Does peanut butter go bad? It’s a reasonable question to ask, especially if you’ve been working on the same jar of peanut butter you bought at Costco for months. At what point should you forgo your next PB&J sandwich over concerns about spoilage?

Drawing on my decades of homemaking, food handling, and reporting experience, I’ve set out to answer all your most pressing peanut butter questions!
In this post, you’ll learn how long you can expect peanut butter to last, what factors affect its shelf-life, and how to keep this beloved pantry staple fresh. Peanut butter may not be one of the best foods to store long-term, but the information below will help you keep it fresh for a good, long while!
Table of Contents
Does Peanut Butter Go Bad?
In short, yes — peanut butter can indeed go bad, become rancid, spoil, or expire. Due to the high fat content in peanut butter, it can go rancid over time due to oxygen exposure and even become susceptible to mold growth.
Luckily, it’s easy to tell if peanut butter has gone bad — you’ll likely be able to tell from the smell alone. In addition to a bitter or rancid smell, bad peanut butter may appear dark in color or dried out. Those are signs that it’s time to toss that jar of PB and replace it with a new one!
One easy way to keep peanut butter fresh for as long as possible? Use a clean utensil every time you scoop some out of the jar to reduce bacterial contamination.

Types Of Peanut Butter And Their Shelf Life
Type of Peanut Butter | Shelf Life |
---|---|
Unopened peanut butter | 6 to 9 months |
Opened peanut butter | 2 to 3 months |
Refrigerated peanut butter | 6 to 9 months |
Unrefrigerated peanut butter | 2 to 3 months |
Powdered peanut butter (unopened) | 4 to 5 years |
Powdered peanut butter (opened) | 1 year |
Natural peanut butter | 6 months (in fridge) |
Does Peanut Butter Need To Be Refrigerated?
You don’t typically need to store conventional peanut butter in the fridge, but you should refrigerate natural peanut butter. Traditional varieties of peanut butter have stabilizers and preservatives that help prevent separation and make the peanut butter last longer. Natural peanut butter, on the other hand, usually contains little more than peanuts and salt.
Preservative-free varieties of peanut butter will last longer if you store them in the fridge with the lid tightly sealed. (You can also refrigerate conventional peanut butter to keep it fresh longer, but the presence of preservatives makes refrigeration less necessary.)
Freezing Peanut Butter
If you like to stock up on foods and freeze them, you’ll be happy to know you can freeze peanut butter, too! You can freeze it in ice cube trays and store the cubes in a freezer bag, or spread it onto freezer paper and store it in a freezer bag for a lighting-fast PB&J down the road. Sealing frozen peanut butter with a vacuum sealer will help prevent freezer burn.

Is Peanut Butter Supposed To Be Watery?
Peanut butter is not supposed to be watery — it should have a thick, creamy consistency. So, is it bad if your jar of peanut butter has a watery or liquidy appearance?
Occasionally, the oil content of peanut butter can separate from the solids and collect at the top of the jar, giving it a watery or runny appearance. This is fairly normal and can be solved by stirring the peanut butter thoroughly and storing it in the refrigerator for a time. (See the bonus tip at the end of this post for more!)
If stirring and refrigerating the peanut butter doesn’t help, or has an off smell or taste, it may have expired or been exposed to moisture. Toss the jar and replace it with a fresh one to be safe!
Does Peanut Butter Expire? Understanding Peanut Butter Expiry
Yes, peanut butter can expire, but how quickly it does so will depend on how you store it and the type you purchase. Stored properly and used carefully, peanut butter can last from several months to two years.
I often choose which peanut butter to buy based on its shelf life and how quickly I plan to use it. For example, if I know the jar will get used up within six months, I’ll choose a natural peanut butter with a shorter shelf life.
On the other hand, if I’m not confident I’ll use it within six months, I’ll choose a more traditional peanut butter with a distant expiration date.
Found a jar of peanut butter in the back of your cupboard past its expiration date? If it looks, smells, and tastes fine, you can use expired peanut butter for cooking and baking.

