Best All-Natural, No Sugar Added Peanut Butter Brand

[loveballet101]

Hi! I LOVE all natural unsweetened peanut butter...but I just realized I've only ever had one kind (tried it once, and was completely hooked): 365 Organic Unsweetened Peanut Butter from Whole Foods

Anyway, does anyone have any other suggestions? Just thought I ought to give something else a try. I'm not interested in Better n' Peanut Butter or some other low-calorie knock-off. Just a delicious, no-sugar added option that I could find at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods or just a plain old grocery store. Also, I'm open to suggestions for all-natural nut butters (almonds, pistachio perhaps...do they even make pistachio butter?). Unfortunately, I'm allergic to cashews, so that's out of the picture (I know many people like cashew butter). I spotted some marcona almond butter at Whole Foods a few days ago, and plan to buy it next time I go!

[bcc]

This is simple. Buy a bag of whatever salted, roasted peanuts you like; toss the peanuts into a food processor; process for about 4 minutes. At about 2, 2 1/2 minutes, the peanut mass will form a ball. When the ball flattens out, the peanut butter is ready.

[goodhealthgourmet]

Not everyone has the desire or the equipment to make their own, hence the request for store-bought product recommendations.

[zoey67]

Yes, precisely. Why do people always do this I have no clue. They do this with other stuff too like furniture or electronics, like who has the freakin time, knowledge, patient to make it from scratch? Plus by the time you end up paying for the parts needed it's more than if you go out and buy the damn thing...and it can never equal the research and skill in making it by the original makers.

[JudiAU]

My favorite by far is Santa Cruz Dark Roasted Organic, both the smooth and creamy. Whole Foods carries it sometimes and if you live near a Gelsons, they discount it often.

Unless you are cooking with it, peanut butter lasts long enough that the higher price issues aren't really an issue.

TJs used to have a wonderful Valencia peanut butter but it is gone. The last version I tried was horrid.

[mcf]

I don't cook with PB, but my husband finishes off 1-2 jars per week. With little, if any, help from me.

[goodhealthgourmet]

