I can’t speak for everyone but I usually had strawberry jelly growing up. I used to eat one every day for lunch when I was in school. Now I honestly can’t remember the last time I had one. I just don’t really keep jelly in the house.
We had whichever was cheaper growing up. Now I prefer cherry or peach jam over grape or strawberry and pbj is a treat so I have it maybe 1-2 times a month. I don’t toast the bread for pbj.
You do not toast the bread. I think grape and strawberry are equally as common but I always preferred grape. Are them all the time as a kid, now I have it once in a while for lunch in a pinch. I would think most Americans keep peanut butter and jelly in the pantry/fridge as staples.
We usually use whatever preserves we like or what is in season. I like apricot, but also get pumpkin butter in the fall. Right now I have a cardamom jelly in the fridge.
The traditionalists will say grape, but strawberry (or really anything -berry) is better.
The traditionalists will say untoasted, but toasted gives you a nice texture, and it’s less likely to fall apart.
The traditionalists will say it needs to be over processed white bread, but if you get a good sourdough (ideally home made or from the west coast), 10/10.
I grew up with grape, we never had strawberry in the house. As an adult w/ kids, I still make and eat them semi-regularly. Now we mostly use raspberry preserves or apricot (feel so fancy haha) but get grape occasionally, strawberry rarely. ALWAYS CHUNKY PB though my whole life (but I will never turn down smooth/creamy if it’s offered).
grape is probably more common in the US, but neither is unusual. I grew up with using strawberry jam in my PBJ sandwiches, because my mom hated grape jelly. Consequently, I like strawberry a lot more than grape.
You do not have to toast the bread.
I don’t eat them very often because I don’t think of it, but whenever I have one, I enjoy it a lot.
Strawberry has always been my preference of the two. PBJ with grape was the default at school if you didn’t want the regular main course since corn-syrup grape jelly is the cheapest option you can buy.
I probably make one every other week. Strawberry jam or blackberry preserves with the “natural” unsweetened peanut butter. Bread can be anything. It’s infinitely customizable, generally not toasted though (but I have done it). I have heard of cooking it like a grilled cheese for ultimately decadence.
My preference is pb and apricot or peach. If I had to choose between grape or strawberry, I’d go with strawberry, but I believe grape is the iconic choice.
Grape is the traditional flavor, but I usually had strawberry, raspberry, or blackberry as a kid. I last ate one probably around a year or a year and a half ago.
Classic would be pb and grape jelly, white bread (not toasted). I prefer pb and apple jelly and mixing it together in a bowl first, then putting on the bread. That’s how my grandmother and my school lunch room made it.
While i’ve heard of grape, strawberry and even raspberry jellies used, I have never heard of anyone toasting the bread. Also a big divide on the topic is, smooth or chunky peanut butter? And if your a kid, crust on or crust off. Lastly, cut it in half or diagonally. Cheers
Probably grape jelly (though I prefer strawberry or even cherry or peach preserves).
I don’t eat peanut butter sandwiches often, but my college age kids certainly do. On toast vs. white bread.
I sometimes put peanut butter and preserves in small dollops on my pancakes or waffles, instead of maple syrup. Might make peanut butter and rolled oat protein balls, every couple of weeks.
Strawberry for me. They grow well where I grew up so extras would be made into jam. Grape was good too though.
I go through phases where I eat a lot of PBJ, then I don’t eat it at all for a long time.
If I’m busy, I’ll eat at least one a week. Generally it’s just an every now and then thing.
It’s also not usually in sandwich form. I’ll use tortillas a lot because I have those on hand, or I’ll put some on a neutral cracker (like wasa) as a snack.
I’m Gen X so a solid 30 years since my last PB&J but we were always grape.
Only one of my kids took to the PB&J and she kind of went back and forth on different jellies.
I don’t think it’s the same staple that it was for children of the 80s/90s. It’s on a list of kid foods but not a dominant #1 like I felt like it was for me
I always had raspberry growing up but I don’t actually like jelly that much and had realized in college I… didn’t have to add it? Lol so now I just eat peanut butter sandwiches 😂
Growing up I think most kids used grape? I’ve always been more of a strawberry girl, and I’ve never liked jelly of any flavor, so I use preserves. Jam will do in a pinch though.
Welches Grape Jelly to be specific. I was a picky eater as a kid. I would have starved if not for PB&J. Now I eat it once or twice a week. They make good hiking food. Protein, energy and don’t need to be kept cold.
My favorite is Raspberry, and I love a nice lightly toasted bread to make the peanut butter warm and a little melty. I live with someone who has a peanut allergy right now so never. When it was just me – I’d have peanutbutter on toast at the very least a few times a week. PB&J was mostly a once a week quick breakfast or snack
Grape is more commonly encountered, but I personally prefer strawberry preserves. Or a PABH…Peanut butter, apple butter, and honey. Yum.
I never toast the bread beforehand.
I used to eat PB&Js fairly often (I can scarf the raw materials from the cafeteria at my work without making anyone including the boss upset), but as of late I’m trying to cut down my sugar intake.
Fun Fact: In the late ’60s/early ’70s Bama (US jelly maker/brand) came out with "Peanut butter and jelly," which was a swirl of peanut butter and grape jelly together sold in a jar. Looked really pretty in the jar but hard to spread and I didn’t care much for the taste of their peanut butter.
Grape is probably most common, but I hate it. Raspberry or strawberry preserves for me. I make one for myself a couple times a week. I finish my kids’ pbjs too.
I actually don’t like peanut butter and jelly together. Grape or strawberry is probably the most traditional. I prefer a plain sandwich with crunchy peanut butter, or jam on sourdough toast. I like my jams and fruit spreads with this seeds and fruit bits, so I don’t buy jelly at all.
Grape is cheaper. That is why it is more common. Strawberry jam is a bit more expensive, and that is why it is a little more rare. Both are really tasty. It’s just an economic thing that makes grape more common.
Both are perfectly acceptable.
Toasted or untoasted bread is good. Both have different textures and both are good. It is perfectly fine to have a preference.
Note that proper American PB does not have sugar. It is not the peanut version of Nutella: it is literally just crushed salted, roasted peanuts. You can make a fine, normal PB with just roasted, salted peanuts. If you crush it right, the peanuts will have enough oil in it for the PB. It is my understanding that a lot of European PB has a lot of extra sugar.
(Technically, you can’t even make real Peanut Butter with honey roasted peanuts, it does not meet the legal definition of “Peanut butter”. However, it is freaking delicious.)
I won’t eat a PBJ unless it’s concord grape jelly. Not jam! Strawberry is a hard no in my book.
Needs to be on a nice soft white bread.
Serve with a cold glass of milk. I’ll have them maybe a couple times a month.
The default is grape, but I always use strawberry. I don’t tend to toast my bread unless I’m starting from frozen. (I don’t eat my bread very fast so I tend to freeze it.) I can go months/ years in between eating a PBJ.
Grape is what most people would use I think. I’m not a jelly fan. I’ll eat it if it’s given to me but if I make my own sandwich I just use peanut butter. I do really like apple jelly but I’ll usually use that with just regular butter instead of peanut butter and for that I’ll use toasted bread. As far as for my PB sandwiches I usually use untoasted for a sandwich but toasted for a single slice.
I probably eat at least 4 or 5 PB&J’s per week. I usually use raspberry preserves on mine.
I don’t usually toast unless I’m eating it for breakfast. Grilling a PB&J can be good as well but takes extra time and makes extra mess.
If I’m feeling ultra deluxe, I’ll take 3 pieces of bread and lightly toast one of them. the two un-toasted slices get jelly spread on them. Then the toasted slice gets cream cheese spread on one side and peanut butter spread on the other. The toasted slice goes between the jelly slices and then the whole thing gets grilled.
I never ate them. My parents are extremely American, but I guess we just didn’t do those. I was raised to eat more savory foods than sweet I guess, so I just can’t palate them as a meal food.
I asked my husband and he said grape. But he also said they were kind of rare for him. We both grew up Minnesota 1990’s and early 2000’s.
I grew up with grape jelly. I would imagine just about any jelly works for a pb&j but anytime you see it in media it’s grape jelly. I’d say I gave one about 2-3 times a week. I might just make one today. You can trust the bread if you want, it’s not mandatory.
I always assumed both strawberry and grape were equal. Neither seems more typical or more American to me. Raspberry or blackberry would be what I’d consider the less common/non-default picks. PB&J used to be my default school lunch until I decided to switch to grilled cheese instead.
You don’t toast the bread unless you need to unfreeze it quickly. Example: me making a lunch in the morning before school, realizing the bread in the breadbox is gone/finished, and the extra loaf wasn’t taken out of the freezer to replace the breadbox load.
I’ve never heard of toasting the bread. I used to eat peanut butter and jelly at least twice a week when I was young. My mother always put a thin layer of butter on the jelly side so the sandwich wouldn’t get soggy. Yum!
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I can’t speak for everyone but I usually had strawberry jelly growing up. I used to eat one every day for lunch when I was in school. Now I honestly can’t remember the last time I had one. I just don’t really keep jelly in the house.
Grape is the more common, I think. I used to eat them basically every day, I don’t now, sometimes I’ll get on a kick where I eat them regularly.
I haven’t had one in years, mostly because I’m not a fan of peanut butter in most things. But when I had them, it was grape jelly.
We had whichever was cheaper growing up. Now I prefer cherry or peach jam over grape or strawberry and pbj is a treat so I have it maybe 1-2 times a month. I don’t toast the bread for pbj.
Whatever you prefer, ‘Merica.
Not often enough.
You do not toast the bread. I think grape and strawberry are equally as common but I always preferred grape. Are them all the time as a kid, now I have it once in a while for lunch in a pinch. I would think most Americans keep peanut butter and jelly in the pantry/fridge as staples.
Personally I prefer strawberry, however I think grape is more common.
I have an actual PBJ maybe once a month.
Concord grape is the iconic PB&J jelly flavor.
If you’re packing a lunch to eat later it’s untoasted, otherwise it’s whatever your preference is.
Grape is the traditional answer but a lot of people prefer strawberry
I’ve never liked them. They used to serve them in school lunches and I just wouldn’t eat that day.
Neither of my kids will eat them either.
Strawberry freezer jam or raspberry jam for me. Grape jelly is to jam as Night Train Express is to Chateau Latour. I eat a PBJ about once a week.
Blackberry or Concord grape
I prefer Strawberry. Actually Raspberry or Mayhaw jelly is my favorite.
However when I think of a PBJ sandwich, I think of grape jelly.
Homemade strawberry or raspberry jam growing up. Freezer jam. We didn’t make grape, so rarely had it.
I don’t think I’ve ever had grape jelly.
We usually use whatever preserves we like or what is in season. I like apricot, but also get pumpkin butter in the fall. Right now I have a cardamom jelly in the fridge.
The traditionalists will say grape, but strawberry (or really anything -berry) is better.
The traditionalists will say untoasted, but toasted gives you a nice texture, and it’s less likely to fall apart.
The traditionalists will say it needs to be over processed white bread, but if you get a good sourdough (ideally home made or from the west coast), 10/10.
We always did grape but I do like strawberry. Don’t want a ton bc jelly and jam is so sweet, but my kids like it here and there.
Grape, and not very often for me, but when I do, I eat them for a week straight. Usually with chicken noodle soup
Yes. We had both.
I still eat maybe one a week.
Prefer toasted and open-faced now.
I’m retired.
Grape
I always felt like grape was more common but I prefer strawberry. Not toasted. Cheap "gummy" white bread!
I rarely eat one anymore but this was a childhood staple and once every few years I’ll get a craving and make one a few times before I get over it.
I grew up with grape, we never had strawberry in the house. As an adult w/ kids, I still make and eat them semi-regularly. Now we mostly use raspberry preserves or apricot (feel so fancy haha) but get grape occasionally, strawberry rarely. ALWAYS CHUNKY PB though my whole life (but I will never turn down smooth/creamy if it’s offered).
Strawberry. Frequently.
I think the two flavors are equally popular. I eat about once a month when I don’t have anything to pack for my lunch.
Grape is better imo, and generally we don’t toast it, but I have had a toasted PBJ sub, and it was pretty good. I prefer my jelly cold though
100 percent prefer strawberry, not a fan of toasting the bread.
grape is probably more common in the US, but neither is unusual. I grew up with using strawberry jam in my PBJ sandwiches, because my mom hated grape jelly. Consequently, I like strawberry a lot more than grape.
You do not have to toast the bread.
I don’t eat them very often because I don’t think of it, but whenever I have one, I enjoy it a lot.
Grape is all I’ve ever seen, and I never eat them. Too much sugar.
Grape is the default.
I rarely eat them.
Strawberry has always been my preference of the two. PBJ with grape was the default at school if you didn’t want the regular main course since corn-syrup grape jelly is the cheapest option you can buy.
I probably make one every other week. Strawberry jam or blackberry preserves with the “natural” unsweetened peanut butter. Bread can be anything. It’s infinitely customizable, generally not toasted though (but I have done it). I have heard of cooking it like a grilled cheese for ultimately decadence.
I only like strawberry jelly on my PB&J, but grape is probably more common. Never toast the bread. I eat it at least once a week, usually more.
Grape is standard. Peach is my favorite. I never eat them. I think they are best with a cold glass of chocolate milk.
There’s a large cohort of people that grew up eating Grape while others ate Strawberry. Seems to be definable by cultural and regional lines.
I ate it with whatever jam or jelly my mom had available
I’m sure at least some people in a country of 330+ million people toast it, but that doesn’t seem to be the default.
Peanut butter and jelly is typically eaten far more often by kids than adults. I actually can’t remember the last time I ate one.
My preference is pb and apricot or peach. If I had to choose between grape or strawberry, I’d go with strawberry, but I believe grape is the iconic choice.
I spell out MURICA on my bread with squeeze jelly
Concord grape is the classic.
Grape is more American
Strawberry is more delicious
Unless you get that special grape craving 🤭
Grape
GRAPE!!!!!!!
I am 44, I haven’t had a PB&J since 8th grade… so 30 years give or take.
I’m guessing grape. My strawb heads don’t wanna hear it but grape is definitely the more common flavor.
idk anyone that toasts PB&J
Orange Marmalade
Grape is iconic and I ate that far more growing up; however, in recent months I have been eating strawberry jelly with peanut butter.
Both are great.
Grape is the traditional flavor, but I usually had strawberry, raspberry, or blackberry as a kid. I last ate one probably around a year or a year and a half ago.
As an adult I came to prefer actual fruit over jelly, usually raisins or chopped dates. Two or three times a week.
Classic would be pb and grape jelly, white bread (not toasted). I prefer pb and apple jelly and mixing it together in a bowl first, then putting on the bread. That’s how my grandmother and my school lunch room made it.
I wish I had one everyday.
It has been a long time since it was a staple of my diet, and I need to have it make a comeback.
I prefer jam or preserves, but a nice blend of dark berries "blackberry/blueberry/mulberry/elderberry" as a seedless jam is top tier delightful.
While i’ve heard of grape, strawberry and even raspberry jellies used, I have never heard of anyone toasting the bread. Also a big divide on the topic is, smooth or chunky peanut butter? And if your a kid, crust on or crust off. Lastly, cut it in half or diagonally. Cheers
Probably grape jelly (though I prefer strawberry or even cherry or peach preserves).
I don’t eat peanut butter sandwiches often, but my college age kids certainly do. On toast vs. white bread.
I sometimes put peanut butter and preserves in small dollops on my pancakes or waffles, instead of maple syrup. Might make peanut butter and rolled oat protein balls, every couple of weeks.
Grape is the OG but I like raspberry, because of the small seeds. I’ll go from having 3-4 a week to not having it for months.
Strawberry for me. They grow well where I grew up so extras would be made into jam. Grape was good too though.
I go through phases where I eat a lot of PBJ, then I don’t eat it at all for a long time.
God tier PB&J is made with blackberry jelly
I grew up eating grape jelly but now I prefer strawberry.
I like both but grape is the standard. I have at least three per week.
If I’m busy, I’ll eat at least one a week. Generally it’s just an every now and then thing.
It’s also not usually in sandwich form. I’ll use tortillas a lot because I have those on hand, or I’ll put some on a neutral cracker (like wasa) as a snack.
Ah…. the eternal debate. Many Americans disagree.
The answer, however is grape.
Grape for sure. I did like peanut butter and strawberry, but only strawberry jam, not jelly.
Toast a sandwich? That hadn’t been invented yet.
I’m Gen X so a solid 30 years since my last PB&J but we were always grape.
Only one of my kids took to the PB&J and she kind of went back and forth on different jellies.
I don’t think it’s the same staple that it was for children of the 80s/90s. It’s on a list of kid foods but not a dominant #1 like I felt like it was for me
Grape is the correct response but I much prefer strawberry. Still won’t turn down a grape though.
I always had raspberry growing up but I don’t actually like jelly that much and had realized in college I… didn’t have to add it? Lol so now I just eat peanut butter sandwiches 😂
I say grape.
And I never eat pb&j
Growing up I think most kids used grape? I’ve always been more of a strawberry girl, and I’ve never liked jelly of any flavor, so I use preserves. Jam will do in a pinch though.
Welches Grape Jelly to be specific. I was a picky eater as a kid. I would have starved if not for PB&J. Now I eat it once or twice a week. They make good hiking food. Protein, energy and don’t need to be kept cold.
My favorite is Raspberry, and I love a nice lightly toasted bread to make the peanut butter warm and a little melty. I live with someone who has a peanut allergy right now so never. When it was just me – I’d have peanutbutter on toast at the very least a few times a week. PB&J was mostly a once a week quick breakfast or snack
Grape is more commonly encountered, but I personally prefer strawberry preserves. Or a PABH…Peanut butter, apple butter, and honey. Yum.
I never toast the bread beforehand.
I used to eat PB&Js fairly often (I can scarf the raw materials from the cafeteria at my work without making anyone including the boss upset), but as of late I’m trying to cut down my sugar intake.
Fun Fact: In the late ’60s/early ’70s Bama (US jelly maker/brand) came out with "Peanut butter and jelly," which was a swirl of peanut butter and grape jelly together sold in a jar. Looked really pretty in the jar but hard to spread and I didn’t care much for the taste of their peanut butter.
Grape is my default. I eat one about once a month or so.
Grape is definitely the traditional option. I actually prefer strawberry or strawberry rhubarb. And I have never once in my life toasted a pb and j.
Grape is the classic jell.
I have them a couple of times a week at lunch, toasted. I rarely put jelly on it, just peanut butter.
Grape and I eat them a few times a week.
Grape is probably most common, but I hate it. Raspberry or strawberry preserves for me. I make one for myself a couple times a week. I finish my kids’ pbjs too.
Grape is the OG. I haven’t had one in memory. Not a sandwich I enjoy. When I eat peanut butter it’s generally just on a spoon
I prefer PB&J toasted, the peanut butter melts into the sandwich and it’s better.
Grape is the traditional flavor but I like strawberry too.
One time I made a half toasted PB&J…
One piece of bread was toasted, the other untoasted…
It was weird, can’t say I’d recommend it.
Grape is the traditional answer, but most people I know prefer raspberry. I hardly ever see people using either grape or strawberry these days.
As a kid it was always concord grape. As an adult it’s more the flavor of the day, including lots of different preserves and jams.
My favorite at home now is to make it on a toasted English muffin.
Grape. Occasionally. And no, you don’t have to toast. I never do.
I actually don’t like peanut butter and jelly together. Grape or strawberry is probably the most traditional. I prefer a plain sandwich with crunchy peanut butter, or jam on sourdough toast. I like my jams and fruit spreads with this seeds and fruit bits, so I don’t buy jelly at all.
My kids prefer PB and banana and a drizzle honey vs jelly. Side note: if we make a PBJ the J is jam, not jelly.
Grape is the more traditional jelly for a PB&J. I, as an adult, toast the bread and use blackberry preserves because that’s my favorite.
Grape is the traditional. We use strawberry because that’s what our Costco carries.
I prefer crunchy peanut butter but my kids want smooth so we use smooth.
I prefer grape jam. I eat them pretty regularly. A couple times per month I would guess.
I don’t normally toast the bread but I have done it on occassion.
I prefer them on a whole wheat bread though.
Grape is the classic but it’s honestly whatever jam/ jelly you have around. Strawberry, raspberry, etc works just fine
The bottom line is:
Grape is cheaper. That is why it is more common. Strawberry jam is a bit more expensive, and that is why it is a little more rare. Both are really tasty. It’s just an economic thing that makes grape more common.
Both are perfectly acceptable.
Toasted or untoasted bread is good. Both have different textures and both are good. It is perfectly fine to have a preference.
Note that proper American PB does not have sugar. It is not the peanut version of Nutella: it is literally just crushed salted, roasted peanuts. You can make a fine, normal PB with just roasted, salted peanuts. If you crush it right, the peanuts will have enough oil in it for the PB. It is my understanding that a lot of European PB has a lot of extra sugar.
(Technically, you can’t even make real Peanut Butter with honey roasted peanuts, it does not meet the legal definition of “Peanut butter”. However, it is freaking delicious.)
Just PB for me. No jelly.
I would have to say grape. I also don’t toast them
I won’t eat a PBJ unless it’s concord grape jelly. Not jam! Strawberry is a hard no in my book.
Needs to be on a nice soft white bread.
Serve with a cold glass of milk. I’ll have them maybe a couple times a month.
Grape, only grape
Toast the bread with creamy peanut butter, Don’t toast with crunchy peanut butter
Grape. I haven’t had one tho in ages
The default is grape, but I always use strawberry. I don’t tend to toast my bread unless I’m starting from frozen. (I don’t eat my bread very fast so I tend to freeze it.) I can go months/ years in between eating a PBJ.
Grape is what most people would use I think. I’m not a jelly fan. I’ll eat it if it’s given to me but if I make my own sandwich I just use peanut butter. I do really like apple jelly but I’ll usually use that with just regular butter instead of peanut butter and for that I’ll use toasted bread. As far as for my PB sandwiches I usually use untoasted for a sandwich but toasted for a single slice.
I would say grape but strawberry could be. Honestly I don’t like jelly. I don’t eat peanut butter enough
The PBJ made with Strawberry Jam is superior.
But the one made with Concord Grape is iconic.
Note: Not a single grape-flavored jelly, jam or candy tastes like grapes. But they all manage to taste purple.
I’d say either is equally “American”.
I probably eat at least 4 or 5 PB&J’s per week. I usually use raspberry preserves on mine.
I don’t usually toast unless I’m eating it for breakfast. Grilling a PB&J can be good as well but takes extra time and makes extra mess.
If I’m feeling ultra deluxe, I’ll take 3 pieces of bread and lightly toast one of them. the two un-toasted slices get jelly spread on them. Then the toasted slice gets cream cheese spread on one side and peanut butter spread on the other. The toasted slice goes between the jelly slices and then the whole thing gets grilled.
I prefer raspberry, untoasted.
I never ate them. My parents are extremely American, but I guess we just didn’t do those. I was raised to eat more savory foods than sweet I guess, so I just can’t palate them as a meal food.
I asked my husband and he said grape. But he also said they were kind of rare for him. We both grew up Minnesota 1990’s and early 2000’s.
I grew up with grape jelly. I would imagine just about any jelly works for a pb&j but anytime you see it in media it’s grape jelly. I’d say I gave one about 2-3 times a week. I might just make one today. You can trust the bread if you want, it’s not mandatory.
I always assumed both strawberry and grape were equal. Neither seems more typical or more American to me. Raspberry or blackberry would be what I’d consider the less common/non-default picks. PB&J used to be my default school lunch until I decided to switch to grilled cheese instead.
You don’t toast the bread unless you need to unfreeze it quickly. Example: me making a lunch in the morning before school, realizing the bread in the breadbox is gone/finished, and the extra loaf wasn’t taken out of the freezer to replace the breadbox load.
Grape.. but I like plum
Grape is the most common and iconic but I prefer strawberry, I probably eat 3 or 4 PB&J sandwiches a week.
Unpopular opinion. I don’t like PB&J sandwiches. I like peanut butter and I like jelly, just not together.
Never grape. Strawberry, blackberry peach, raspberry, blueberry, orange marmalade. We have at least three different jams open at any time.
I’d say grape is the default but…and I’m just throwing this out there…try apple butter.
Looks kinda gross because both are brown, but it’s good!
Concord grape is the more traditional but imo strawberry is far superior.
I think both are big. I’m a raspberry person myself. I get a huge jar for pbjs.
I’ve never heard of toasting the bread. I used to eat peanut butter and jelly at least twice a week when I was young. My mother always put a thin layer of butter on the jelly side so the sandwich wouldn’t get soggy. Yum!
Raspberry or Blackberry preserves are my faves. Strawberry is good. Grape jelly is disgusting. It’s the worst. I don’t toast.
My wife prefers red plum since it’s slightly more tart.
I prefer the Elvis – PB, banana, and honey.