Not nuts about peanut butter

[Guest guest]

Members of the Slow Food movement would likely tell you to grind your own peanut butter. And they'd probably be right. But when you've got school lunch to think about, sometimes it's quicker and more efficient just to reach down into a tub of the pre-made stuff.

 

 

 

 

Many elementary schools won't allow peanut butter these days due to severe allergies, but it's still a kid favorite, even if it has to be consumed at home.

Fortunately, there are several products on the market these days that are fairly natural. We limited the tasting to those products that contained only peanuts and salt. No sugar, palm oil or trans-fat, which means most of them separate pretty easily and need to be stirred.

Chunky versus smooth is all about personal preference. Those who like a little more girth to their sandwiches prefer the chunky, but options abound for both. In fact, the panel tested creamy peanut butter in 2003, and Adams 100% Natural came out on top.

After tasting their way through 13 brands of the chunky (with copious amounts of water in between), most panelists would probably agree with the Slow Food sentiment. The results were somewhat dismal, with only a few that were considered worth buying.

Two brands tied for first place.

One was Safeway brand O Organics ($3.99/18 ounces). Tasters said it had a "mild flavor," but was "well balanced," with a "toasty finish." Some noted the "oily texture" but said that overall it had a "good flavor." Two would buy this brand, two might, and one would not.

The other, Trader Joe's Organic brand ($2.99/16 ounces) was "pure tasting" with a "pronounced peanut flavor" and "just enough salt." Some liked the "pleasant toasty flavor" and others found it "OK." Two would buy it, and three might.

Taking the second-place slot was Laura Scudder's ($3.99/16 ounces at Safeway), which panelists deemed "very crunchy," with "just a bit of toastiness." One member noted the "warm color," and another said it had "a nice ratio of chunks.It leaves you thirsty," said one. One would buy it, one might and three would not.

In third, Santa Cruz Organic ($4.99/16 ounces at Andronico's) received some praise for its light roasted product (they also make a dark roasted peanut butter that placed two slots below). Tasters called it "OK," and thought it had a "nice creaminess with chunks."

One pointed out the "good golden color," and said it had "a nice balance of peanuts and salt." Four might buy this brand, and one would not.

Rounding out the top choices in fourth place was specialty brand Stonewall Kitchen ($6.99/15.5 ounces at Draeger's). "Very crunchy" with "a rich peanut flavor" and "well rounded" were some of the more positive comments. Others found the peanut butter to be "too salty" and "oily" with peanuts that were "not that fresh." Two would buy it and three would not.

 

Chunky peanut butter

O Organics 62

 

Trader Joe's Organic 62

 

Laura Scudder's 54

 

Santa Cruz Organic 52

Light Roasted

 

Stonewall Kitchen 47

 

Santa Cruz Organic 44

Dark Roasted

 

Mollie Stone's Organic 40

 

Adams 27

 

Arrowhead Mills 24

 

Trader Joe's 20

 

Safeway Old Fashioned 16

Woodstock Farms 12

 

The Food Mill 6

 

Panelists were Linda Anusasananan, food writer and consultant, San Mateo; Jennifer Biesty, caterer and former Top Chef contestant, San Francisco; John Carroll, cookbook author, San Francisco; Shelley Handler, consultant, San Francisco; and Tim Luym, chef-owner, Poleng Lounge, San Francisco. All products are tasted blind; a perfect score would be 100. Prices listed are the lowest found, but products may be available at other stores.

 

E-mail Amanda Gold at agold. To look up past Taster's Choice columns, search online at sfgate.com/food/tasters/archive.

 

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