Unless you are cooking with it, peanut butter lasts long enough that the higher price issues aren't really an issue.
~~~~~~~~~~
Price is an issue for many people regardless of how long something lasts.

I agree on the Santa Cruz Organic Dark Roasted PB - it's been my favorite for years. Unfortunately I prefer the crunchy and it's been unavailable for the better part of a year.

[JudiAU]

Santa Cruz Dark Roasted Crunchy is now back in stock in Los Angeles Gelsons.

[goodhealthgourmet]

Yes, fortunately I found out from another thread a few weeks ago, but thanks so much for taking the time to let me know! Oh, and if it makes any difference for you, it's also back in stock at Sprouts.

[westsidegal]

+1 JudiAu

[rasputina]

Have you tried the fresh ground peanut butters? I just got the honey roasted peanut butter at Whole Foods and yummmm but they also have one with regular peanuts. You just grind it yourself once you choose the container size. In the bulk foods section.

[goodhealthgourmet]

IMO the [plain] fresh ground PB at WF is okay - the roast on the peanuts isn't as dark as I like it - but for $12.99/lb I should be swooning over every bite!

[PotatoHouse]

Is there any place close to you where you actually grind your own peanut butter right in the store? I've seen that in a few places before.

[terrierboy]

I have three places close to where I live in New England. I belong to a co-op that has machines for peanut and almond butters. In addition, within thirty minutes, I shop at two other specialty food shops that include machines for peanut and almond butters. I am never without fresh PB or AB. The prices are reasonable, as well. The roast seems better than some I've seen. In our area, shopping local is all the rage, so we're blessed with many farm stores, farmers markets and specialty food shops. Many farms have installed greenhouses, so we have some fresh foods year-round. That's simply amazing for a northern climate.

[Uomosenza]

Also. At regular groceries, Laura Scudders and Adams are two brands that make natural peanut butter (peanuts and salt, that's all; maybe salt-free too, though to stocked everywhere).

[Uomosenza]

Trader joes has its own house brand of natural peanut butter, creamy and chunky. The also one times have other nut butters. I love almond. Costco stocks Maranatha brand, which u can Los find at standard groceries as well as health food stores like Whole Foods.

[Val]

I have tried the TJ's house brand of natural pb...too runny...the Smucker's is much thicker and...well, SATISFYING shall we say? I do like the flavor of the TJ's though...consistency is what kills it for me, just saying!

[GraceW]

Smuckers is so thick (and I pour off a lot of the oil, if I buy it) that sometimes I make the very hard result at the bottom into small hard cubes or spheres. Mmm.

[Val]

Grace, I think the *trick* for Smucker's is to stir that oil ALL the way down to the bottom of the jar...right after buying a new jar, before opening it, I will store it upside down so that when I open the jar, the oil isn't all sitting on top...this makes it much neater and less oil slop when you do stir it up..which still takes some time upon first opening the jar but hey, it's good exercise (heh). This way, you don't end up with a hard layer on the bottom...it needs the oil.

[mcf]

I learned about this life changing item on CH: http://www.amazon.com/Witmer-Company-...

[Leepa]

When I open the jar for the first time, I just dump it all out in a mixing bowl and whiz it up with my hand mixer. That evens it all out and it doesn't settle back out at all. I also add about a quarter cup of wheat germ, but that's another story.

I used to do it with the food processor, but I've found that the mixer does a quicker and better job plus the two blades and bowl are easier to clean that the FP.

[Will Owen]

PB Search Update: we're working through our first jar of (Safeway) O Organics crunchy. While the color is almost as pale as Trader Joe's Organic, the flavor is much richer (that little bit more salt helps) and the density of peanut bits is much higher. It is NOT cheap, but as a jar lasts a couple of months around here we'll stick with it, I think.

[terrierboy]

Crazy Richards and PB&Co. among bigger brands. Homemade remains my favorite, closely followed by what I purchase from the machines at my local co-op and other independent markets. I pretty much avoid supermarkets. A sprinkle of smoked sea salt makes it divine.

[mattstolz]

has anyone tried Naturally More PB or almond butter? im interested in opinions on this one

[goodhealthgourmet]

it's been years - i haven't eaten it since i had to give up gluten nearly 5 years ago (no more wheat germ for me!), but i do recall really liking the Naturally More PB. they didn't make the almond butter at that point so i have no idea if it's any good.

have you tried Powerbutter or PowerPB? they're similar products. i can't remember which of the three (if any) i liked best - i used to eat them all at back in the day. but something tells me the Naturally More was probably the most Chow-worthy, and if i could still eat it, i'd opt for the organic.

[CocoDan]

Teddy (unsalted). It's peanuts made into butter. Just peanuts. All you need is bread (or crackers) and something to spread with.
Enjoy,
CocoDan

[APLewis]

I think the best of the best for pb purists is the 100% organic peanut butter that is ground daily at Natural Grocers (a family owned midwest chain). From their web site:

