Does Almond Butter Go Bad? – How Long It Lasts, How to Store, and More

You opened the jar of mouthwatering almond butter a month ago, only to get preoccupied with other nutty spreads in your kitchen. Again, you decided to get back to your almond butter for a change after a few months, but wondering – Does Almond Butter Go Bad?

Even though the bottle of almond butter is shelf-stable and lasts up to two years in sealed condition, it may go off.

Whether you are a hardcore fan of almond butter or a beginner, knowing the basics of going bad, storage methods, shelf life, and impacts of consuming almond butter after expiry is important. If this is what you are looking for, continue reading the post.

How Long Almond Butter Lasts – The Shelf Life?

The unopened jar of Almond Butter lasts a couple of months extra after the printed use-by date. The shelf life of the opened jar is only three to five months, especially when it is stored in the kitchen at room temperature.

How long does almond butter last in the fridge after opening

The shelf life of an opened Almond Butter jar heightens up to six to nine months when it is stored in a refrigerator.

This sandwich spread maintains its peak quality for up to six-nine months when unopened and three months after opening. But, these are the estimated times shared by a brand. In reality, Almond Butter tends to last a couple of months extra after the use-by date.

How long does almond butter last unrefrigerated? 

Since homemade almond butter is not pasteurized, storing it in the kitchen or pantry under room temperature is not suggested. It needs continuous refrigeration right from the beginning to keep its quality for up to two weeks, as per Cookie and Kate.

Items	Pantry	Fridge
Almond Butter – Unopened	Use-By Date Plus Six Months	Use-By Date Plus One year
Almond Butter – Opened	Three to Five Months	Six to Nine Months
Homemade Almond Butter		Two Weeks

As mentioned, these are only the estimated periods, and they may vary for different brands and manufacturers.

How do you know when Almond Butter goes bad?

Nuts or any Nutty products are vulnerable to Rancidification Process, and it is triggered when the products are exposed to oxygen, heat, and light. The process starts because of the natural unsaturated fat present in the nuts.

Owing to this fact, refrigeration is necessary to avoid the Almond Butter getting rancid or bad. If you still have any qualms about its freshness and quality, here are a few tricks to identify if it has gone off.

Smell Test

The best way to confirm the spoilage of the Almond Butter is the smell test. The test involves smelling the Almond Butter, and if it releases a foul and tangy smell, there is a probability that it has gone bad.

The smell of the Almond Butter gets sour or releases a paint-like smell instead of typical nutty aromas when it gets rancid.

Taste Test

The next effective way to identify the spoilage of Almond Butter is the taste test. It involves tasting the butter, and if it gives a paint-like taste or gets sour, it means the butter has gone off, and you have to discard it.

Visual Test

If the surface of the butter has mold growth, you have to toss it out. You will see black, brown, and green spots on the surface of the Almond Butter, and it indicates that the butter has gone bad.

What happens if you eat expired Almond Butter?

Almond Butter is made out of almonds and other ingredients like sugar and salt. The ingredients other than almonds have expiry dates. The thumb rule is that there are two factors you must focus on when using Almond Butter after expiry – taste, and smell.

If you experience an unpleasant smell after opening the jar of Almond Butter, toss it out. Almond Butter that releases a foul smell is not good for consumption. If you notice any signs of rancidness, don’t consume it.

Will rancid almond butter make you sick?

Is it safe to eat expired almond butter? If you experience no flavor change after tasting the expired Almond Butter, go ahead and use it. But, some people may experience symptoms of indigestion after consuming expired Almond Butter. The symptoms may last up to six to eight hours. Please stay away from such Almond Butter as it may make you severely ill.

Can You Freeze Almond Butter? Refrigerated Vs. Shelf Stable Almond Butter

Yes, Almond Butter can be frozen, and it freezes well. If you have Almond Butter in a large quantity that you want to save for later dates, freeze it. The frozen butter lasts quite a long in the freezer compared to the refrigerator. 

But, there are certain tricks of freezing that you have to follow to store your Almond Butter in the freezer for up to six months. But, you have to ensure that the Almond Butter smells and tastes fresh when you take it out of the freezer.

Below are a few important secrets to making your Almond Butter last longer when frozen correctly.

• Place whatever portion you want to freeze in a freezer-friendly and airtight container. Ensure to leave a little gap without filling it to the top because the butter tends to expand while freezing.
• It takes 24 hours to turn fully frozen, and ensure to label the container to know how much time you have to use it before it gets rancid.
• Frozen Almond Butter lasts for three to six months. But after thawing, you have to check its smell and taste before using it to ensure it has not gone bad.

Pro Tip: Thawing of frozen Almond Butter must be done carefully. It must be kept at room temperature for at least six hours to thaw it. You can also thaw the butter in the fridge, which is the best option, but it takes more time to melt.

