Is Peanut Butter Freezable? You certainly can!

Peanut butter should be kept in a cool, dry area away from light sources while unopened. According to the National Peanut Board, an open jar of peanut butter will remain fresh in the pantry for up to three months, after which it should be stored in the refrigerator for another three to four months.

Some peanut butters will recommend that you refrigerate them once opened, and you should do so to assist minimize separation.

While peanut butter is shelf stable, if you live in a humid and warm area, even unopened, it may not survive as long as it might.

The oils in peanut butter begin to break down and become rancid with time and exposure to air. This is a chemical process that breaks down the molecular structure of lipids, creating changes in the scent and taste of the meal.

Other forms of lipids rancidify significantly faster than peanut butter, which is likely due to a lack of vitamin E. Since peanut butter includes this natural antioxidant, it has a longer shelf life by preventing oxidation.

The best before date on peanut butter indicates that if kept properly, the danger of rancidification before this date is small.

A rotten jar of peanut butter is still safe to consume; it simply won’t taste very good!

Best Style of Peanut Butter for Freezing

A pure or natural peanut butter should freeze relatively well, and you should not lose any of the texture or taste of the PB. Peanut butter branded as pure or natural should only include peanuts, but it’s worth double-checking since some may also contain salt or sugar.

Peanut butter is created with shelled, roasted, and ground peanuts, as well as stabilizers and spices (such as salt). A product marketed as peanut butter must always include at least 90% peanuts, while a peanut butter spread will have fewer than 90% peanuts, according to Federal Rules.

Certain peanut butters with added ingredients like oils and preservatives, as well as some varieties of peanut butter spreads, may not freeze as well as natural peanut butter. In certain situations, they may not even freeze.

There is also an idea that freezing a jar of peanut butter would separate the oil and butter to the point where they cannot be combined (emulsified) back together. This is not correct. After freezing and then defrosting pure peanut butter, the oil and butter separation will be the same as when opening the jar from the cupboard or refrigerator.

After defrosted, pure peanut butter just has to be well blended before spreading over toast.

This separation or syneresis found in pure peanut butter is essentially nothing to worry about, as bothersome as it may be to some of us! When the oil separates from the nuts (solids) at higher temperatures, this occurs. Stabilizer-containing peanut butters or peanut butter spreads do not separate as much since the job of stabilizers is to prevent separation.

If you produce homemade peanut butter, a smoother butter will keep longer than one with more bits of peanut.

If you are unclear if your peanut butter or peanut butter spread will freeze, try a tiny amount first and then freeze and defrost it. If it doesn’t freeze well, you won’t be out the expense of a whole jar of peanut butter.

How to Freeze Peanut Butter

The longer peanut butter is kept in the freezer, the more it will deteriorate and lose taste. Depending on the peanut butter, it should keep in the freezer for six months or so before losing some of its taste. It may acquire a stale flavor over time due to being kept in the freezer.

Consider if you are freezing a complete jar, a portion of a jar, or would like to portion it out before freezing, since they would need somewhat different freezing methods.

Freezing A Whole Jar of Peanut Butter

If you wish to freeze a whole jar of peanut butter in a glass jar, keep in mind that peanut butter expands during freezing. This indicates there is a little possibility of the glass jar shattering. To prevent this, open the lid and remove the seal before freezing. Once the peanut butter has frozen, replace the cover.

Similarly, while thawing, unscrew the lid and re-tighten when it has thawed.

Keep an eye on the jar as it begins to freeze. A full jar might take six hours or more to thoroughly freeze.

Note that once a full jar has been defrosted, it cannot be frozen again and has a shorter shelf life, even in the refrigerator, than a jar that has never been frozen.

Freezing an Open Jar of Peanut Butter

If you have a half-jar of peanut butter, pour it into an airtight container rather than leaving it in the jar. You may also use a Ziplock bag, although this might be more difficult to handle once defrosted.

If you select Tupperware, try to get a container that is around the same size as the quantity of peanut butter remaining. This indicates that there will be very little air remaining in the container.

If there is still a lot of room in the container after filling it, add some plastic wrap over the peanut butter before closing the container to keep the extra air from getting to the peanut butter. Similarly, when using a Ziplock bag, always remove the extra air before closing it up and freezing it.

Freezing Small Portions of Peanut Butter

I usually like to freeze items like peanut butter in smaller batches so that you can simply take some out as needed. Individual servings may be frozen in ice cube trays. When they have frozen for about an hour, they may be pulled out and stored in a Ziplock bag or other airtight container.

