Peanut butter is a pantry staple in many households. It’s tasty, nutritious, and versatile enough to use in both sweet and savory recipes. However, like most foods, peanut butter does eventually expire and go bad. So how can you tell if your peanut butter has gone past its prime?
Check the Expiration Date
The first and easiest way to tell if peanut butter has expired is to check the expiration date printed on the jar. This date indicates how long the peanut butter should retain peak quality and flavor when stored properly. The expiration date is usually printed along the lid or on the top of the jar.
For an unopened jar, the expiration date tells you when the peanut butter will go bad. As long as the jar is sealed and stored appropriately, the peanut butter is generally fine to eat up to the printed expiration date. Once opened, peanut butter will stay fresh for about three to four months past the printed date.
Be aware that expiration dates are not always exact, as factors like storage conditions can affect a food’s shelf life. The expiration date is more of a guideline than a hard rule. Use your senses in addition to the date to determine if your specific jar of peanut butter has expired.
Check For Mold
One of the surest signs that peanut butter has gone bad is mold growth. Carefully check the entire surface area of the opened peanut butter, especially along the edges and bottom of the jar. Look for fuzzy spots or discoloration.
Mold can start growing when air gets into the jar and contaminates the peanut butter over time. It may start off as just a few spots, but left long enough the mold will multiply and make the peanut butter unsafe to eat.
Any jar of peanut butter that shows even a little mold growth should be discarded. The mold can send filaments down into the entire jar, well below the surface level you can see.
Smell It
A spoiled peanut butter will immediately alert your nose that something is wrong. Fresh peanut butter has a pleasant, nutty, mildly sweet aroma.
Over time, the oils in peanut butter can oxidize and go rancid, causing a stale, bitter, or unpleasant sour odor. The change in smell is a telltale sign the peanut butter is past its prime.
Make sure to take a good whiff of the opened peanut butter jar when first inspecting it. Trust your nose.
Check The Texture
The texture is a key indicator of whether peanut butter is still good or not. Fresh peanut butter should be fairly smooth and creamy. When you scoop out a bit with a knife, it should have a uniform texture throughout.
Expired peanut butter can become dry and very stiff. Oils may separate out of suspension, causing a gritty, coarse texture instead of smooth and creamy.
Severe texture changes, like a thick layer of separated oil or very dry and hard peanut butter, are sure signs it is too old to eat.
Taste A Small Sample
If your peanut butter passes the smell, texture, and visual mold checks, go ahead and taste a tiny bit. Start with just a tiny sample from the tip of a clean spoon or knife to check the flavor.
Good peanut butter should taste like you expect – nutty, sweet, and buttery. Off or sour flavors can indicate spoilage.
Never eat peanut butter that smells or tastes unpleasant. Just a small taste is enough to determine if your peanut butter is still good or needs to be discarded.
How To Store Peanut Butter Properly
To get the longest shelf life out of your peanut butter, be sure to store it correctly:
- Keep unopened peanut butter in a cool, dry pantry away from direct heat or sunlight.
- Refrigerate opened peanut butter to keep it fresher longer.
- Seal the jar tightly after each use.
- Keep peanut butter away from moisture and high humidity.
- Don’t let knife blades or dirty utensils contact the inside of the jar.
How Long Does Peanut Butter Last?
The shelf life depends on whether the peanut butter is unopened, opened, refrigerated, etc. Here are some general peanut butter expiration guidelines:
| Peanut Butter Type | Pantry | Refrigerator |
|---|---|---|
| Unopened | 6-12 months past printed date | 6-12 months past printed date |
| Opened | 3-4 months past printed date | 6-8 months past printed date |
As you can see, keeping peanut butter refrigerated once opened helps extend the shelf life. But even in the fridge, peanut butter should be discarded if it develops any off colors, textures, smells or flavors.
Can You Eat Expired Peanut Butter?
You can eat peanut butter a little while past the printed expiration date, especially if it was stored properly and there are no signs of spoilage. But peanut butter that shows mold, smells rancid, or tastes bad should always be discarded.
Peanut butter can contain harmful bacteria like salmonella and listeria. Eating spoiled peanut butter puts you at risk of foodborne illness, which can cause severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
When peanut butter has clearly expired, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Toss it and get a fresh jar!
How To Use Up Peanut Butter Before It Goes Bad
To avoid wasting peanut butter that’s close to expiration, try these tips for using it up:
- Make and freeze peanut butter energy balls or protein bars to eat later.
- Blend it into smoothies, milkshakes, or frozen drinks.
- Use it in cooking and baking – peanut sauce, cookies, muffins, etc.
- Stir into oatmeal or yogurt for extra protein.
- Spread it on apples, celery, or banana slices for snacks.
- Drizzle over ice cream for a tasty peanuty treat.
Conclusion
Checking for mold growth, smelling for rancid odors, noting texture changes, and tasting for flavor are the best ways to determine if your peanut butter has expired. Storing peanut butter properly helps extend its shelf life, but all peanut butter will eventually go bad. Use expired peanut butter in cooking rather than eating it straight from the jar, and remember to rely on your senses to decide if your peanut butter has gone past its prime.