10 Best Peanut Butters | UK Nutritionist Reviewed
With so many types of peanut butter available to buy from crunchy to smooth, fun flavours like Marmite and even unique low-calorie peanut powders, you may need some help picking out the best one! So, we’ve prepared a buying guide with all the key information you need to know, as well as a list of recommendations to buy online at Amazon, Tesco, and Asda from top brands such as Sunpat, Skippy, and Whole Earth.
Quick List - Top Peanut Butters
Pic’s
Pure Peanut Deliciousness that Is Made With Premium High-Oleic Australian Peanuts
Biona Organic
A Naturally Nutritious Spread Made With Only Two Ingredients
Emily is a registered integrative, naturopathic nutritionist trained in the principles of functional medicine, biomedicine and human sciences, and she has a Master’s Degree in nutrition. She has extensive clinical experience in both private practice and the public health and wellbeing sector. Her work embraces the interplay between nutrition, bio-individuality and mindset, educating and empowering clients to make lasting changes wherever they are on their health journey.
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With Specialist Consultation From Nutritionist Emily Hyland
Emily is a registered integrative, naturopathic nutritionist and has a Master’s Degree in nutrition. Her work embraces the interplay between nutrition, bio-individuality and mindset, educating and empowering clients to make lasting changes wherever they are on their health journey. You can check out her work from her Instagram account and website.
How to Choose a Peanut Butter in the UK
- Look For Peanut Butters With Over 90% Peanut Content for an Earthier Flavour
- Do You Want Crunchy or Smooth Peanut Butter for Baking or Spreading
- Check for Naturally Occurring Sugars, Calories and Fat Content
- Make Sure to Check for the Use of Sustainable Palm Oil
- For a Protein Boost, Look For Butters With Protein Contents of Around 30 G
Look for Peanut Butters With Over 90% Peanut Content if You Enjoy an Earthy and Nutty Flavour
Not all peanut butters are made the same. The peanut content in each jar will vary from those with added ingredients to sweeten things up to those with nearly 100% peanuts that leave you with nothing but the pure earthy flavour of the peanut itself. Children may find peanut butters with added ingredients more palatable than purer butters so it's a great way to introduce them to it - in moderation of course!
But don't be mistaken for thinking that a lower content of peanut means always it's an unhealthy butter; in fact, manufacturers sometimes add other seeds like sunflower and flax seeds to bring an even nuttier and crunchier flavour sensation.
If you're all about nut butters then we also recommend our favourite almond butters right here!
Crunchy Peanut Butter Is Great for Added Texture in Baking but Smooth Spreads Complement Toast
Smooth and crunchy peanut butter have around the same calories, fat, sugar and carbohydrate content. They are also both loaded with potassium, zinc, folate and vitamin B3. However, smooth peanut butter often has more protein and fibre than its crunchy counterpart, but it isn’t a significant difference so take your pick!
For Mindful Eaters, Check for Naturally Occurring Sugars as Well as Calorie and Fat Content
2 Spoonfuls Can Equal 200 Calories So Check Fat and Calorie Content if You're Trying to Lose Weight
The large amount of calories in peanut butter might be off-putting if you’re trying to lose weight – 2 spoonfuls can contain approximately 200 calories! If this is something that concerns you, why not try a powdered peanut butter instead? These contain less than a third of the calories and around 80% less fat than traditional peanut butter but still provide that deliciously nutty flavour.
There are many positive things about peanut butter (including the taste!). For example, it is packed with a good amount of vitamins and minerals, fibre and is around 25% protein. But if we look at it calorie for calorie, it isn't as nutritious as lots of other foods. That being said, it can still be enjoyed if you want to lose weight, it's all about moderation and balance.
If You’re on a Diet, Go For Higher Quality Butters That Tend to Use Naturally Occurring Sugars
We recommend looking for butters with naturally occurring sugars where possible because these sugars provide nutrients to your body that are a much more stable and healthy source of energy that won't upset your metabolism as easily as added sugars.
Take a look at the NHS website for more information on sugar consumption in your diet.
Palm Oil Is an Environmentally Controversial Product, Try to Avoid Unless It’s Sustainable
If you’re worried about the negative effects of consuming palm oil, you can look for oil which has been produced responsibly. However, it can often be hard to tell with cheaper brands whether their palm oil is certified as sustainable so it’s usually best to avoid products with it in completely.
The fewer ingredients, the better! Pure peanut butter is ideally what you want to be looking for, as the addition of things like palm oil can add unnecessary calories. Whilst palm oil does have some nutritional value, such as containing antioxidants, most of the commonly used palm oil in peanut butter has been heavily processed.
Peanut Butter Is a Tasty Way to Add Protein to a Post-gym Smoothie With 4g in Every Spoonful
But of course, not all brands are made equal and some do have a lower protein content due to the addition of other ingredients to bulk out the jar. So make sure to check the label if you want a peanut butter that contains plenty of protein.
Stock up on protein bars too for a tasty post-gym or midday snack!
Peanut butter is a good source of protein – essential for building muscles and repairing cells, and making new ones. It’s also essential for growth and development in children, teenagers, and pregnant women. Proteins are the building blocks of life, and every single cell in the human body contains protein.
