Prep

How long does peanut butter last?

FoodKeeper gives peanut butter 6 to 24 months unopened, as a US guide to quality. Once opened, that's 2 to 3 months in the cupboard.

These are US figures, for quality. They come from USDA FoodKeeper. The date on a UK pack comes first, and Food Standards Agency rules take priority: never eat food after its use-by date. Best before is about quality.

How to store it

Keep it in a cool cupboard. Natural peanut butter with no stabiliser may separate, so store the jar upside down or stir it. FoodKeeper gives no fridge figure, and USDA's outage chart lists it as fine to keep.

USDA says temperatures below 85°F (about 29°C) are best, and to avoid anywhere above or beside the cooker, under the sink, or in a damp garage or cellar. Once it's open, follow the storage instruction on the label.

What to look for

Oil on top is normal. A bitter or paint-like smell means it's rancid. USDA says to discard mouldy peanut butter.

Don't use food from a cracked jar, or a jar with a loose or bulging lid. Don't taste it to check.

Worth knowing

The range is wide, 6 to 24 months unopened, because recipes differ. Use the date on the jar, then use the 2 to 3 months for an opened jar.

Similar foods

From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

FoodKeeper is USDA's food storage database. Its figures are guides to quality for food stored at cool room temperature, not safety cut-offs, and we show them as USDA gives them. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase. Opened times start when you open the pack.

There's no UK shelf-life dataset, so these figures are from the US. The date on your pack comes first. On a UK pack, use by is about safety and best before is about quality, so never rely on this page to go past a use-by date.

Common questions

How long does peanut butter last unopened?

6 to 24 months, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase.

How long does peanut butter keep once opened?

2 to 3 months in the cupboard. FoodKeeper gives no fridge figure.

Can I eat peanut butter after the best before date?

Best before is about quality, so peanut butter past that date is usually safe, but may not be as good. A use-by date is different: never eat food after it.

What should I look for before using peanut butter?

Oil on top is normal. A bitter or paint-like smell means it's rancid. USDA says to discard mouldy peanut butter.

Sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.

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