"Fresh ground peanut butter and almond butter are available everyday. Salt free and sugar free, these nut butters are ground in small batches in every store to ensure you get the freshest product possible. The almonds and organic peanuts used in the products are kept refrigerated in the store coolers until just before grinding. Our fresh ground peanut butter is certified USDA Organic. Enjoy!"

I like that trained store staff do the grinding, so you don't have to worry about your fellow shoppers making a mess of things.

[mcf]

I have natural grocers near me offering the same thing, and it doesn't taste nearly as good as Smucker's. And I *like* the salt.

[aynrandgirl]

I've never understood why so many of the "natural" and "organic" brands of PB have very little or no salt. Low-salt PB tastes horrible.

[mcf]

ITA, but some folks like it that way. Bleah.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Unsalted tastes fine to me. When I was growing up we took salt off the table years ago after my Dad had his bypass surgery. It was tough the first few weeks, but after awhile I started being turned off by salted items as they tasted too salty. Some of these were items that I would actually have added more salt to previously. We get wayyyyy more sodium in our diets than we need now, so I don't add anymore than required. When I eat heavily salted meals I am pounding down water for the rest of the day.

[mcf]

I stopped using added salt years ago and got sensitized to the taste also, but a few foods need it for my tastes, and PB is one of them. Salt is not the health threat it's been made out to be, and living without enough of it, as the gov't recommends is life threatening. Very few people have health problems due to their salt consumption, it's a passenger on junk foods that are simultaneously low in potassium, magnesium and other regulatory minerals. Those who are salt sensitive ought to have their adrenal function tested, with a special eye to aldosterone because it's part of a much bigger and soluble problem.

[Leepa]

I just tried a new to me all natural peanut/almond/cashew butter that I picked up at Target - Archer Farms brand. It's quite good. Just roasted nuts and salt.

[mcf]

Target carries Smucker's organic and always in glass jars, too. Hands down, after tasting every natural PB to cross our paths, the best for our money around here.

[Leepa]

I agree... that's what I normally get, but wanted to try this one that I just noticed this week. It didn't disappoint.

I've always seen Smucker's in glass jars no matter where I've bought it.

[mcf]

Yes, I know it's always in glass, but I always note it because so few brands, even organic ones, are.

[foodie06]

I like Earth's Balance creamy. Its mixed with agave instead of sugar. I t also has the added benefit of ground flax seeds.

[mcf]

If I want flax, I'll eat flax. I pretty much avoid the health risk agave poses (elevated triglcyerides). All I want in my PB is PB and salt. Tweechisown. :-)

[aynrandgirl]

I've tried flaxseed peanut butters, but I've always found the taste to be horrible.

[sandylc]

Flax seed begins to lose many of its health benefits shortly after being ground. Anyone wanting maximum health benefits from flax should grind it right before eating it.

[mcf]

I have read that the oils oxidize rapidly upon exposure to air, rancidity, basically. I've also seen references disputing that. I just think they don't belong in PB izzall. :-)

[sandylc]

Methinks the same.

[sandylc]

Parkers Farm is pretty good - it's in the refrigerator case.

http://www.parkersfarm.com/products.h...

[zoey67]

I confess Im always a sucker for new exciting products and posted on another PB thread here that I bought couple jars of Justin's all natural PB and almond butter. Now after the excitement comes down & trying to stir quick sand I realize the simple tried and true is the best way to go so I can't wait to buy some Teddie's or Crazy richards next time Im at Whole foods.

To be quite honest, the flavor from Justin's is really kinda bland and is not that rich or buttery. I usually spread some with jam/jelly on my toasted english muffins with my eggs/bacon but now I recently discovered that nutella spread goes great with jelly instead of PB. That almost chocolate flavored cocoa Nutella is a nice substitute if you're out of PB.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

I have only bought Adams All Natural, and it is really good IMO. Ingredients listing is just peanuts, nothing else.

Heard the price of PB is supposed to go way up, so stock up now.

[mucho gordo]

Adams is great but I haven't seen it in the markets for years now. Where is it sold? Next best is a tie between Laura Scudder's and Kirkland. Mixing them is a breeze now that I've learned to use the method suggested on the Adams jar.

[goodhealthgourmet]

Adams is great but I haven't seen it in the markets for years now. Where is it sold?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.adamspeanutbutter.com/Reso...

not so sure it's available in the LA area anymore, but you can certainly buy it online if the store locator comes up empty.

[mucho gordo]

Thanks, ghg. Just looked it up and found that the top brands are all Smucker's anyway, including Adams and Laura Scudder's.

[sandylc]

Oooh! Wasn't there a recent recall on Smucker's natural?????

[goodhealthgourmet]

yep, but not the smooth, just the "Natural Chunky."

[mattstolz]