10 Best Peanut Butters in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pic’s Peanut Butter ｜Crunchy | | Pure Peanut Deliciousness that Is Made With Premium High-Oleic Australian Peanuts | |
2 | Pip & Nut Crunchy Peanut Butter ｜Pack of 2 | | An Ample Supply Good for Both You and the Environment | |
3 | Meridian Smooth Peanut Butter | | Healthy, Budget-Friendly and With No Added Palm Oil, Salt or Sugar | |
4 | Biona Organic Peanut Butter Crunchy｜Pack of 2 | | A Naturally Nutritious Spread Made With Only Two Ingredients | |
5 | Marmite Crunchy Peanut Butter | | Experiment With a Marmite Twist for Something Less Traditional | |
6 | Better Body Foods PBfit Peanut Butter Powder | | A Simple, Low-Calorie Powder Ideal for Smoothies and Pancake Batters | |
7 | Skippy Extra Smooth Peanut Butter | | Smooth, Creamy, and Popular With Kids | |
8 | Whole Earth Peanut Butter With Sunflower, Pumpkin & Flax Seeds | | A Wholesome, Ethically Produced Peanut Butter With Added Sunflower, Pumpkin & Flax Seeds | |
9 | Sunpat Protein+ Crunchy | | An Affordable Choice With 30% Protein Packed in | |
10 | Tesco Crunchy Peanut Butter | | Cheap, Cheerful, and Crunchy, Great in Moderation |
Pure Peanut Deliciousness that Is Made With Premium High-Oleic Australian Peanuts
As a result, it’s super nutritious as well as being absolutely delicious. The premium ingredients, low sugar content, and lack of nasty additives make Pic’s Crunchy our top peanut butter pick!
An Ample Supply Good for Both You and the Environment
Not only is it ridiculously tasty, but it has the perfect consistency: not too runny and not too solid. 2 huge tubs for less than twelve pounds is a bargain, and buying in bulk will ensure that supplies don't run out for a while, even for those with the most voracious of peanut butter appetites.
Healthy, Budget-Friendly and With No Added Palm Oil, Salt or Sugar
This product is therefore ideal as a tasty sandwich filling or a healthy toast topping. While you will have to mix the paste and oil together before consuming, which some may find bothersome, we think it’s worth it. The price is also extremely budget-friendly, as this tub is likely to last you a long time!
A Naturally Nutritious Spread Made With Only Two Ingredients
We love that Biona uses sustainable farming methods and the highest quality natural ingredients. This is a wholesome and energy-rich choice that will leave you feeling satisfied.
Experiment With a Marmite Twist for Something Less Traditional
Although it’s mixed with yeast extract and peanut oil, this product doesn’t contain any palm oil or added sugar. Plus, it’s incredibly cheap so you’ve got no excuse not to give it a try!
A Simple, Low-Calorie Powder Ideal for Smoothies and Pancake Batters
With 90% less fat of regular peanut butter - and far fewer calories - this is the perfect choice for those who are trying to lose weight but still want a treat. However, you should note that it has a much higher sugar content than the other products on our list.
Smooth, Creamy, and Popular With Kids
Cheap and creamy, it makes a delicious addition to baked goods or swirled onto porridge. Unfortunately, there’s quite a bit of added sugar and hydrogenated palm oil in this product, so it isn’t the healthiest option, but if you want a sneaky sugary treat then enjoy in moderation.
Whole Earth Peanut Butter With Sunflower, Pumpkin & Flax Seeds
A Wholesome, Ethically Produced Peanut Butter With Added Sunflower, Pumpkin & Flax Seeds
The only downside is that it has a slightly gritty texture, so if you prefer something smooth or have little ones that are picky with textures, then this may not be the right product for you.
An Affordable Choice With 30% Protein Packed in
However, according to some reviews, customers found that it doesn't taste like peanut butter and went as far as to say that it tasted burnt. So it would be wise to consider how much of a peanut butter purist you are for its flavour.
Cheap, Cheerful, and Crunchy, Great in Moderation
However, the low price does mean that it sadly has quite an amount of added peanut oil, palm oil, and sugar, extras you might not want to find in your or your kids' breakfasts. This one best consumed in smaller portions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Peanut Butter Can I Eat a Day?
A general rule of thumb suggests that around one to two tablespoons a day is fine. However, every brand of peanut butter contains different levels of natural and added ingredients so it is important to check this and consume accordingly, especially if you suffer from conditions like diabetes.
Is Peanut Butter Good for Diabetics?
Peanut butter is a great source of nutrients for diabetics, but you must be mindful of brands that use added fats, salts and sugars. Alternatively, you can seek out butters that only use naturally occurring sugars which are a much more stable and healthy source of energy for your body.
Is Peanut Butter Safe for Dogs?
The great news is that, yes, dogs can eat peanut butter and much like humans, should be done so in moderation. However, the main difference is that you must make sure that the peanut butter you choose to feed them does not contain xylitol as this is an extremely dangerous and toxic substance to them.
Written and researched by Nicola McClements
Top 5 Peanut Butters
No. 1: Pic’s ｜Peanut Butter ｜Crunchy
No. 2: Pip & Nut ｜Crunchy Peanut Butter ｜Pack of 2
No. 3: Meridian｜Smooth Peanut Butter
No. 4: Biona Organic ｜Peanut Butter Crunchy｜Pack of 2
No. 5: Marmite｜Crunchy Peanut Butter
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.