We can pretty much all agree that peanut butter is a kitchen staple—but a lot of us have different opinions about the best place to store it. Some people prefer to keep it in the refrigerator, while others swear by pantry storage. So, the real question: Does peanut butter need to be refrigerated to stay fresh? Ultimately, the answer comes down to the type you have in your kitchen—natural or conventional.
There are two main types of peanut butter. One is made with stabilizers that keep the oil from separating (that's the regular, spreadable stuff), while the other is formulated from roasted peanuts (this is typically called natural peanut butter). The type you have will dictate your storage method.
Natural peanut butter, which is made of ground roasted peanuts, should be refrigerated immediately after purchase. "Because it does not have preservatives or stabilizers, it is best refrigerated to keep it fresh and to prevent the oil from separating out," says Margarethe A. Cooper, PhD, assistant professor of practice and Victor P. Smith Endowed Chair in Food Safety Education at the University of Arizona. "The separated oil in unrefrigerated natural peanut butter is more likely to become rancid sooner, leading to unpleasant taste and texture."
Natural peanut butter is also more at risk for mold growth; refrigeration can help prevent this.
Conventional Peanut Butter
Peanut butter with preservatives and stabilizers that keep it from separating don't need to be refrigerated. Instead, you can store conventional peanut butter in a cool, dry place, such as a kitchen pantry or cabinet. "Conventional peanut butter does not need to be refrigerated because it has added oils that stabilize it to keep the oil from separating out and to extend its shelf life," says Cooper.
Additionally, conventional peanut butter has low water activity, which means microbes generally can't grow in it.
No matter where you store your peanut butter, both natural and conventional varieties have a shelf life.
Conventional Peanut Butter
Generally, an unopened jar of conventional peanut butter can last in your pantry for six to nine months, while an open jar can last for about two to three months. "To extend its shelf life past that time, it's okay to store in the fridge," says Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, an adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University. "It may last another three months or so."
Natural Peanut Butter
An unopened jar of natural peanut butter should be stored in the refrigerator immediately after purchase, where it can last for up to 12 months. "Once opened, refrigerated natural peanut butter is best consumed within three to four months of opening," says Cooper.
Signs Peanut Butter Has Gone Bad
There are some telltale signs a jar of peanut butter has spoiled, like if it smells or tastes bad. "When the oil gets rancid, it will give off an unpleasant smell,"says Young. This is typically caused by the oil separating out, which may give the peanut butter a dry appearance. "Oil separation in natural peanut butter is more likely since it does not have stabilizers, and when the oil is exposed to oxygen this leads to oxidative rancidity, causing the characteristic unpleasant odor and flavor," says Cooper. Additionally, you should throw away peanut butter if you see any mold in the jar.
Natural peanut butter will be fine in the pantry for up to a month, but if you don't plan to eat it that quickly, you should probably refrigerate it for the best possible taste and texture. Related: 5 Easy Ways to Use Peanut Butter for More Than Sandwiches.
Natural peanut butter will be fine in the pantry for up to a month, but if you don't plan to eat it that quickly, you should probably refrigerate it for the best possible taste and texture. Related: 5 Easy Ways to Use Peanut Butter for More Than Sandwiches.
Does Jif To Go® Creamy Peanut Butter need to be refrigerated? Nope! We suggest storing Jif To Go® Creamy Peanut Butter at room temperature, in the cupboard or pantry.
SKIPPY® Peanut Butter opened or not is happiest when stored at room temperature. You can refrigerate it to savour its flavour for longer, but know that when refrigerated, it doesn't spread as easily. You should also know that SKIPPY® Peanut Butter doesn't like being too cold, so keep it freezer-free!
How long is it good for once it's opened? They are good for about 3 months once opened, as we don't add any preservatives to our products. Do I have to refrigerate this? It's not necessary to refrigerate it, but to prevent natural oil separation stir and refrigerate.
Unless you're a busy diner going through and refilling ketchup bottles every day or two, you should store your ketchup in the fridge. This is because, just like pickles, the flavor and texture declines after you open the bottle or jar and the ketchup is exposed to air.
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.
Peanut butter with preservatives and stabilizers that keep it from separating don't need to be refrigerated. Instead, you can store conventional peanut butter in a cool, dry place, such as a kitchen pantry or cabinet.
According to The National Peanut Board, an unopened jar of peanut butter can last six to nine months at room temperature. Once opened, they say that it can last two to three months in the pantry before you should move it to the fridge, where it can maintain quality for another three to four months.
Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter came up the most when we asked dietitians for the best peanut butter, particularly because it's economical and meets the dietitians' requirements of being made of just two ingredients: peanuts and salt.
Mustard. No matter the kind of mustard (Dijon, yellow, or whole grain), best practice is to store it in fridge. Refrigerated mustard will last up to a year after opening in the fridge, according to the USDA. Now dried mustard powder is another story—it can be stored in the pantry with all your other spices.
Sealed jars of homemade preserves can also be stored at room temperature. Once the jam or jelly is opened, however, it is best to refrigerate them. Richard explains that this prevents mold and yeast from growing.
Do I have to refrigerate Smucker's peanut butter? The food items we produce are classified as non-perishable. Refrigeration is not necessary, although it does slow down the oil-separation process.
After opening, it's good for two to three months. In an entry on shelf-stable foods, peanut butter is given as an example of a food that is “safe indefinitely.” It may take on a stale flavor or an unappetizing texture or color over the years, but it's not likely to kill you.
An open jar of peanut butter stays fresh up to three months in the pantry. After that, it's recommended to store the peanut butter in the fridge (where it can maintain its quality for another 3-4 months). If you don't refrigerate, oil separation can occur.
The easiest way to prevent your almond butter from going bad and extend its shelf-life—by as much as twice as long—is to pop it in the fridge. Keeping your almond butter in the fridge is especially important if you tend to purchase nut butters without preservatives or if you like to make your own nut butter.
A jar of nut butter with low oxidative stability will begin to taste rancid, bitter, or pungent as time goes on. According to a study on the quality of stabilizer-free natural peanut butter during storage, natural PB kept at 10°C (50°F) began demonstrating loss in oxidative stability after just 12 weeks.
Your peanut butter can stay edible for a while if kept in a cool, dry location away from heat sources and the sun. Homemade peanut butter can remain fresh for approximately two to three weeks when kept at room temperature under ideal circ*mstances.
Storing our butters in the fridge will prolong their quality, but it makes them hard to spread. Unrefrigerated, they will harden over time due to the naturally occurring oil. We suggest storing in a cool dark place for easiest use.
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