I Asked 3 Food Experts To Name the Best Peanut Butter—They All Said the Same Brand

I Asked 3 Food Experts To Name the Best Peanut Butter—They All Said the Same Brand

Choosing the perfect peanut butter can be a daunting task. With dozens of options lining grocery store shelves, deciding on a single jar seems nearly impossible. Should you opt for the nostalgic brand your mom used in your childhood PB&J sandwiches? Or perhaps you lean towards natural or organic options? Maybe you prefer the simplicity of a jar containing just ground peanuts and salt? With so many choices and questions, I sought the expertise of three food professionals to uncover the best peanut butter brand available.

The Pros I Asked

• Jessica Formicola: Emmy-nominated food judge, founder of Savory Experiments, recipe developer, and author of Beef It Up!
• Toby Amidor: Registered dietician and author of 10 cookbooks, including The Healthy Meal Prep and Up Your Veggies
• Imene “Imsen” Senouci: Recipe developer and author of Ambitious Foodie

The Best Peanut Butter Brand, According to the Experts

Despite the myriad of opinions, it appears that food experts agree on one thing when it comes to peanut butter: familiarity wins. In this case, the unanimous choice is Skippy Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread.

“Since I was a kid, I have liked Skippy! Not too sweet and also not salty,” says Formicola. “I prefer the smooth. Part of it is nostalgia from childhood, but as a chef and recipe developer, I find that it bakes well and doesn't have the tendency to separate. I get a nice peanut butter flavor, but not overly sweet for savory dishes, like a satay sauce.”

Nutritionally, Skippy Natural Peanut Butter is relatively similar to regular Skippy Creamy. However, the key difference lies in the ingredients: Skippy Creamy includes hydrogenated vegetable oil, while Skippy Natural contains palm oil. Hydrogenated oil is typically used to prevent separation in peanut butter, but Skippy Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread doesn’t exhibit this issue. Given that hydrogenated oil can form trans fats, which negatively impact blood cholesterol levels, many dietitians, including Amidor, recommend opting for the natural version.

Amidor, who enjoys using peanut butter in various recipes at home, appreciates its versatility. “I love to prepare peanut butter energy bites, peanut butter cherry smoothies, peanut butter cookies, and peanut butter-banana icebox bars,” she shares.

Senouci also favors the Skippy Super Chunky variety. “It’s known for its balance of creamy and chunky textures, making it versatile for both spreads and cooking,” she explains. Formicola adds, “Crunchy is [also] amazing for desserts and adding texture and variation; sometimes I even use both in cookies and peanut butter blondies.”

Now that you know which jar to grab at the store, you might as well start bookmarking some tasty peanut butter recipes yourself! Whether you’re in the mood for a chocolate peanut butter icebox cake, shrimp spring rolls with peanut sauce, or African chicken peanut stew—perfect for the cooler months—you’ll be well-equipped with the best peanut butter to elevate your dishes.