![]() ![]() The best ways to tell if your peanut butter has gone bad are by sight and smell. That means your peanut butter may still be safe to eat beyond its best-by date ( 5). However, these labels aren’t compulsory and don’t ensure the product’s safety. Most packaged peanut butters have expiration dates - also called best-by dates - printed on the container, which indicates how long the product will stay fresh. Placing peanut butter in the fridge can extend its shelf life. Natural peanut butters may last several months unopened, or up to a month once opened. In the pantry, commercial peanut butters may last 6–24 months unopened, or 2–3 months once opened. This is because it has less fat than regular peanut butter, which means it’s less prone to reacting with oxygen. However, powdered peanut butter may last longer than the listed best-by date if unopened and stored in a cool, dry, dark place, such as the pantry. Most labels state that they can last 10–12 months unopened, or 4–6 months once opened. Powdered peanut butter is a new alternative made by pressing the majority of the natural oils from roasted peanuts and grinding the nuts into a powder. The shelf life of natural peanut butters can vary considerably among brands due to the addition of different ingredients, so it’s important to check the best-by date on the packaging. Many natural peanut butter products that contain only peanuts and salt state to “refrigerate after opening” to preserve freshness. However, they may last up to a year in the fridge unopened, or 3–4 months in the fridge once opened ( 4). In general, natural peanut butters without stabilizers can last for several months in the pantry unopened, or up to a month once opened. However, some natural peanut butters may contain stabilizers to prevent oil separation. They have a shorter shelf life because they generally lack preservatives and stabilizers. On the other hand, products labeled as natural peanut butters must contain at least 90% peanuts. Placing it in the fridge can extend its shelf life beyond this ( 4). The addition of stabilizers helps to prevent oil separation and improves the texture and appearance, while preservatives, including sodium benzoate, help combat microbial growth.īecause of the addition of stabilizers and preservatives, commercial peanut butters may last 6–24 months in the pantry if left unopened, or 2–3 months once opened. Most commercial peanut butters use stabilizers, such as hydrogenated vegetable oils or palm oil, as well as preservatives like sodium benzoate to help extend their shelf life ( 2, 3). There are other key factors that can influence the shelf life of peanut butter.įor starters, how it’s manufactured plays a significant role in its shelf life. This is because peanut butter is high in fat and has a relatively low moisture content, which provides unfavorable conditions for bacterial growth ( 1). Compared with other spreads, peanut butter generally has a long shelf life. ![]()
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