Peanut butter, a paste made from ground dry roasted peanuts, was not invented by a single person. Its origins can be traced to ancient cultures, but modern peanut butter as we know it today was independently developed and patented by several inventors in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Marcellus Gilmore Edson, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, and Dr. Ambrose Straub.
Peanut butter is a staple in many households around the world. It’s creamy, protein-rich, and incredibly versatile—used in sandwiches, smoothies, baked goods, and savory sauces. But have you ever wondered: Who invented peanut butter?
The answer is more complex than a single name or date. This article explores the layered history of peanut butter, from its ancient uses to the scientific minds and entrepreneurs who turned peanuts into a commercial food revolution.
Early History: Ground Peanuts Before Peanut Butter
Ancient Origins
Although modern peanut butter is a relatively recent invention, the practice of grinding peanuts into pastes dates back thousands of years.
- Aztecs and Incas were known to crush roasted peanuts into a paste-like form. These early versions were likely gritty, oily, and not sweetened.
- West African cultures have long used ground peanuts in cooking, sauces, and soups—a culinary tradition that continues today.
However, these were not peanut butter in the modern sense: shelf-stable, creamy, and suitable for spreading on toast or combining with jelly.
The 19th Century: The First Patent
Marcellus Gilmore Edson (Canada, 1884)
Edson is the first person credited with a U.S. patent for peanut paste.
- Patent Date: 1884
- Invention: A method for creating a peanut paste by milling roasted peanuts between two heated surfaces.
- Purpose: Intended as a protein-rich food for people who couldn’t chew solid food, especially the elderly or ill.
- Significance: Considered the technical precursor to peanut butter, but the paste was often gritty and oily, lacking the smooth, creamy consistency we know today.
🔍 Was it called peanut butter?
No, Edson’s version was a medicinal paste—not a spread or consumer product.
Dr. John Harvey Kellogg: Peanut Butter for Health
John Harvey Kellogg (USA, 1895)
Yes, the same Kellogg who invented cornflakes.
- Role: Medical doctor, nutritionist, and founder of the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan.
- Goal: Create protein-rich, plant-based alternatives for his vegetarian patients.
- Invention: A process for creating peanut butter by boiling peanuts and grinding them into a paste.
What Made Kellogg’s Version Unique?
- It used boiled, not roasted peanuts, resulting in a milder flavor.
- It was part of his broader push toward vegetarianism and wellness.
- Kellogg didn’t add sugar or stabilizers—his peanut butter was strictly medicinal.
Despite his major contributions, Kellogg did not commercialize the product widely, nor did he invent modern peanut butter as we know it.
Ambrose Straub: The First Peanut Butter Machine
Ambrose W. Straub (USA, 1903)
A little-known but crucial contributor to peanut butter’s development.
- Role: St. Louis-based physician and inventor.
- Contribution: Patented a peanut butter-making machine designed for use in commercial settings like food shops and drugstores.
- Significance: Helped scale the production of peanut butter.
Straub also promoted peanut butter as a protein substitute for people who had trouble chewing. His machine was featured at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, helping bring peanut butter into the public spotlight.
Peanut Butter Goes Commercial
George Washington Carver: Often (Incorrectly) Credited
While Carver is frequently cited as the inventor of peanut butter, this is a myth.
- Who He Was: A pioneering agricultural scientist and educator at Tuskegee Institute.
- Real Contributions:
- Promoted crop rotation using peanuts.
- Created over 300 peanut-based products (not including peanut butter).
- Helped popularize the peanut in American agriculture.
Carver was instrumental in advancing peanut farming, but he did not invent peanut butter or file any patents for it.
The Rise of Commercial Brands
By the 1920s and 1930s, several major companies entered the peanut butter market:
Peter Pan (1920s)
One of the first to introduce hydrogenated oil to peanut butter, which prevented separation and improved shelf life.
Skippy (1932)
Founded by Joseph Rosefield, who:
- Developed a homogenization process to keep peanut butter smooth and shelf-stable.
- Is responsible for the creamy texture we associate with modern peanut butter.
Jif (1958)
Introduced more refined and sweetened versions of peanut butter, which helped make it a lunchbox staple across America.
Timeline Summary: Who Invented Peanut Butter?
| Year | Person | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| ~1500s | Aztecs & Incas | Crushed roasted peanuts into paste |
| 1884 | Marcellus Edson | First peanut paste patent |
| 1895 | John Harvey Kellogg | Peanut butter for medicinal use |
| 1903 | Ambrose Straub | First peanut butter machine |
| 1920s–30s | Rosefield, Skippy, Peter Pan | Commercial production, stabilization, branding |
So, Who Really Invented Peanut Butter?
There’s no single inventor. Instead, peanut butter evolved through the combined efforts of several people:
- Edson gave us the first peanut paste patent.
- Kellogg created a health-focused version.
- Straub helped mass-produce it.
- Rosefield and others refined it into the creamy, shelf-stable spread we know today.
In short, peanut butter is a result of cumulative innovation, not a one-person invention.
FAQs
Did George Washington Carver invent peanut butter?
No. He promoted peanuts in agriculture but didn’t invent or patent peanut butter.
Was peanut butter invented for vegetarians?
Yes, in part. Dr. Kellogg developed it as a protein source for his vegetarian patients.
Is peanut butter an American invention?
Modern peanut butter, as a commercial product, is American. However, grinding peanuts into paste has ancient roots in Latin America and Africa.
Who made peanut butter popular?
Commercial brands like Skippy and Jif, along with widespread marketing and use in school lunches, made it a household favorite.
Conclusion
So, who invented peanut butter? There isn’t one name, but rather a timeline of inventors and innovators—from ancient civilizations to modern food scientists. Marcellus Edson laid the groundwork, John Harvey Kellogg expanded its purpose, Ambrose Straub enabled production, and 20th-century companies perfected it for mass appeal.
Today, peanut butter is one of the world’s most loved foods—and it took centuries of creativity, science, and entrepreneurship to get there.
