The best peanut butters
Peanut butter. It’s classic. It’s addictive, and no two supermarket peanut butters taste alike. Fans of peanut butter typically have a favorite — and insist that anything else tastes a little “off.”
Understood. But for those who have yet to land on a favorite, we are here for you! We grabbed 15 brands of peanut butter — mostly crunchy — and tasted. They ranged from thick pastes to thin purees, salted and unsalted, sweetened and plain. Every peanut butter made a statement — of some sort.
In many ways, peanut butter is a perfect food. It’s an amazingly versatile plant-based protein that works as breakfast, lunch, a snack or even dessert, though it is high in fat and calories. Smear it on toast or in a PBJ, add it to oatmeal or a smoothie, serve as a dip for apples, celery or bananas, or turn it into cookies, cakes, salad dressing or even ice cream.
The best jarred peanut butters are silky smooth purees of fresh, perfectly roasted peanuts seasoned with a bit of salt and perhaps a touch of sugar. The worst are murky spreads that are stirred up with too much sugar, too much salt — or oddball fats that literally overpower the flavor of peanuts.
Here are details on the luscious peanut butters that are destined to become your new favorites, and the regrettable, offensive pastes that should remain in the jar. Nutrition info refers to 2 tablespoons.
Santa Cruz Organic Dark Roasted Peanut Butter
Thick, spreadable consistency and a wallop of freshroasted peanut flavor make this peanut butter a big win. It has a pinch of salt and no added sugar. 190 calories, 16 g fat, 50 mg sodium, 1 g sugar, 8 g protein. $6.79 for 16 ounces at Whole Foods.
Once Again No Stir Crunchy Peanut Butter
The sweet taste of ultrafresh peanuts toasted to perfection shines in this smooth puree pocked with a generous handful of crunchy nuts. It has a good balance of salt and sugar, and a touch of palm oil that keeps it emulsified. 190 calories, 15 g fat, 65 mg sodium, 3 g sugar, 7 g protein. $8.99 for 16 ounces at Sprouts.
Naturally More Organic Peanut Butter
This is a velvety pour of roasted peanuts. It has a great balance of sweet and salt, but it’s literally a pour instead of a smear. Buy this for the flavor, but don’t even try to use it on bread. 180 calories, 15 g fat, 65 mg sodium, 1 g sugar, 8 g protein. $8.99 for 2 28-ounce jars at Costco.