How To Freeze Peanut Butter | The Best Way

Jars of peanut butter can be frozen in the plastic container in which it is purchased. For glass containers, or, if you do not eat that much peanut butter before it goes bad, it can be spooned into smaller containers so that it can be taken from the freezer and used as needed.

Even though peanut butter stays good for a long time when kept in a closed container, freezing is a good way to extend the shelf life of peanut butter.

What Is The Best Way To Freeze Peanut Butter?

Peanut butter can either be frozen in the container in which it was purchased or it can be spooned into multiple smaller containers to be frozen and then thawed and used when needed. It will last for up to 6 months in the freezer.

Pro Tip: Make sure that the container you use to freeze peanut butter is plastic or otherwise freezer safe. Avoid freezing in a glass jar.

Most canning jars are freezer safe, but the glass jars that some peanut butter is sold in may not be. So, don’t take any chances, avoid using a glass container to freeze your peanut butter.

What Is The Best Way To Thaw Frozen Peanut Butter?

The three best ways to thaw frozen peanut butter are:

1. The best way is to place it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.
2. For quicker thawing, set it out at room temperature until it has thawed enough to use.
3. For quickest thawing, set the container into a bowl or pan of cool water to thaw more quickly.

Tip: If the peanut butter has split when thawing or separates, just give it a quick stir and the texture will again be just as it was before freezing.

Can Homemade Peanut Butter Be Frozen?

Homemade peanut butter will freeze just as well as commercial peanut butter. That way, you can make a large batch just the way you like it and freeze a portion or portions of it for use at a later time.

Another alternative is to freeze the peanuts so that they stay fresh and make homemade peanut butter in small batches as you need them.

Can I Can Peanut Butter?

Peanut butter cannot safely be canned. According to the USDA National Center For Home Food Preservation, it is not safe cannot safely be canned because of the density of peanut butter.

Related Article: How to Can Peanut Butter? (You Can’t But Do This Instead)

Any food with similar density has the same issue.

So far, there is no test that can be used to verify that the necessary temperature to kill the bacteria that causes botulism can be sustained throughout the entire jar of dense food for the necessary length of time to render the food safe for consumption.

Other foods, such as pumpkin pulp and sweet potato pulp, fall into the same category. It is the pulp that is the result of the meat of the pumpkin and sweet potato being mashed that creates the issue and keeps them from safely being canned.

But, pumpkin and sweet potato can be safely canned if they are canned in chunks and not mashed.

For more information on canning pumpkin, take a look at my video that covers the entire process:

And, instead of canning peanut butter, the peanuts can be either frozen or canned so that you can make fresh homemade peanut butter whenever you wish.

Helpful Link: Here is the information needed to can fresh green peanuts.

What Is The Correct Way To Store Peanut Butter?

We all know that peanut butter lasts unrefrigerated for a long time, but did you ever wonder just how long? Well, here is the answer at last.

According to the National Peanut Board, 

• An unopened jar of peanut butter will last in your pantry for 6 to 9 months.
• After it has been opened, it will continue to stay fresh for up to 3 months. 
• An open jar in the refrigerator will usually stay fresh for up to 4 months longer.

Ways to extend the life of a jar of peanut butter that has been opened:

1. Always tighten the lid on the peanut butter before putting it back in the cabinet.
2. Store the jar of peanut butter in a cool dry area away from any heat or light source.
3. Avoid cross-contamination with other foods by using a clean utensil to serve the peanut butter.

How Can I Tell If Peanut Butter Has Gone Bad?

There are several ways to tell whether peanut butter is still fresh.

Odor

The best method of determining whether the peanut butter is still fresh is by giving it the sniff test.

If the peanut butter still smells like fresh peanuts, you are good to go. If, however, you detect a rancid odor, discard the container of peanut butter immediately without tasting.

Texture

Another good way is by checking the texture. Peanut butter that has gone bad may have a hard and dry appearance.

Color

If your peanut butter has gone bad, chances are good that it will have a darker appearance and will no longer be a light brown color.

Is Peanut Butter Good For You?

Although peanut butter is high in fat, many of those fats are heart-healthy fats, and it is also a good source of fiber, protein, and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin B6, and zinc.

However, because it is not a good source of all the amino acids required by the body, peanut butter should not be relied on as your only source of protein.

Here are some of the health benefits of including peanut butter as part of your regular diet:

• Appetite Suppressant- Because peanut butter is high in fiber, eating a small portion of peanut butter helps to control those hunger pangs and helps you to feel full longer.
• Aids In Weight Loss- Because eating peanuts and peanut butter can help control hunger pangs and help you feel full for a longer period of time, they can help reduce your amount of food intake and possibly aid in weight loss.
• Heart Healthy- Peanut butter is loaded with unsaturated fats, which help to lower bad cholesterol.
• Promote Healthy Hair And Skin- Peanut butter contains biotin and vitamins A and E, which serve the purpose of promoting healthy hair, scalp, and skin.
• Control Type 2 Diabetes- Peanuts and peanut butter are low-carbohydrate snacks that can control hunger and can help prevent blood sugar spikes.

Is Homemade Peanut Butter Better For You?

Unless you are buying all-natural peanut butter, chances are good that homemade peanut butter will be healthier for you because you can control the other ingredients that go into your homemade peanut butter.

Without preservatives and other additives that you will find in commercially processed peanut butter, your homemade peanut butter will without a doubt, be healthier for you.

If you do not make your own peanut butter, for a healthier diet that contains peanut butter, check the ingredients list on the container of peanut butter before buying to be sure you are getting a product that contains only peanuts and maybe a little salt.

Article You May Like: How to Make Powdered Peanut Butter | A Quick Guide.

Long-Term Storage of Peanut Butter in History

Peanut butter is one of those food items that is a staple in most kitchens and has been a staple in most households for many years.

In fact, it is believed that the Inca Indians of Peru created their own version of peanut butter as long ago as approximately 3500 years ago. They ground peanuts to make a paste that must have been more similar to the peanut butter that many people make at home today.

Peanuts have long been a more affordable snack, and peanut butter is a delicious and affordable source of protein.

Although peanuts were at one time raised to feed animals, it became popular as a food source after the Civil War when people were starving in the aftermath of the events of the Civil War.

Little Known Fact: In 1904, the first commercial peanut butter was introduced at the St. Louis World’s Fair, and peanut butter soon became a staple in the diets of soldiers because of the low cost and because it did not require refrigeration.

I was living in South Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina, after which residents in areas without electric power for an extended period of time, in my case, which was 3 weeks, were provided with water and with MRE’s.

In case you are not familiar with the term, an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) is a meal provided for our military while in the field. Each MRE that I saw included a packet or packets of peanut butter with crackers to go with it.

Thanks for stoppin’ by!

Jelly Grandma

For more, don’t miss Freezer Strategy | The 10 Do’s and Dont’s of Freezing Foods.