Head-to-head comparison

Peanut Butter (natural) vs Kidney Beans (cooked): Which Has More Protein?

Both Peanut Butter (natural) and Kidney Beans (cooked) are common enough protein choices that they get compared directly all the time — here's what the actual numbers say.

Peanut Butter (natural)

25.1gprotein / 100g

588 cal · 50.4g fat · $ · Quality 0.52

Kidney Beans (cooked)

8.7gprotein / 100g

127 cal · 0.5g fat · $ · Quality 0.6

Peanut Butter (natural) is in a different weight class here, protein-wise: 25.1g per 100g vs Kidney Beans (cooked)'s 8.7g, a 16.4g difference that's more about food category than food quality.

Quality flips the other way, though: Kidney Beans (cooked) has the stronger amino acid profile (incomplete on its own — low in methionine, pairs well with grains) versus Peanut Butter (natural)'s lit_estimate, moderate quality, low in methionine.

Cost is roughly comparable between the two ($), so budget isn't the deciding factor here.

Peanut Butter (natural)'s typical serving also delivers more leucine (1650mg vs Kidney Beans (cooked)'s 600mg) — relevant if the goal is maximizing the muscle-protein-synthesis trigger per meal, not just total grams.

Verdict

If raw protein density is what you're optimizing for, Peanut Butter (natural) wins clearly. Choose Kidney Beans (cooked) instead if its lower fat, cost, or prep time matters more to you than the extra grams.

Full nutrition comparison

Per 100gPeanut Butter (natural)Kidney Beans (cooked)
Protein25.1g8.7g
Calories588127
Fat50.4g0.5g
Carbs20.0g22.8g
Fiber6.0g6.4g
Quality score0.520.6
Relative cost$$
Prep time0 min90 min

Frequently asked

Which has more protein, peanut butter (natural) or kidney beans (cooked)?

Peanut Butter (natural) has 25.1g of protein per 100g compared to Kidney Beans (cooked)'s 8.7g.

Which is lower in calories?

Kidney Beans (cooked) is lower in calories per 100g, at 127 vs the other's 588.