After their blind taste test, teachers Lauren Stringer and Margaret Dieckoff pose with their top peanut butter choice on Thursday, Nov. 11
Nutrition and Wellness teachers do blind taste test for National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month
FACS teachers taste test and talk about the many uses of peanut butter
Peanut butter is one of those particular foods that people either love or hate. This month, those who love peanut butter will get their recognition. November is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month, and Nutrition and Wellness teachers Lauren Stringer and Margaret Dieckhoff did a blind taste test of four different peanut butters, and also shared their knowledge on the food.
Peanut butter can be used for many things other than a typical PB&J. It can be used to make sauces for dishes like chicken pad thai, or used to make dressing for salads. Some will even melt it and pour it over the top of foods to add flavor and decoration.
When baking, peanut butter can also be used as a binding ingredient. Dieckhoff explained that adding powdered sugar or other ingredients helps the peanut butter stick together, and makes for good peanut butter balls, peanut butter cookies, and baked goods.
At Dieckhoff’s house, peanut butter is put to use for sandwiches and desserts.
“We make a lot of no bake cookies,” Dieckhoff said. “I like peanut butter cornflake no bake cookies, and peanut butter oatmeal no bake cookies, but they don’t really taste like peanut butter.”
Stringer said that she mainly uses it for sandwiches, but will occasionally eat it right off the spoon if it is a brand she likes.
For the ultimate peanut butter blind taste test, the pair tasted four different spreads: creamy, crunchy, natural, and honey roasted. They rated on a scale from one to 10, and described what each spread was like.
Jif creamy peanut butter received a four out of 10 from Dieckhoff and a seven out of 10 from Stringer.
“[That one was] creamy, to the point with no added nothing,” Dieckhoff said.
Peter Pan crunchy peanut butter received a six out of 10 from Dieckhoff and another seven out of 10 from Stringer. The “Best Choice” natural peanut butter however, was not a favorite. It got a zero out of 10 from Dieckhoff and a two out of 10 from Stringer.
Stringer described the natural peanut butter as being like “straight oil”. Even after being mixed up, the peanut butter ran down the side of the spoon.
Last but not least, the “Peter Pan” honey roasted peanut butter got the overall best scores from both teachers. The spread was given a 10 out of10 rating, making the specific peanut butter they decided winner of the blind taste test because of its flavor and texture.
This month, if you’re craving peanut butter, consider making some peanut butter cookies, or trying a spoonful of the Stringer and Dieckhoff-approved honey roasted peanut butter in honor of National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month.