Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter

We found the best peanut butter reviews in Cook's Illustrated, which obviously specializes in food and employs thorough testing. Cook's suggests that Smucker's Natural performed well in cookies. We also found useful reviews in the St. Petersburg Times, Newsday and The Washington Post. Real Simple has a free report, but it's not very detailed.

Processed peanut butters have hydrogenated fats to maintain consistency and usually contain more sugar and salt than "natural" peanut butters like Smucker's Natural. In blind taste tests that compare processed and natural brands, the natural peanut butters do not fare as well, but Smucker's usually finishes as the choice among similar products. Natural peanut butters usually fare better with adults than with children. Newsday used only children ages 8 to13 for its taste test, and no "natural" peanut butter finished higher than fifth, with Smucker's coming in sixth. The lower sugar content is probably a major reason why. But even adult tasters in a Cook's Illustrated test cited "lack of sugar" as well as a graininess and the "oil slick on top" as negatives. Worth noting is that "natural" products finished significantly better in a Washington Post review; Smucker's was third overall, ahead of every natural contender. It also is said to be good in cookies.