uhm no luck on the adams anywhere near me but im pretty tempted to buy the natural pb stirrer listed on that page!

[mucho gordo]

Matt, before you invest in the stirrer try the method described on the Adam's jar: Remove the top and put the jar in microwave for 45-60 seconds, then stir. I use a butter knife. Heating it first melts the glob making it much easier to mix thoroughly.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

I see Adams in the S.NV markets, and out where I live outside of Las Vegas.

I flip the jar upside down every once in awhile when it separates.

[MplsM ary]

Yay Parkers Farm!

I could not get to Cub for a larger container of Parkers Farm so I bought the newer new salted Trader Joe's creamy peanut butter. The organic stuff seems to be gone (again). The TJ's stuff is a salt lick. Simply awful.

Never again will I stray from Parkers Farm. Lesson learned.

edited to add that the large container of Parkers Farm lists the ingredients as: Peanuts, Salt, Love, Care & Pride. How could anyone resist that?

[frannieface77]

My favorite nut butter so far is TJ's creamy almond butter with sea salt.

[Bethcooks]

Koeze "Cream Nut" brand peanut butter is the BEST peanut butter ever. Williams Sonoma had it in their catalog last year but now I think you can only buy it from koeze.com or if you are lucky, at your local gocery store. [Whole Foods may have it] It is kosher, all natural, certified organic, etc. Roasted in small batches, no sugar, no preservatives, etc. So good.

[JudiAU]

I like Koeze Cream Nut a lot but it is not organic.

[mattstolz]

i like it best when its fresh outta my own food processor! mmmm still all warm and peanutty.

[aynrandgirl]

I want to like the "natural" brands of peanut butter, but far too many of them use way too little salt (I don't know what less or no salt have to do with "natural" or "organic") and have Valencia peanuts (which I can't stand the taste of) instead of regular ones.

[Mag454]

You can try making your own peanut butter. It is very easy...just put some roasted peanuts in a blender/cuisinart, add some oil to smooth it out (only needs a teeny tiny bit to smooth it out) and some honey, if you want. You can do this with any type of nut!

[jbsiegel]

I was just going to suggest this. I normally just pop some roasted salted nuts (any variety - play with it!) into the food processor and let it go until it turns into nut butter (10 minutes or so). I don't add anything to it, but I'm considering experimenting with spices and/or cocoa powder.

[bbqboy]

http://www.maranathafoods.com/categor...

[sueatmo]

Your grocer might produce an all natural peanut butter. I noticed, for the first time, that my grocer does. Prices are not lower than Smuckers, though. Some WF have peanut butter machines.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Crazy Richard's (agree with ecustard)

http://images57.fotki.com/v283/photos...

[Leepa]

Smucker's creamy for me. As soon as I open it for the first time, I dump it in the food processor and add 3-4 tablespoons of toasted wheat germ and whirl it up. Then I put it back in the original jar and into the fridge. It never needs to be stirred again, and the wheat germ is nice in it. Good for you, too.

[Bada Bing]

Wheat germ is an interesting idea.

As for mixing, I use one whisk from a power hand mixer and mix it right in the bottle. Once in the fridge, the PB stays mixed and spreadable.

[Leepa]

The wheat germ thing is something I learned from Jane Brody way back in the late 70's early 80's. It's been my favorite ever since.

I'll have to try the one whisk thing. Though sometimes I find it all hard panned in the bottom of the jar when I dump it out. Does that all get broken up? One thing about the FP is that it makes it a good even consistency.

[Bada Bing]

Re: the power whisk: I plunge the whisk right to the bottom and start on low speed, mix for quite some time moving around the bottom, and then gradually elevate the whisk. You have to be careful to limit the splatter toward the end, but it generally works great, all the way to the bottom.

[Kajikit]

I've had the natural no-sugar peanut butter from Whole Foods, from Publix, from Smuckers, and from Target and they're all pretty much of a muchness. The Smuckers one tastes a bit over-roasted for my liking, but the others could have come off the same production line (and probably did.) Our local Target doesn't carry the all-natural PB any more, probably because it's not a Super Target. :(

I DON'T like the other natural nut-butters you can buy. They tend to be too gritty, oily, and bland for my liking, and they cost a fortune.

[Caitlin McGrath]

I've recently become a total convert to Santa Cruz Organic Dark Roasted Peanut Butter. It has such a wonderful, deeply peanutty flavor, more so than other brands I've tried. You just have to make sure you buy the dark roasted, because there's a light roasted one with a very similar label. You can get it at Whole Foods. I do find that it gets too hard in the refrigerator, so I leave it on the counter and have no issues with rancidity, but I generally finish it up within a few weeks.

[westsidegal]

+1
the Santa Cruz organic DARK ROASTED pb is the best i've had.
not only do i like it's flavor the best, i also like that it is packaged in GLASS jars.
here, i southern california, i get it at my local Gelson's

[CookieLee]

Another vote for Smuckers. We like the chunky style.

[RC51Mike]

