There doesn’t seem to be any specific target date for the return of Peter Pan Peanut Butter to store shelves. The last release I saw said it would be at least June…and so, rather than mope, I set off on a quest to find an acceptable substitute.
The first thing I did was try the other two of the “big three”–Skippy and Jif.
(all flavors are creamy. I’m a creamy peanut butter kind of gal.)
Skippy has a good flavor. It’s peanutty and not too sweet. It is, however, a little on the thick side.
Jif is sweeter than both Peter Pan and Skippy, and it has a different flavor. This flavor, I’ve since learned, is from the molasses they add to the peanut butter. I don’t mind the flavor, but I find Jif’s consistency to be its main drawback. It’s thinner than the other peanut butters, and I think that’s what I like least about it.
Rand brought home some Jif w/honey, which isn’t bad.
Reese’s Peanut Butter has a good flavor and consistency, but it’s a little on the expensive side.
Smucker’s Natural peanut butter is actually quite tasty. It has the drawback of, well, being an all-natural peanut butter. You have the oil separation-stirring thing, and the refrigeration thing…making spreading this on anything nearly impossible. It’s great for eating off a spoon, or using in recipes that call for natural peanut butter.
So far, though, I’d have to say that the blue ribbon of peanut butters that aren’t Peter Pan has to go to Skippy Natural“. It’s not natural in the same sense that the Smucker’s is–it has sugar and palm oil added, but it doesn’t have any hydrogenated oils or other chemical/artificial ingredients. It’s peanuts, sugar, palm oil and salt. It has a great flavor and it isn’t too thick. Skippy Natural wins!
How odd… Jif is *thin*? It’s just about the only peanut butter I’ll eat, and part of the reason is that a lot of stuff I have tried– and particularly the kind that’s separated and you have to *mix* it– is all runny and oily and ugh. I wonder if there are slightly differing recipes on different coasts or something.
I didn’t know about the molasses… heh. That’s probably why I like it so much. I am a sucker for the sweet. 🙂
Hmmm…that’s interesting. I do notice that many peanut butters will get a little bit of an oily layer on the top, especially in warm weather, but I rarely have peanut butter around long enough for that to happen.
I wouldn’t say the Jif is *oily*, it’s just that the others are more…dense, or something.
Did you try the Wegman’s kind?
Oh, yeah…I did. I didn’t like it.
I have to agree with you. When we were in Florida and we had to remove our prized Peter Pan Peanut Butter off my shelf—We tried Skippy’s Natural Brand PB and we purchased several jars and enjoyed them.
Darling, darling. You pop the glass-jarred Smuckers into the microwave for about 20 seconds and it’s perfect for spreading. Also in baking? It is heavenly.
I’ve been using Jif creamy for ages and like it, but I haven’t tried all those others. I did buy a small jar of Skippy creamy (not the natural) for work and hated it. Jif with honey is YUM!
have you tried Nut ‘N Budder? hands down the best natural peanut butter or (budder)around.
Its made with peanuts almonds flaxseed flaxseed oil and honey, thats it thats all, no salt additives…nothing and the taste is unbelievable.
Give it a try if your a true peanut butter lover and i promise you wont go back!
oh and one other thing, when i got my jar there was oil seperation due to being all natural but i was told just to shake the jar before opening and no mess no fuss its mixed again and when you put it in the frige it stayes completely spreadable and i was told by the owner of the company its because of the quantity of flaxseed oil in the product.
I cant say enough about this pb…healthy for you, loaded in omega 3 and tastes awsome!