A regular ice cube serving is around 2 teaspoons, which is a good amount for spreading over your sandwich and for calorie management. These little servings will thaw in about 30 minutes.

Avoid refreezing peanut butter after it has been frozen, and whichever method you choose, remember to write the name of the peanut butter and the date you placed it in the freezer on the bag or Tupperware. This ensures that it does not end up forgotten in the bottom of the freezer.

Freezing Other Types of Nut Butter

Other commercial or homemade nut butters, such as almond, hazelnut, and cashew, may be frozen just like peanut butter. But keep in mind the precautions for peanut butter mentioned above about additives and the like. Save pure butters for freezing if feasible, and bear in mind that not all nut butters will freeze solid owing to their oil content.

Defrosting Peanut Butter

Smaller quantities of peanut butter may be thawed on the counter before use, but due to the danger of separation with pure butters, you should defrost it in the refrigerator.

If you have frozen a whole jar or big container of peanut butter, it is typically better to set it on a plate and leave it in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.

Since it is less prone to split, peanut butter with added oil is typically OK to thaw on the counter.

You should not thaw peanut butter using heat, such as in the microwave, unless you are using it as a frozen ingredient in a dish that will be heated later. But, if you are going to consume it right away, you might defrost a bit in a bag in a basin of warm water.

After defrosted, keep the peanut butter refrigerated. It also goes without saying that if you are in any doubt while defrosting peanut butter or any other food, throw it away!

Other Ways to Freeze Peanut Butter

Of course, another option is to use up leftover peanut butter by freezing it as cookies, brittle, peanut butter cups, fudge, or other delightful goodies.

Freezing peanut butter in slices between parchment paper was once an online craze, but others have had minimal luck getting peanut butter to freeze in this manner, so it may be better to avoid it.

Add low fat yogurt to it, then freeze the treats for the dogs to enjoy on hot summer days! If you want to make peanut butter treats for your dog, pour some unsweetened and unsalted xylitol-free peanut butter onto ice cube trays. You may also include some mashed banana and

The American Kennel Club recommends that treats like peanut butter make up no more than 10% of a dog’s daily diet, and that rewards also include vegetables and fruits like carrots, celery, apple slices, and blueberries.

All About Peanut Butter

Peanuts have been around for a long time, with evidence that they have been present for at least 3,500 years in South America. Peanut butter is said to have existed during the Inca Peoples’ period, when they mashed their peanuts into butter.

While peanuts were initially utilized as fodder and a source of sustenance for impoverished individuals in North America, they gained appeal as a snack following the American Civil War. Not long after, street vendors started selling hot peanuts at large events like as baseball games.

Peanut butter was first commercially launched during the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, when it quickly gained popularity. Soon after, it was incorporated to U.S. Army rations, and the PB&J sandwich grew to become an essential snack for troops serving during World War II.

Peanut butter is high in fiber, with a two-teaspoon serving containing around 1.8 grams. Peanuts are also a rich source of protein, with the same size serving delivering 7 grams, albeit they do not contain all of the important amino acids that our bodies need.

Peanut butter also helps us meet our daily requirements for minerals including magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and zinc, as well as vitamin B6.

One of the primary dangers with eating too much peanut butter is its high fat level. A two-teaspoon serving contains about one-quarter of the daily saturated fat allowance for a 2,000-calorie diet. In addition to saturated fats, peanuts contain monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in a ratio comparable to olive oil.

The American Diabetes Association suggests eating 46 grams of peanuts or peanut butter as a protein source to enhance blood lipids, support heart health, and even help diabetics lose weight.

Peanut butter, like other foods, should be consumed in moderation, which is why freezing it in smaller quantities is preferable than freezing a complete jar at a once.

Peanut butter’s fat, protein, and fiber levels may also aid in weight loss by making us feel fuller after eating.

The Bottom Line

Yes, you can freeze peanut butter, and doing so is a terrific way to prolong the shelf life of this shelf stable staple, particularly whether you prefer to purchase in bulk, make your own, or simply enjoy a little on occasion.

I hope you liked this article on how to freeze peanut butter, and if you haven’t tried freezing it before, I hope the advice provided here are helpful.

Please leave any comments on your experiences with freezing peanut butter, and feel free to share this information with anybody you know.