Smuckers is my current favorite. I got a jar without salt (at least I think it was Smuckers that I had salt free) and salt my peanut butter sandwich myself. Crystals of salt give a unique and good taste and texture. Don't care for Trader Joe's. Too soupy and not a great peanut flavor.

Saw Skippy's "all natural"- "Peanuts, sugar, salt and palm oil" as ingredients. They couldn't leave out sugar and they took out the good peanut oil and replaced it with palm oil??? Big food "chemical companies" just can't make it simple can they?

[Kajikit]

The Skippy Natural is actually very good if you put aside the fact that it has oil added to it. I'd be happier if it had no added sugar, but it's not nearly as sweet and greasy as some other peanut butters, and I almost always eat my peanut-butter with jelly anyway.

[Val]

This just in...well, first I've heard of it...peanut butter prices will be going up...might want to buy an extra jar...saw this on 2 websites:
http://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-s...

[Bada Bing]

I have no idea why this is so, but from living in two different locales, I've found that we like best the store brands of natural peanut butter, even better than Smuckers, which is the usual national brand alternative. In fact, I'm not crazy about Smuckers at all.

Of course, I don't know what the store brands are in your area, but give those a try.

[The Professor]

I agree. In these parts, SHOP-RITE has their own brand of natural PB (and lots of other things).
It's the best of the lot. Most of their store brand products equal or often surpass the name brand counterparts.

Barring that, of the more widely available natural PB brands, I find Crazy Richard's and Teddie to be the best (they might even come out of the same plant).

[ecustard]

Crazy Richard's is from Dublin, OH, and Teddie is from Massachusetts.

[The Professor]

The corporate offices, yes...but I wonder if the manufacturing is a different story. Either way, both are very good products.

[ecustard]

Crazy Richard's peanut butter is sold under the Krema brand in the midwest. AFAIK it's not sold under any other label.

They and Teddie are very tasty. Funny how that works without adding anything at all to the peanuts.

[ecustard]

Two of my faves: Crazy Richard's. Teddie. I buy both in "plain old grocery stores."

www.crazyrichards.com
www.teddie.com

[magiesmom]

Teddie for me too.

[sueatmo]

I suggest you try some different brands to see which you like the best. A good place to see several different brands of natural peanut butter is at Whole Foods. I personally prefer Smuckers All Natural peanut butter, chunky style. It isn't nearly as expensive as many natural peanut butters, but for me it is really good. There is nothing like opening a brand new jar. I get Smuckers at my regular grocer. I think if you live in the Western U.S., you might have to look for Anne Adams. (I think that is right.)

Diamond makes an absolutely luscious almond butter which is slightly sweetened. And Maranatha makes an acceptable natural sunflower nut butter.

[Val]

I'm with you, sueatmo, Smucker's Natural PB tastes best...I recently tried Whole Foods' house brand 365 Natural Creamy pb and...meh, it was kind of thin, almost runny...definitely sticking with Smucker's from now on. I do need to branch out and try almond butter...the price though seems excessive...

[mcf]

We've tried them all, and Smucker's creamy is the only one for us. They make an organic version of it, and it's in glass jars, not plastic, both varieties.

[Val]

Yes, mcf...even now in 2013 the Smucker's Natural is *still* in that lovely wide mouth glass jar--and I noticed the price at WalMart DROPPED from $3.28 per jar to $2.98 per jar, small but appreciated by me anyway...and I have branched out and bought the TJ's almond butter...though NO sugar is added, WOW, so much sweeter than natural PB! So I just use the almond butter *sparingly*...I mean, when I EAT raw almonds, I am not tasting that sweetness but in the butter, it REALLY comes through!

[mcf]

I'm not a Walmart shopper, but that price is about what I get the regular, non organic Smuckers for on special, 2 jars for $6 or $7 depending where I am.

Are you getting organic for that price? I used to see it in Target, only, now it's not there at the one I used to make a trip to just to get it.

[Will Owen]

Smucker's brand here in SoCal is Laura Scudder, which is quite good. If I had not vowed an eternal boycott of all things Smucker's (see White Lily Flour controversy) it'd be my favorite. I was buying Trader Joe's Organic Crunchy Salted, but the Organic is either gone or suffering a shortage, possibly due to the Texas drought, so I think I will try WF's 365 brand. I so seldom think of going to their grocery aisles …

[Will Owen]

Follow-up on WF's 365 PB: I was surprised and extremely disappointed to see that while the "conventional" 365 contains only peanuts and salt, the organic contains sugar! We would much prefer to stick with certified organic, as peanuts are a crop that often is grown with heavy pesticide use. I know that some that aren't also can't be tagged "organic" for technical reasons, but I prefer having that extra protection.

[goodhealthgourmet]

I was buying Trader Joe's Organic Crunchy Salted, but the Organic is either gone or suffering a shortage
~~~~~~~~~
they discontinued the organic PB made with Valencia peanuts due to a supply issue. there is a replacement on the shelves now (made with organic runner peanuts) - i grabbed a jar the other day but haven't tried it yet.

