Does peanut butter spoil.?

Question

I think it starts smelling weird after a few months open. I have been told it will last forever. I know that is not true, but what is the process for spoiling.

I am referring mainly to Jiff and Skippy brands. I am not referring to the organic stuff with all the nasty oil settled on the top.

Answer 1

Well, it does spoil, but the process is a very slow one. Most commercial peanut butter contains preservatives. One reason it is so well preserved is that if it does spoil, it can contain afflotoxins, which are among the most dangerous human carcinogens.

We lived on our sailboat in the tropics, often without refrigeration, and always kept peanut butter with no problems. It is best stored at room temperature, whether opened or unopened. It's "best before" date may expire, and the taste may not be as fresh, but we have often lived for extended periods of time in places where food arrived only once a year, and never any problems with peanut butter.

Excessive heat will accelerate the loss of fresh flavor and cause oil separation. Cold temperatures, even above freezing, can change peanut butter's consistency, texture, and thickness.

Peanut butter may be refrigerated to retain the product's optimum flavor, but it will not be as easy to spread, and I wouldn't do it. Freezing is not recommended. Organic peanut butter should be refrigerated.

Here is a link with a little information.

Answer 2

First is this peanut butter obtained by hydrogenation of the peanut oil, if so here is the story: Back in the early 1900's three things were at work. The use of modern agricultural methods that made possible the harvest of large crops The experimentation of organic chemistry into food products. The development of railroads and other means of transportation of food items. Well, with large crops appearing, the oil from those crops was obtained in large quantiities, but alot of it tended to go rancid before it could be sold. Organic chemists found that hydrogen would react with the healthy vegetable oils to make a semi-solid substance of the consistancy of butter, but could withstand high heat (seeing it had no protein). An more remarkably, it was not prone to go rancid as easily, as it was not chemically reactive. So, these hydrogenated oils made industrial production, transport of products that could sit on the shelf for months of thing like cookies, ect possible. But back then, they did not consider that since these products were not easily broken down by bacteria, or the oxygen in the air, that, well....., maybe the human body did not know what to do with them either. In the first issue of the 1930 edition of Science, the question was asked, "why are so many people in their early 50's now dying of heart disease". My guess is the advent of hydrogenation of vegetable oils was the cause of this trend. Only now, are there modest efforts to curb the use of these things in our foods. Natural peanut butter, the kind you have to mix with a spoon, that will go bad on you much quicker than the hydrogenated variety. I keep mine in the fridge after I mix it so as to keep it from spoiling.

Answer 3

The Jiff and Skippy brands probably DO last forever with all the nasty preservatives that are in it. Put something natural in your body, will you?

That oil isn't nasty--it's peanut oil, it's SUPPOSED to be there, and you mix it up into the peanut butter and it's fine. It's NORMAL, your stuff is nasty...peanut butter is supposed to be peanuts, not sugar.

Answer 4

I have thrown away quite a few jars of peanut butter in my day. We just don't eat it often enough to eat it before it goes bad. It does take a little while, but yes.. definitely! Not to mention the fact that it smells HORRIBLE!

Answer 5

Try to find an expiration date on the jar and then it should last at least two or three months after that. Nothing lasts forever.

Answer 6

Organic peanut butter, made without additives or preservatives will go rancid and spoil, the commercial peanut butter, is almost indestructable, will last for as long as you have it for sure.

Answer 7

Even Jif, etc has oil in it, which will eventually go rancid. Keeping it in the fridge will help to slow the process. Even on the shelf, though, it will be fine for months.

Answer 8

yes it does go bad/rancid
you can smell it


I made some marshmallow peanut butter squares for Christmas (with normal Kraft) and as soon as we tasted them I knew the peanut butter was rancid - but at least the blue jays enjoyed them
it was the end of the really large jar - I wish I had smelled it before I wasted my time and other ingredients making the squares

Answer 9

Nope, not the Jiff/Skippy types. :)

Answer 10

yeah...you got rancid peanut butter. the only thing that doesn't spoil is honey.