How long does peanut butter last?

An unopened jar of regular peanut butter keeps 6 to 24 months in the pantry, and 2 to 3 months once opened. Natural peanut butter, with no added stabilizers, belongs in the fridge: about 12 months unopened and 3 to 4 months once opened.

Food	Fridge	Pantry
Regular peanut butter	—	6–24 monthsfrom purchaseOpened: 2–3 months
Natural peanut butter (no stabilizers)	12 monthsfrom purchaseOpened: 3–4 months	—

Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.

How to tell if peanut butter has gone bad

A rancid smell, like paint, old oil or bitter nuts. Rancid peanut butter tastes stale and sharp.
A hard, dry, crumbly texture, or a darker color throughout.
Mold, which is rare but possible if water or food got into the jar.
A layer of oil on top of natural peanut butter is normal: stir it back in.

How to store peanut butter

Keep regular peanut butter in a cool, dark cupboard, tightly closed.
Keep natural peanut butter in the fridge once opened: without stabilizers, its oils go rancid faster. Stir it well before refrigerating, as the oil won't mix back in easily once cold.
Use a clean, dry knife each time. Jam or crumbs on the knife bring moisture that can grow mold.
Storing the jar upside down helps keep the oil in natural peanut butter mixed in.

Can you freeze peanut butter?

You can, though it rarely needs it. Freezing slows rancidity, which helps with natural peanut butter bought in bulk. Leave room in the container, thaw it in the fridge and stir well before using.

Questions

Does peanut butter need to be refrigerated?

Regular peanut butter doesn't: it keeps 2 to 3 months in the pantry once opened. Natural peanut butter should go in the fridge once opened, where it keeps 3 to 4 months.

Can you eat peanut butter after the expiration date?

If it smells and tastes normal, usually yes: the date on peanut butter is about quality, and the main risk with age is rancidity, which makes it taste bad. Throw it out if it smells rancid or shows mold.

Why is there oil on top of my peanut butter?

In natural peanut butter, the peanut oil separates and rises. It's normal: stir it back in. Regular peanut butter contains stabilizers that stop this.

Add peanut butter to ShelfLife with the date you opened it, and know when it's time for a new jar.

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