for its slightly lower saturated fat content and higher fiber.

Taste trumps texture with crunchy peanut butters

Generally, texture is less of an issue with crunchy peanut butter, so expert reviews focus more on taste. After blind taste testing of 16 peanut butters right out of the jar and also baked into cookies, Cooking Light magazine declares a tie between Skippy Super Chunk (*Est. $2.40 for a 16.3-oz. jar) and Jif Extra Crunchy (*Est. $2.80 for an 18-oz. jar) . Therefore, we rely on another impressive review of 32 peanut butters at KitchenDaily.com where Skippy Super Chunk is rated the best overall for its taste, mouth feel and overall appeal. It receives a 4-point rating out of a possible 5 for spreadability. Jif Extra Crunchy was not included in the lineup, although Jif Creamy takes a distant eighth place.

In another blind taste test that surprisingly knocks out both Skippy Super Chunk and Jif Extra Crunchy in preliminary testing, Peter Pan Crunchy (*Est. $2.89 for a 16.3-oz. jar) is the favorite processed peanut butter, although testers say it's not as chunky as some natural peanut butters. Peter Pan takes fifth place overall at KitchenDaily.com with a score of 4.5 for mouth feel, spreadability and overall appeal, and a score of 4 for taste.