Peanut butter is a perfect topping that gives great taste to most recipes. Some people keep it refrigerated, while others keep it in their pantries. But does it taste bitter if you do not keep it in the fridge? Whether you like it crunchy or smooth, peanut butter straight from the jar is a tasty topping or ingredient that gives almost any snack or recipe a unique flavor. Should you really put peanut butter in the fridge, and what will happen to it if you don't? Peanut butter that has been processed has a long shelf life because stabilizers like palm oil are added. This means you don't have to keep it in the fridge. In turn, peanut butter that has been opened can last for two to three months if it is kept in a cool, dry place. If you want to keep them longer than that, it's fine to put them in the fridge. They might last another three months or so. The natural kinds, which are made with just peanuts and maybe some salt, should be kept in the fridge once they have been opened because the oils can go bad quickly. Keep in mind that the problem gets worse when you put natural peanut butter in the fridge than when it is at room temperature. Some people like to soften a portion by putting it in the microwave for a few seconds. Also, if you don't keep natural peanut butter in the fridge, the oil can separate, and you'll have to mix it well before using it. The taste doesn't change when you put it in the fridge, though. 
When the oil starts to go bad, it will smell bad, like when peanut butter starts to go bad. If there is mold on it, you should also throw it away. Cross-contamination can be avoided if you don't double-dip with a knife that has been used for other things, like jelly or jam. Also, peanut butter that is fresh tends to be smooth and creamy. Peanut butter that has gone bad tends to be hard and may have a sharp smell if it has turned. Peanut butter usually lasts a long time because it is high in fat and low in moisture, which makes it hard for bacteria to grow. Some brands are made with stabilizers like palm and hydrogenated oils and preservatives like sodium benzoate to make them last even longer. Once these peanut butter have been opened, they can usually be kept in a cool, dry cupboard. The stabilizers keep the oil from separating, and the preservatives keep bacteria from growing. Natural peanut butter, which is usually unrefined and made with just ground peanuts and salt, can be a different story (and sometimes not even salt). Oil can separate from natural peanut butter, so you have to mix it well before eating it. Some people put nut or seed butter in the fridge because the oils in nuts and seeds can go bad, but in my house, we go through peanut butter so quickly that it's not necessary. 
People think that peanut butter doesn't need to be stirred because most nut butter have stabilizers in them. If it does, they think they need to put it in the fridge. He says that this isn't always the case and that his products don't need to be kept in the fridge even though they don't have any preservatives. If you're going to eat it quickly, you don't need to put the jar in the fridge. Instead, you can keep it in a cool, dry place. How Long Can You Keep Peanut Butter? The National Peanut Board says that a jar of peanut butter that hasn't been opened can stay at room temperature for six to nine months. They say that once it's been opened, you can keep it in the pantry for two to three months before moving it to the fridge, where it can stay good for another three to four months. Foodsafety.gov agrees that most commercial peanut butter with stabilizers can be kept at room temperature for two to three months after being opened (for natural peanut butter, they recommend refrigerating to preserve the quality). In either case, it's best to go by the expiration date on the jar's label. Just like with hot sauce, if the label says to refrigerate, you should do so. 
Where should I put my peanut butter if I'm not going to put it in the fridge? If you keep your peanut butter in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, it will stay tasty for many months. This means you should keep the jar away from things like an oven. He also says that you should store your jar upside down. That way, the oil will settle to the bottom of the jar, making it easier to mix back in when you turn the jar right side up. When you buy natural peanut butter, the oil is going to separate, which is fine. Just stir it back in and enjoy. Does the weather affect whether or not you need to keep peanut butter in the fridge? If you live in a hot or humid area, you might not have a "cool, dry place" to store your peanut butter. To make it last longer, you might want to put it in the fridge, even though the jar says it's not necessary. Joe Sevier from Epi is a true peanut butter fridge: my kitchen in New York is too hot. Things that "don't go bad if you eat them fast enough" always go bad. But if your kitchen is cooler and less humid, the oils in the jar won't go bad as fast. If you use up a jar in less than a month, there's no need to put it in the fridge. What are the bad things about cooling? When peanut butter gets cold, it often gets harder than it would at room temperature. This makes it hard to get out of the jar. If you like the way peanut butter tastes or feels when it's warm, you can scoop out what you need and let it warm up at room temperature or even in the microwave before spreading it. 
Should you be careful with a knife that has been in jam? Yes! It is important to never double-dip or stick knives that have been covered in jelly into a jar of peanut butter, as this can spread bacteria. If the jar starts to smell or grow mold, you should throw it away. When should a jar of peanut butter go bad? Peanut butter that has gone bad might have mold on it or smell sharp or soapy. It might also taste sour or bitter and change color. Aside from using clean tools, this can be avoided by making sure the jar is closed tightly to keep air out. Are peanuts subject to the same rules? Yes! The National Peanut Board says that peanuts can be kept in a bag or sealed container for a month or two. This is true whether the peanuts are shelled or not. Even though the nuts' high oil content can help keep mold and bacteria away, the oils can still go through chemical reactions, such as oxidation, that change the flavor of the nuts. Putting them in the fridge can add four to six months to their shelf life. Another pro tip is that peanuts can be frozen and kept fresh for up to a year.
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