Costco's Kirkland Organic Peanut Butter is excellent - no added sugar or oils and you can't beat the price. my other favorite is Santa Cruz Organic *Dark Roast* (thanks to fellow LA Hound mollyomormom), but you'll pay dearly for it...though it's not quite as bad if you can get your hands on a $1-off Mambo Sprouts coupons or manage to catch it on sale at Sprouts or Santa Monica Cooportunity.

[Will Owen]

goodhealthgourmet, I got a jar of TJ's new non-Valencia organic crunchy, and aside from its odd pale color I think it's an improvement! Much easier to stir into uniformity, and I love the taste a lot. The peanuts they're using now still have a bit more sweetness than I prefer, but the flavor and consistency are up there with the best I've ever tasted, including some really great fresh-made.

[goodhealthgourmet]

thanks for the report! i'll open mine in the next day or so and let you know what i think....and if you have the opportunity to try Santa Cruz Dark Roast or Kirkland at some point, i think you'll like them because thy don't have that sweetness.

[Will Owen]

The primary consumer of PB around here is Mrs. O, who LIKES that sweetness. And after Pa-in-law died, his annual renewal of the family's Costco account did too. We didn't shop there often enough to justify paying for our own account, so No Mo Costco.

[goodhealthgourmet]

well at least now we all know who calls the shots in the O household ;) seriously though, i'm sorry to hear about your father-in-law.

i just tried the TJ's and i hate to say it but i'm disappointed. i like really robust PB and this stuff is too bland/mild for me. not awful, mind you, just meh. even worse, i'm stuck out in NJ for the foreseeable future and Costco out here doesn't carry the organic PB, only that awful sugary Skippy or Jif or whatever it is. blech.

[Will Owen]

"well at least now we all know who calls the shots in the O household" Hey, I'm the cook, she's the customer. Unlike too many "chefs" these days, I know my place.

I'm not as nuts (so to speak) about the new TJ's PB as I was at first; refrigeration seems to flatten out its flavor. I will try the 365 next, but I'm just really leery of noncertified peanuts; those things can get sprayed with damn near anything short of nerve gas.

[goodhealthgourmet]

agreed - peanuts are one thing i really don't take a chance on when it comes to safety/purity. oh, and apparently you couldn't have tried the Kirkland Organic even if you still shopped at Costco...i e-mailed customer service yesterday to see if they could stock it here in NJ, and got a reply today saying it was *discontinued* due to a shortage of organic peanuts. boo.

[GraceW]

I don't know if I am 100% correct, but I was just at Meijer (do they have that in NJ?), and I know they had Kirkland, because I paused and thought isn't that what 'goodhealthgourmet' likes? I didn't buy it because I cannot afford (health-wise) to eat a jar right now, but I think it was there.

[goodhealthgourmet]

no, we don't have Meijer here, but thanks so much for thinking of me! i should have stocked up when i spotted it on Amazon, because now there's only one "seller" offering it...for TWENTY-FIVE dollars a jar. criminal.

[GraceW]

That is ridiculous. For $25, I could probably mail a jar to a 3rd world country where hungry children would really REALLY want it. Sorries to mention my dream: I wish I could send PB to hungry kids because it is only about $2 and so nutritionally dense. I think they would look so happy and full

[Chemicalkinetics]

I really think you should send a bottle of water along if you are going to send peanut butter.

It is probably much more cost effective if you can send the money. They can use your $2 to eat for an entire week instead of one jar of peanut butter.

[sueatmo]

The price IS excessive. I only bought one jar once. The Diamond brand is absolutely luscious though. It does have a little sugar.