Weird food combinations are known to lead to debate among people who either love or hate the unique combos. Whether it’s peanut butter and pickles or pineapple on pizza, people are passionate about pairings and quick to share their feelings and taste preferences.
The most recent combination that has divided the nation’s peanut butter lovers is without a doubt the peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich. Inspiring reactions driven by strong feelings of love or hate, the combination has resulted in social media debates and media coverage from outlets such as HuffPost, TODAY and Buzzfeed in 2018.
So, where did this phenomenon come from?
According to Garden and Gun, the peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich was almost as popular as the classic PB&J in the South during the Great Depression. The affordability of the key ingredients helped keep families fed and afloat. Ingredient experimentation led to recipes that also called for bananas, bacon, pickles and even American cheese. For many the combination sparks nostalgia for childhood days when grandparents served up a peanut butter and mayo sandwich. Others are horrified by the thought.
To understand the varying opinions on the peanut butter and mayo sandwich, we interviewed a variety of experts, from food scientists to influencers to people who eat food every day to get their opinions. Hear their thoughts below:
Food scientists Dr. Helene Hopfer, Dr. Taylor Wallace and Dr. Cordelia Running provide their take on the unique combo:
Food influencer and pastry chef, Sherrie Tan (@sherriesavorsthecity) shares her favorite way to eat a peanut butter & mayo sandwich:
The everyday experts, people who eat food, try the PB&M for the first time: