Mayo and Peanut Butter Sandwich: The 1955 Classic

The combination of peanut butter and mayonnaise might sound weird to a lot of people. So weird that they might not even be brave enough to actually try it. However, this combination dates back to the 50s and is still popular today. Let’s take a look at how it all happened.

It’s called the PB&M and it’s seemingly all over the internet right now. Some hail it as a “budget sandwich” while others claim it’s just too gag-inducing to think about. No matter which end of the spectrum you fall, you’re curious about what the deal is. Like, where did this combination even come from and why are people going crazy over it?

In 1955 the owners of Hellman’s mayonnaise, Best Foods, bought Skippy peanut butter. The history of Skippy. Some genius over in the marketing department tried to combine the two in advertising campaigns. The concept was to combine two already classic American staples into one delicious sandwich. The advertising campaigns offered customers new and exciting ways to make budget-friendly sandwiches. 

The PB&M was all the rage during the 60’s and many people from that era still enjoy a peanut butter and mayo sandwich today. If you notice in the advertising photo above there is also a peanut butter, mayo, bacon and pickle sandwich. I wonder if we can also contribute the combination of peanut butter and pickle or peanut butter and bacon to Best Foods as well. More about crazy peanut butter combinations HERE.

As for the sandwich itself, you might be surprised at how satisfying it is. The mayo brings in a tanginess that makes the sandwich more savory. It’s creamy and less dense than you might anticipate it being though still very much rich in fat. All on its own this sandwich does feel like it’s missing something… texture. It’s gloopy with no real contrast between the peanut butter or mayo.

To fix this texture issue try it on some toasted bread or add some iceberg lettuce and tomato. It might seem like we are asking you to cross all sorts of lines by making a peanut butter, mayo, lettuce, and tomato sandwich but hang in there.

Toasted bread- adds texture and crunchy

Peanut butter- adds density

Mayo- adds creaminess and tang

Lettuce- adds texture, crunch, and moisture

Tomato- adds tang and moisture

However, the possibilities definitely don’t end with lettuce and tomato. How about adding some onion or boiled egg to your PB&M. If you play around with a few different combinations you just might stumble upon one that works. Just like that old cliche goes, don’t knock it until you try it.