Why You Shouldn’t Refrigerate Peanut Butter

I grew up in a family where everything smelled of food in the refrigerator. Every second open jar lives in the fridge, so why not use peanut butter too? However, if you have stored peanut butter in the refrigerator, you may be shocked to learn that many people don’t, and peanut butter is actually perfectly safe at room temperature.

However, there are reasons why you may prefer to keep peanut butter cold; it depends on your preference and what kind of peanut butter you keep on hand. But first: the issue of security.

Unrefrigerated peanut butter is safe

Peanut butter is one of those foods that doesn’t need to be refrigerated (see also butter, honey, tomatoes, and even, with reservations, butter ).

The USDA Q&A database includes a short record of the expiration date for peanut butter. If the jar has not been opened, you can expect it to sit in the pantry for six to nine months. After opening, it is good for two to three months. An article on shelf-stable foods cites peanut butter as an example of a product that is “safe indefinitely”. Over the years, it may get stale taste, unappetizing texture or color, but it is unlikely to kill you.

How is this possible? A jar of peanut butter is made up primarily of oil and solids. Like dairy butter, there simply isn’t enough water in peanut butter to be a breeding ground for microbes.

How to Decide Where to Store Peanut Butter

So peanut butter is safe at room temperature. This does not mean that it is bad to store it in the refrigerator, so here you will have to take into account several other factors.

First, how long does it take you to eat a can of peanut butter. Many people eat through a can in a matter of weeks or, for some of us, days without any problems. But if you tend to keep the same jar for months on end—longer than the two to three months recommended by the USDA—it will stay fresher if you keep it in the fridge.

Texture is another consideration. If you are using natural peanut butter, which tends to separate into oil and solids, you can mix it thoroughly and store it in the refrigerator. This way the peanut butter will stay blended longer. On the other hand, if you want your PB to be as spreadable as possible, you may prefer the softer texture that comes from storing it in your pantry.