How long does peanut butter last?
Peanut butter keeps for 6 to 24 months in the pantry. USDA lists 3 kinds of peanut butter; the first is shown here and all are in the table below.
commercial
6 to 24 months
from the package date
No guideline
No guideline
All kinds of peanut butter, side by side
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| commercial | 6 to 24 months | no guideline | 2 to 3 months | no guideline |
| commercially produced, containing hydrogenated fat or other stabilizers | 6 to 9 months | 12 months | 3 to 4 months | no guideline |
| natural | no guideline | 12 months | 3 to 4 months | no guideline |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
- natural: Or package use-by date, whichever comes first.
How to tell peanut butter has gone bad
General signs for shelf stable foods, the group USDA lists peanut butter under.
- Crackers or cereal that have gone soft or stale, not crisp
- Rancid, paint-like smell from nuts, oils or nut butters
- Small insects or webbing inside a box or bag
- Spices that have lost their smell and colour
- Fermented or boozy smell from honey that has picked up moisture
More on shelf stable foods. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Store dry pantry staples in a cool, dry cupboard away from the stove and direct sunlight, ideally in airtight containers once opened. Reseal cracker and cereal bags tightly with a clip or transfer them to a container to keep them crisp. Label opened jars with the date so older ones get used first.
More in shelf stable foods
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). Times assume a fridge at 40 F (4 C) and a freezer at 0 F (-18 C). How we decode the data.