Does Peanut Butter Go Bad?
Peanut butter is a staple for sandwiches, sweet treats, and snacking, but does it expire? Here are the facts.
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By Sheela Prakash for Food Network Kitchen
Sheela is a cookbook author, recipe developer, food and wine writer and registered dietician.
Peanut butter is a pantry staple in so many of our homes. A jar makes sandwiches complete and sweet treats sing — but does peanut butter expire? Yes, peanut butter does go bad but it has quite a long shelf life, so chances are you’ll use up your jar well before you have to toss it. Here’s everything you need to know about how long peanut butter lasts, how to tell if it has expired and the best way to store it.
Does Peanut Butter Go Bad?
Peanut butter does expire but it has a very long shelf life. Conventional, commercially processed peanut butter is processed with stabilizers like palm oil and hydrogenated oils to keep it fresh for an extremely long time. According to the National Peanut Board, unopened, commercially processed peanut butter lasts for up to 9 months in the pantry, while opened conventional peanut butter lasts up to 3 months in the pantry and up to 9 months in the refrigerator.
Natural peanut butter doesn’t contain these stabilizers, so it has a shorter shelf life. Whether unopened or opened, natural peanut butter lasts for up to 6 months in the refrigerator.
How to Tell If Peanut Butter Has Gone Bad
Peanut butter has a high fat content which can go rancid. You’ll be able to tell fairly quickly tell if your peanut butter has turned rancid: It will have a metallic, bitter and almost stale smell. It may also be darker and dried out in appearance. If it's natural peanut butter, it may be moldy. Any of these features signal it’s time to throw away your jar of peanut butter.
One common quality of natural peanut butter that doesn't signal spoilage? Separation. Since it doesn’t contain stabilizers, this is completely normal. Simply stir the oil back into the rest of the peanut butter before enjoying.
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How Long Does Peanut Butter Last After Opening?
An open jar of commercially processed peanut butter lasts up to 3 months in the pantry and up to 9 months in the refrigerator. Natural peanut butter has a shorter shelf life and lasts up to 6 months in the refrigerator once opened.
Does Peanut Butter Need to Be Refrigerated?
It depends on the kind of peanut butter. Commercially processed peanut butter can be stored at room temperature in a cool, dry pantry due to the stabilizers it contains. However, if you’d like to extend its shelf life, go ahead and store it in the refrigerator instead. This will almost triple its shelf life, so it’s a great option if you don’t plan on eating through a jar quickly.
Natural peanut butter should always be refrigerated since it doesn’t contain stabilizers.
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