Peanut butter is perhaps one of the most reliable items in your kitchen cabinet. It's always there, ready to be spread over a toasted slice of bread and smothered in jelly. It's also the perfect companion to chocolate, making it an essential ingredient in many desserts.
But now that I think about it, I don't know how long ago it was that I purchased the jar of peanut butter that's currently in my cabinet. Does peanut butter go...bad? After doing a little research, I found the answer to this alarmingquestion, and I'll never look at peanut butter quite the same. Well, that might be dramatic, but it's true, the answer was quite a surprise to me. Learn if and when peanut butter goes bad, and how you should store it so it lasts as long as possible.
Can Peanut Butter Go Bad?
Short answer — yes! Who would've thought, right? Low moisture content and high levels of fat give it an extremely long shelf life. But it will eventually go rancid due to its high fat content.
Food that has gone rancid likely won't get you sick, but you probably won't want to eat it, as the taste and texture will be very unpleasant. Once it hits this stage, even the most die-hard peanut butter fans won't go near it.
You're not going to find mold growing on your peanut butter. That being said, you can still tell that peanut butter has gone bad by sight. Rancid peanut butter will be hard and dry, and the color might even be darker.
Of course, a classic sign of rancid food is a change in smell. Rancid peanut butter might smell, well, not like peanut butter (beware of bitter or metallic odors).
How to Store Peanut Butter
How you should store your peanut butter is going to differ based on the type you're dealing with. Conventional, processed peanut butter has a long shelf-life due to the addition of stabilizers like palm oil and hydrogenated oils. These will be fine to store in a cool, dry place for a period of time. Although for a longer shelf life, you'll want to transfer it to the fridge after two to three months.
Natural peanut butter on the other hand does not contain any of these additives, so they do best when refrigerated after opening. However, they will be fine for a few weeks at room temperature. Worried about the oil separation? You can forget making a mess on the counter as you try to stir the oil into the peanut butter — store it upside down instead so the oil evenly distributes throughout the jar.
How Long Does Peanut Butter Last?
And now for the answer we've all been waiting for: how long does peanut butter really last? Who better to answer than the National Peanut Board? Here's what they have to say on the matter:
Unopened conventional peanut butter: 6-9 months, no refrigeration needed
Opened conventional peanut butter: 2-3 months in the pantry, 6-9 months in the fridge
What about natural peanut butter? Much to my surprise, you don't have to refrigerate natural peanut butter, according to Teddie (a natural peanut butter company). But to slow oil separation, it's best stored in the fridge. 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.
Natural peanut butter will last six months in the fridge. But once you open it, you must consume it within a month or two. With the natural type, it's safest to always keep it in the fridge instead of the pantry.
Is it OK to eat expired peanut butter? “Technically, peanut butter can be eaten after its expiration date,” says Le. “However, peanut butter will become rancid over time due to exposure to oxygen in the air, which can create bitter, metallic and off-flavors that make eating peanut butter unappetizing.”
Peanut butter can safely be stored in the freezer for approximately 6 months before it begins to deteriorate in terms of flavor. You can consume it after that 6-month mark, but it may not taste as good. Plus, the longer you leave it in the freezer, the more likely it is to develop freezer burn.
While peanut butter has a long shelf-life, it will eventually go bad—about 3 to 4 months after opening when stored in the refrigerator. If an unopened jar has been lost in the back of your pantry for a while, check the "use by" date. If it's gone by, toss it.
In the freezer, well-wrapped butter can last up to a year, after which its flavor and quality will be compromised. It may also develop freezer burn. In the refrigerator, well-wrapped salted butter can last up to five months without spoiling.
"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.
Summary. Dysgeusia is a type of taste disorder that causes food to taste different than it should. It is often caused by a temporary condition such as a cold, allergies, or pregnancy. However, it is sometimes caused by something long-term such as dementia or Parkinson's disease.
How do I know when SKIPPY® Peanut Butter expires? You can find the “Best By” date printed on the lid! SKIPPY® Peanut Butter should be enjoyed before that date—which shouldn't be a problem!
While fresh peanut butter is naturally soft and creamy, bad peanut butter may have a hard and dry texture. It may also have a dark brown appearance, compared with its usual light tan color. Additionally, if it smells more sharp, soapy, or bitter, it likely has gone bad.
How long does cheese last in the freezer? Freezing cheese stops bacterial growth completely. Frozen cheeses should be used within six months of freezing and then used within two to three days of thawing.
Whether speaking to new or seasoned pet parents, veterinarians are often asked 'can dogs eat peanut butter? ' The good news is that regular peanut butter is safe to give your dog as a treat. Just make sure to avoid peanut butter with Xylitol, a sugar substitute found in lower or sugar-free products.
If you eat expired peanuts, you may get a stomach ache, but the likelihood of you eating more than 1 to 2 rancid peanuts is low because they taste awful. Peanuts that have gone bad will also taste rancid and bitter. So, if your peanuts don't taste right, it's probably best to toss them out.
Smelling things that aren't there is called phantosmia. It can be unpleasant and affect how things taste. But it isn't usually serious and may go away by itself in a few weeks or months. See your GP if the strange smell doesn't go away in a few weeks.
Peanut butter contains prebiotics which feed beneficial bacteria in the microbiome; however, it's important to keep in mind that consuming too much peanut butter can cause digestive distress. Excessive intake can lead to a build up of gas in the intestines due to its high fiber content.
Introduction: My name is Fr. Dewey Fisher, I am a powerful, open, faithful, combative, spotless, faithful, fair person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Peanut-Butter-2000-1d94a365014248879e7d1c724bc4ef5f.jpg "Does Peanut Butter Go Bad? (1)")
