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Peanut butter can be found in cupboards and pantries all around the world. It’s rich, healthier than other spreads, and extremely tasty! It can also be used in a range of sweet recipes. But how can you make peanut butter last longer than its given shelf life?
Can You Freeze Peanut Butter?
Yes, you can freeze peanut butter for up to 6 months. Either you can put it straight in the freezer without taking it out of its current packaging. Alternatively, you can split it into containers, cover, and freeze.
Does Peanut Butter Freeze Well? Yes
Can You Refreeze Peanut Butter? Yes
How to Freeze Peanut Butter
The great news is that peanut butter can be frozen for up to six months without deteriorating in flavour or texture. This makes it a great candidate for buying in bulk, as it can be expensive if you buy it in smaller portion sizes.
Assuming you’ve bought (or indeed made) a big batch of peanut butter, the following steps explain how to store it in the freezer successfully.
- Pick a Suitable Container: While you can freeze peanut butter in a glass jar, plastic is always better. So, add the peanut butter to suitably sized Tupperware containers. Always leave an inch or so in space for expansion, so be careful not to overfill your containers.
- Seal: You need to make sure your container is sealed tightly, particularly if you’re freezing your peanut butter for several months. Use a lid where possible, but tin foil or clingfilm are suitable alternatives.
- Label and Freeze: Make a note of today’s date, as well as the use-by date of your peanut butter, and place it in the freezer. Remember, you can freeze it for around six months.
3 Tips for Freezing Peanut Butter
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing peanut butter to have the best results:
Buy Tubs Instead of Glass Jars
If you know in advance that you’re going to freeze peanut butter, opt for those in tubs or plastic containers instead of glass jars. This means you don’t have to switch your peanut butter from one container to another, as plastic tubs are perfect for placing straight in the freezer.
Use an Ice Cube Tray for Smaller Servings
If you like the idea of freezing peanut butter in small serving sizes, consider freezing it initially in an ice cube tray before transferring it to a freezer-safe bag for long-term storage.
This is ideal if you include peanut butter in smoothies or want easy access to small servings for other purposes.
Freeze Any Nut Butter
Although we’ve focused here on peanut butter, you can essentially freeze any nut butter by following the same steps listed above.
How Long Can You Freeze Peanut Butter?
You can freeze peanut butter for around six months. As you can see from the above steps, freezing peanut butter is super straightforward and is a great way to preserve it in the long run.
However, as mentioned, freezer burn will cause your peanut butter to deteriorate in quality. As such, make sure it’s tightly wrapped, so it will retain its taste and texture until you’re ready to enjoy it.
How Do You Defrost Peanut Butter?
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen peanut butter, it will be rock solid! So, to thaw it, take it out of the freezer and place it in the fridge overnight.
If you want to soften it further when you’re ready to enjoy it, pop it in the microwave for 5-10 seconds, so it’s easier to spread on your toast.
We wouldn’t recommend defrosting peanut butter in the microwave as you risk cooking it, which is not the best idea!
Can You Refreeze Peanut Butter?
Providing you thawed your peanut butter in the fridge, there’s nothing wrong with freezing it more than once. You can also freeze peanut butter again as part of another recipe – your homemade peanut butter fudge brownies, for instance!
While it’s safe to refreeze peanut butter, we advise you to consider your portion sizes before freezing it in the first place, so you can easily remove whatever serving you need at any given time.
Does Peanut Butter Freeze Well?
Peanut butter freezes extremely well. It’s for this reason that it’s such a popular spread to buy in bulk, as it’s nearly always cheaper to buy big tubs of peanut butter than it is to pick it up in individual serving jars.
So, if you’re looking to save yourself some money, don’t hesitate to pop your stores of peanut butter in the freezer.
If you’ve still got questions about freezing peanut butter or nut butter in general, then these may help:
Can You Freeze Peanut Butter for Smoothies?
Yes, you can! To freeze peanut butter for smoothies, portion it out into an ice cube tray then freeze. When you want a hit of peanut in your smoothies, grab one of the frozen cubes and pop it into the blender with your other smoothie ingredients.
Can you Freeze Peanut Butter Cookies?
Peanut butter cookies can be frozen. Freeze the cookies on a baking sheet until solid. Once solid, place them into a bag, seal and return to the freezer.
Does Freezing Peanut Butter Ruin It?
No, freezing peanut butter does not ruin it. In some cases, you may find that the oils split from the fats in the peanut butter. However, a vigorous stir will quickly fix this when it has defrosted.
What Temperature Does Peanut Butter Freeze?
Peanut butter will freeze at around 3°C if it is natural peanut butter made solely of peanuts. If, however, it has been bulked out with other ingredients or oils, it may need to be colder. The good news is that it will freeze in your home freezer.
How Long Does Peanut Butter Take to Freeze?
It depends on the size of the container you’re freezing. If you’re freezing a large tub then it will take around 24 hours to freeze. If you’re only freezing small, individual portions then it might freeze in just 2 or 3 hours.
Can You Freeze Homemade Peanut Butter?
If you have made your own homemade peanut butter then yes, you can freeze it. You can either freeze it in small Tupperware containers or in an ice cube tray.
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I'm no stranger to the world of food preservation and storage, especially when it comes to peanut butter. Freezing peanut butter can indeed extend its shelf life, and the process is fairly straightforward. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of the concepts covered in the article:
Freezing Peanut Butter
- Duration: Peanut butter can be frozen for up to 6 months without significant flavor or texture changes.
- Container: Opt for plastic containers over glass jars, leaving room for expansion to prevent containers from bursting.
- Sealing: Ensure a tight seal using lids, foil, or clingfilm to prevent freezer burn.
- Labeling: Mark the freezing date and the original use-by date for reference.
- Tips for Freezing:
- Container Choice: Plastic tubs are preferable for direct freezing.
- Ice Cube Tray: Ideal for freezing smaller servings initially, then transferring to a freezer-safe bag.
- Freezing Varieties: The same process applies to other nut butters for freezing.
Defrosting Peanut Butter
- Thawing: Transfer frozen peanut butter from the freezer to the fridge overnight for gradual thawing. For quicker softening, microwave for 5-10 seconds but avoid cooking it.
Additional Information Covered:
- Refreezing: It's safe to refreeze peanut butter if initially thawed in the fridge.
- Preservation Quality: Freezing doesn't ruin peanut butter; any oil separation can be fixed with a thorough stir post-defrosting.
- Freezing Point: Natural peanut butter made solely of peanuts freezes at approximately 3°C, while other formulations might require colder temperatures.
- Freezing Time: Larger containers take around 24 hours to freeze, while smaller portions might freeze in 2-3 hours.
- Homemade Peanut Butter: Yes, homemade peanut butter can be frozen using similar methods.
The article also addresses specific queries related to freezing peanut butter for smoothies, freezing peanut butter cookies, and emphasizes that freezing doesn’t ruin the product.
Understanding the freezing process is crucial to maintaining peanut butter quality, ensuring it remains a delightful addition to recipes and snacks even after extended storage periods.
