Americans use condiments across nearly every part of the food industry, from restaurant takeout packets to pantry staples stocked at home. That broad category got a fresh look in a February 17, 2026 YouGov release that ranked which condiments Americans say they love most. The result was not ketchup, mustard, or ranch, but peanut butter.
YouGov’s survey found peanut butter finished first by “love it” share
YouGov said its poll was conducted online from January 30 through February 1, 2026, among 1,104 U.S. adult citizens. In the results published February 17, the research firm reported that peanut butter was the condiment with the highest “love it” rating at 44%, ahead of honey at 40% and salsa at 37%. Barbecue sauce followed at 34%, while chocolate sauce and ketchup each came in at 33%, according to YouGov.
The findings stood out because the survey used a broader pantry-based definition of condiments than many restaurant customers may expect. YouGov said it defined condiments as shelf-stable dressings, spreads, and toppings that people typically keep at home and add to food for extra flavor. Under that definition, peanut butter was eligible alongside ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, soy sauce, jam or jelly, and ranch dressing.
The survey also showed that the category is widely used. Half of Americans, or 50%, said they always or often add condiments to their food, while 37% said they sometimes do so. Only 12% said they rarely or never use condiments, according to YouGov’s published results and methodology.
The national results do not break out city winners, but they show regional and demographic patterns
For local readers, one notable limitation is that YouGov did not publish a state-by-state or city-by-city ranking of favorite condiments in its February 17 release. The company also did not release a local market list showing whether peanut butter led in specific metro areas, so no individual city can be confirmed as the top market for the winning condiment from the public data alone.
What the poll did confirm is that pantry ownership remains broad across U.S. households. YouGov reported that 93% of Americans currently have at least one type of condiment at home, and 27% said they have more than 10. The most commonly stocked items were ketchup at 84%, peanut butter at 83%, mayonnaise at 77%, and mustard at 75%.
The data also showed demographic differences in taste. According to YouGov, Black Americans were more likely than white Americans to say they love honey, barbecue sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, steak sauce, Thousand Island dressing, Caesar dressing, and hot sauce. Hispanic Americans were more likely than white Americans to say they love hot sauce, while YouGov said white Americans were not more likely than Black or Hispanic Americans to say they love any of the 22 condiments included.
The bigger takeaway is that “favorite” depends on how the question is asked
The survey’s most useful context for food businesses is that “favorite” changed depending on the metric. Peanut butter ranked first when Americans were asked how many “love” it, but mayonnaise ranked first when respondents were asked which condiment they would keep if they could choose only one. In that forced-choice question, mayonnaise drew 16%, ketchup 15%, and peanut butter 14%, according to YouGov.
That gap suggests pantry affection and practical dependence are not the same thing. Ketchup and mayonnaise may be used more flexibly across burgers, sandwiches, fries, and restaurant meals, while peanut butter appears to inspire stronger emotional loyalty. The ownership numbers reinforce that distinction: ketchup edged peanut butter in household presence, 84% to 83%, even though peanut butter led in “love it” responses.
For customers, the poll does not change what is on restaurant tables, but it does offer a clearer snapshot of how Americans define comfort foods and staples at home. The same survey found that 22% of Americans sometimes carry condiments with them outside the house, and among those who do, ketchup was the most common choice. That suggests peanut butter won the popularity contest, but everyday condiment habits remain more mixed.