Spread the Word: Americans Prefer Smooth Peanut Butter Over Crunchy

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It’s been a fierce food debate for decades - an intense showdown between two sides of the same coin. New research may help to settle the ages old score: smooth peanut butter, or crunchy peanut butter?

Well, in a sheer numbers game, it would appear that smooth has crunchy beat — 49 percent of Americans prefer their peanut butter smooth, while 29 percent want theirs as crunchy as possible (and the rest have no preference), according to new research.

Smooth peanut butter eaters self-reported as being more introverted, while crunchy peanut butter eaters tend to be more extroverted.

The new study of 2,000 American peanut butter eaters found that for all their differences, peanut butter eaters agree on at least one thing: their peanut butter eating method. 63 percent of respondents prefer to eat their peanut butter right out of the jar with a spoon.

Both sets of peanut butter consumers eat their spoon of nutty deliciousness — crunchy or not — about 3 times a week. That’s about 156 spoon dates with a jar of peanut butter a year. One in three Americans eat a spoonful as much as five times a week.

The new survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the natural food brand Peanut Butter & Co., found that those who prefer smooth peanut butter arrive earlier to work than their crunchy counterparts. That being said, crunchy peanut butter eaters are more likely to fall in love when they arrive — they’re 12 percent more likely to believe in love at first sight.

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Keep an eye out for crunchy peanut butter in a love interest’s pantry — it’s apparently a sign of a true romantic.

Love isn’t the only thing crunchy eaters are open to — 67 percent are willing to eat smooth peanut butter every once in a while. On the other hand, 41 percent of smooth peanut butter eaters said they would never eat crunchy.

The last time the average smooth peanut butter reports trying crunchy? Six months ago. Clearly, the split is a serious one.

Crunchy peanut butter fans are more likely to have skydived, ran a marathon, and filed their taxes late, while smooth peanut butter stalwarts have booked more spontaneous trips, gotten more speeding tickets, and bailed on more plans last minute.

The ideal Saturday night — beyond chowing down on some peanut butter — is another difference point for the two peanut butter types. Smooth peanut butter eaters outnumber crunchy in preferring to stay in and watch movies and television, while crunchy eaters outnumber smooth in wanting to go out to a bar and party.

The Big Bang Theory nabbed the top spot of favorite show for smooth peanut butter eaters, while crunchy eaters prefer less laughs and more blood — Game of Thrones was their show of choice.

“We think that the time has come to end the battle between smooth and crunchy peanut butter.  Despite their differences in taste in music, views on love, and what they like to do on a Saturday night, there’s something both sides can agree on,” said Lee Zalben, Founder & CEO of Peanut Butter & Co.  “When they get a craving for peanut butter, their favorite way to eat it is to just grab a spoon!”

Smooth or crunchy, there’s something to be said for being the type to grab a spoon and chomp down on a massive scoop of peanut butter: those who do it often are almost 20 percent happier than both types of peanut butter fans.

Compared to those who never eat peanut butter with a spoon, regular spoon eaters were about 62 percent more likely to report taking risks in their work and personal life.

Perhaps standing in your kitchen with a spoonful of peanut butter is a power pose of sorts — those who regularly eat peanut butter with a spoon were 31 percent more likely to self-report as “very confident.”

“Americans have been looking at the wrong peanut butter debate all along,” said Zalben. “It doesn’t matter if you prefer smooth or crunchy — the real difference is that people who regularly enjoy a heaping spoonful of peanut butter as a snack are generally happier, more adventurous, and more confident people.”

PROFILE: CRUNCHY PEANUT BUTTER EATERS

PROFILE: SMOOTH PEANUT BUTTER EATERS

PROFILE: PEANUT BUTTER ON A SPOON EATERS