We turned to the experts to find out.
Peanut butter might be one of the toughest workhorses in your kitchen.
Toss it onto toast, and youve got breakfast.
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Scoop it into your ice cream, and youve upgraded a midnight snack to dessert.
Combine it with a few pantry staples, and youve got a decadent sauce.
Plus, its packed with protein, its budget-friendly and it has a long shelf life.
(Not to mention, its pretty tasty too.)
But is it safe to just stick an open jar in your pantry?
I was confronted with that very question when I found a jar of Skippys in my fridge at home.
I had grown up in a peanut butter is in the pantry household, but my husband?
He always thought it had to be kept in the fridge.
So I turned to the experts at Skippy and the National Peanut Board to put the debate to rest.
You dont have to baby it.
Is It Safe to Store Peanut Butter in the Pantry?
Peanut butter may be pretty hardy, but is it safe left open at room temperature?
The only thing to keep in mind is your peanut butters shelf life, Lewis added.
An open jar will last about three months in the pantry before its past its prime.
(However, she noted that most American households go through peanut butter much faster than that.)
Youll be able to extend that shelf life a bit longer if its stored properly in the fridge.
What About Natural Peanut Butter?
Conventional peanut butters are formulated to be shelf-stable.
They are formulated and processed in a manner that helps to contain oil separation, he explained.
It also should be in a dark place, as bright sunlight can degrade the quality.
A pantry closet or cabinet is the perfect spot.
How Can I Tell If My Peanut Butter Has Gone Bad?
Rancid peanut butter will also be dried out or look a bit darker in color, Lewis said.
Most natural peanut butters should always be refrigerated.