Refrigerated

Being a shelf-stable product, Almond Butter does not always demand refrigeration. It is only limited to sealed or unopened bottles of Almond Butter. Once the bottle is opened, it needs consistent refrigeration.

Refrigerating the opened bottle of Almond Butter helps prevent the butter from going off or bad. So, it is prescribed to refrigerate the opened Almond Butter to extend its shelf life for another six months. Refrigerating the Almond Butter makes it harder over time, and it gets difficult to spread the butter on toast.

Manufacturers like MaraNatha suggest refrigerating the Almond Butter after opening as it prevents it from going bad and sustains its quality longer.

Shelf Stable

The unopened jar of Almond Butter is shelf-stable, and hence it can be stored in your kitchen cabinet or pantry until the seal is intact. After opening the jar, it needs refrigeration. But you can also store the butter at room temperature. The downside is that the quality and taste may change over time, and there is a high possibility of going off when stored outside a fridge for a long time.

Ensure that the jar of Almond Butter always sits in cool, dry, and dark places, away from the heat sources and extreme temperatures.

Pro Tips!

• If you live in areas with warm climatic conditions, put it in the fridge.
• If you want your Almond Butter to last longer for months, refrigerate it.
• If you have a sufficient quantity of Almond Butter that will finish within a couple of months, the kitchen cabinet or pantry will be best for storage without refrigeration.

How to Store Almond Butter?

The best storage methods for Almond Butter depend on the type you purchase. Several brands of Almond butter are prepared using organic and raw almonds without preservatives, and hence proper care must be taken to keep your Almond Butter fresh and prevent spoilage. Here are a few storage tips for Almond Butter.

Avoid Heat Sources and Sunlight

Whether it is an unopened or opened jar of Almond Butter, it is important to ensure that it is away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Find a dark, cool, and dry place in your kitchen pantry to store the unopened jar. For the opened jar, the refrigerator is the best choice for storage.

Avoid bringing the jar close to heat sources and sunlight to maintain its quality for a long duration.

Stirring the Butter Occasionally

Almond Butter tends to have oil separation issues in a fridge or kitchen cabinet after a few weeks of storage. But it is not a sign of spoilage. All you have to do is stir the butter using a knife before refrigerating it.

You have to continue this process when you see oil separation in your Almond Butter after a few weeks of storage. It will help extend its shelf life and maintain the quality of the Almond Butter.

Keep the Lid Clean and Tight

Before refrigerating your Almond Butter, ensure that the lid is tightly secure and clean. Clean it before securing it tightly if you see any crumbs or other substances on the lid. It helps prevent cross-contamination and mold growth and extends the shelf-life of the butter.

What to do with old Almond Butter? 

If your old almond butter is not showing any signs of spoilage, you can put it to use in the following manner:

• Salad dressings
• Cookies
• Cakes
• Dips
• Oats
• Stir-fries

What are the Alternatives to Almond Butter if it has gone bad? 

If you are craving the rich and nutty taste of almond butter, but the one in your pantry has gone bad, you can enjoy your toast with the following alternatives:

• Cashew butter
• Peanut butter
• Mashed avocado
• Walnut butter
• Unsalted butter

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Almond Butter Expire If Unopened?

Almond Butter, even unopened, will expire, and hence it is extremely important to look carefully at the use-by date mentioned on the jar’s label before using it. The best way to check the spoilage of the unopened jar of Almond Butter is to conduct a smell test to confirm whether it has gone bad or is still okay for consumption.

How Long Does Almond Butter Last After Its Expiration Date?

Almond Butter lasts longer than the printed best-by date on the label. But, how long it will keep its quality depends on if it is unopened or opened. The unopened Almond Butter jar will last for six months post expiry, and the opened jar lasts up to five months after the best-by date in the pantry and nine months in the fridge.

Is It Possible To Extend the Shelf Life of Almond Butter?

There are different things you can do to extend the shelf life of Almond Butter and delay spoilage, of which the best thing is to refrigerate the butter after opening. Place your butter in a dry and clean container before refrigerating. To extend the shelf life and avoid spoilage, refrigerate the butter in the original jar.

The Bottom Line

A time comes when the Almond Butter goes rancid and is no longer safe for consumption.

Unopened Almond Butter lasts up to one year after expiry, and once opened, it lasts for three to five months in the pantry and six to nine months in the fridge.

If you plan to make your Almond Butter at home, ensure refrigerating it right from the beginning, as it has a shorter shelf life.

Fortunately, you are now equipped with all the basics of storage methods, shelf life, spoilage signs, and the risks of consuming almond butter after expiry. So, use your senses when you have to use the almond butter next time.