Does peanut butter go bad? Yes, it can spoil. Discover the signs of bad peanut butter, the risks of eating it, and tips to extend its shelf-life. Stay safe and enjoy your favorite spread.
What could be more perfect thanpeanut butter? It’s creamy, crunchy ,salty-sweet, and can be stored at room temperature longer than many pantry food items. Thisnutrient-densepantry staple is packed with essential vitamins, minerals and fats.
As an added bonus, peanut butter seems to last forever. But does it?Spoiler: It spoils.
Here’s a rundown of the risks of eating bad peanut butter, signs of spoilage, and how to maximize its shelf-life.
Does peanut butter go bad?
While peanut butter can last a long time, it can definitely go bad.
Peanut butter boastspropertiesthat give it a very long shelf-life. It’soily, high infats, and has low levels of moisture. This makes it difficult for bacteria to grow.
Peanut butter’s shelf-life depends on the brand and if itsnaturalor commercial. Here’show longa commercial peanut butter with stabilizers should last:
Most name-brand peanut butters contain add stabilizers or preservatives to further the shelf life. This includes:
These stabilizes are also used toenhancethe creamy texture, prevent oil separation in the jar, and further deter the growth of bacteria.
What makes peanut butter go bad?
Just like any other food, once the packaging is opened, the food is exposed to environmental elements.
Peanut butter naturally contains unsaturated fats which means it can become oxidized. Once the jar of peanut butter is opened, the fatty acids in the oil begin to lose itsoxidative stability. Whenfatty acidsin oils are exposed to oxygen, the chemical reactions that occur eventually result in the oil going rancid.
Risks of eating bad peanut butter
Generally, spoiled peanut butter smells and tastes terrible. If you can tell the vibe is off, don’t eat it! But if you do wind up consuming spoiled PB, there’s a chance you’ll experiencestomach upset,diarrhea, orvomiting.
The high fat and low moisture of peanut butter doesn’t create an environment for most bacteria to grow. But, there have been some reported cases of peanut butter containingSalmonellabacteria. Onestudyfound thatSalmonellasurvived in peanut butter for 24 weeks. Yikes.
Salmonella can cause serioussymptomslike:
If left unchecked, salmonella can be a life-threatening concern. If you suspect you have salmonella, seek medical attention ASAP.
How to tell if peanut butter has gone bad
First things first, check your peanut butter jar’sexpiration date. Most peanut butter products have these dates printed on the container or lid. If it’s already expired, don’t risk it. Now that that steps out of the way, here are some signs your peanut butter has gone bad.
FYI: Natural peanut butter separates. If the oil is resting on top of the peanut part, that’s totally OK. However, that also means you need to use another method to see if it’s gone bad.
How to make peanut butter last longer
Here are somestorage tipsin order to maximize the lifespan of your favorite jar of peanut butter.
Peanut butter can go bad. And when it does, you definitely shouldn’t eat it. Eating rancid peanut butter can lead to tummy troubles like cramps, diarrhea, or vomiting. In severe situations, it can also give you Salmonella. This can be life-threatening in extreme cases.
If stored and sealed properly, unopened natural peanut butter can last up to 12 months in the refrigerator or in the pantry. Once the container has been opened, it can last up to 3 months in the pantry or 4 months in the fridge.
The best way to determine a peanut butter’s shelf-life is to look at the jar’s expiration date. However, if you notice the peanut butter has a hard texture, darker color, or smells or tastes bad, you should get rid of it in a jiffy.