Shelf Life Of Peanut Butter
Peanut butter shelf life varies according to type and storage conditions. Here’s a look at how long different types of peanut butter can last, depending on how you store them:
- Conventional peanut butter, unopened: 6-9 months at room temperature
- Conventional peanut butter, opened: 2-3 months at room temperature, 6-9 months in the fridge
- Natural peanut butter, opened or unopened: 6 months in the fridge
When storing peanut butter at room temperature, keep it in a cool, dark, dry place, like your pantry or inside a kitchen cabinet.
How Long Does Unopened Peanut Butter Last?
The shelf life of unopened or sealed peanut butter depends on the type of peanut butter. On average, unopened peanut butter lasts up to 6 months, while unopened peanut butter with preservatives may last up to 9 months. Moreover, unopened powdered peanut butter can last for more than a year.

Does Powdered Peanut Butter Go Bad?
Yes, powdered peanut butter can also go bad, but it has a longer shelf life than conventional peanut butter.
Unopened powdered peanut butter typically lasts 10-12 months, with some brands lasting up to 5 years. Open powdered peanut butter usually lasts 4-6 months.

How Long Is Peanut Butter Good For After The Expiration Date?
Since peanut butter has relatively low moisture, it’s unlikely to spoil to the point where eating it would make you sick. However, changes in flavor and odor can make it very unpleasant to consume!
Expiration dates can be somewhat conservative, so peanut butter is probably okay to eat as long as it looks fine, smells fine, and has been stored properly (see “Shelf Life Of Peanut Butter” above).
Jillee’s Take:
Which Peanut Butter Has The Longest Shelf Life?
When stockpiling food to prepare for an emergency, you want to look for peanut butter with a long shelf-life, and powdered peanut butter is a great option. Some powdered peanut butter is so stable that it lasts up to 15 years, making it a great addition to a stash of emergency essentials.
Peanut butter powder is popular with bodybuilders and diet-conscious folks because it contains 1.5 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein per serving, and has around 70% fewer calories than conventional peanut butter. It’s easy to use too — just add water until it reaches the right consistency!

Peanut Butter Recipes & Ideas
I love peanut butter treats, and these are two of my all-time favorites. You and your family are sure to love them!
For a quick, homemade peanut butter snack, you can also quickly warm peanut butter in your microwave or a double boiler and spread it on toast or crackers!

BONUS: An Easy Fix For Watery Peanut Butter
Separation is common in natural peanut butter, and recombining the oils and solids can be a tricky (and messy) endeavor. Some people just discard the separated oil, but I don’t recommend that — it can make the peanut butter at the bottom of the jar unbearably dry.
Instead, I suggest scraping the entire contents of the jar into the bowl of a stand mixer and then using the paddle attachment to mix it. Once the peanut butter is smooth and creamy again, divide it between a few smaller containers to make it easier to stir in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Okay To Eat Expired Peanut Butter?
It’s okay to eat expired peanut butter if it doesn’t show signs of spoilage or contamination (i.e. mold growth, off-smell, or unusual taste).
How Long Is Peanut Butter Good For?
The shelf life of peanut butter depends on the variety and how you store it. On average, peanut butter will stay good for 2-3 months, but you can still use it after that if it looks, smells, and tastes fine.
Does Unrefrigerated Peanut Butter Go Bad?
Refrigerating peanut butter will extend its shelf life, but unrefrigerated peanut butter can stay fresh for quite a while. If you haven’t refrigerated your peanut butter and are concerned about its freshness, check its appearance and taste. If it seems fine, it probably is!
What Are The Signs Of Peanut Butter Spoilage?
Signs of peanut butter spoilage include mold growth, a rancid smell or taste, dry texture, and darkened color.
Conclusion
Peanut butter can go bad, but you can extend its lifespan by refrigerating it or storing it in a cool, dry, dark place.
If you don’t go through peanut butter particularly quickly, consider buying conventional or powdered peanut butter — both will last longer than natural peanut butter.
Finally, peanut butter contains relatively little water compared to other foods, making it less susceptible to bacterial or mold growth. Therefore, there isn’t much risk in consuming expired peanut butter, as long as it doesn’t have a bad smell or unusual taste or texture.
Have you ever wondered if peanut butter goes bad?