Peanut butter is an extremely popular nut butter spread that is a staple in most households around the world.

In this storage guide, we will explain how to freeze peanut butter and how you can use it for multiple recipes.

Types Of Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is made from dry-roasted peanuts which are made in a high-speed blender and turned into a paste which is the nut butter.

Therefore, it’s mostly an unprocessed food because it contains nothing but nuts with the possible addition of salt, sugar, and oil in some cases. It’s simple to even make at home, but there are various types which you can buy in-store.

Pure Peanut Butter

As the name suggests, pure or natural peanut butter is made literally from peanuts with no sugars or oils.

It’s the cleanest and healthiest type of peanut butter which you can make at home or buy in the supermarkets.

Of course, the texture is different and grittier compared to smooth or crunch peanut butter which may be more difficult to spread on bread.

Pure peanut butter is the most freezer-friendly in comparison to the other types too because it doesn’t contain the extra sugars or oils.

Smooth Peanut Butter

Smooth peanut butter is perhaps the most popular choice because it’s creamier and very easy to spread on bread and drizzle over smoothie bowls.

There are variations of smoothie peanut butter in supermarkets because some types may contain oil and sugars to make it more creamy.

Therefore, it’s possible to use pure smooth peanut butter, however, most brands that you will see in the supermarket will no doubt have additional sweeteners and oils to add flavor.

Crunchy Peanut Butter

Crunchy peanut butter is … crunchy! It’s made by adding crushed peanuts to smooth peanut butter which is another popular choice.

Crunchy peanut butter more filling compared to smooth peanut butter because of the additional peanuts, and it reminds you that you’re eating nuts.

Can You Freeze Peanut Butter

The good news is that you can indeed freeze peanut butter and most peanut butter recipes, and it’s one particular ingredient that doesn’t lose flavor too.

The texture also doesn’t change dramatically, and it may be a good idea to freeze peanut butter if you want to make it in bulk and preserve it for the future.

Generally, you can freeze peanut butter for up to 6 months in the freezer. In some cases, it may last slightly longer than 6 months, but it will begin to lose flavor from this point and will not taste great.

How To Use Frozen Peanut Butter

There’s plenty of good uses for frozen peanut butter and there are multiple recipes that you can try. Here are some examples:

• Make frozen chocolate peanut butter energy balls.
• Add the frozen peanut butter to your smoothie.
• Add it to ice cream.
• Make frozen peanut butter slices.
• Add it to these chocolate overnight oats.
• Use it as a cookie dough filling.
• Make a large batch for the future.
• Use it for these chocolate peanut butter protein bars.

Ultimately, there are plenty of tasty and fun peanut butter recipes and most can be frozen in case you want to preserve it for the future.

How To Freeze Peanut Butter

There are various ways to freeze peanut butter because there are different types and recipes, however, in most cases, you will need a quality air-tight storage container.

If you plan to make your own peanut butter and freeze it in batches, you should certainly keep it stored in an air-tight storage container and label it with the expiration date.

It’s noteworthy that if you plan to use a jar, that you should leave enough room because it’s possible that the peanut butter can expand when you freeze it.

However, if you have to freeze store-bought peanut butter, which comes in a plastic container, you can place this in the freezer if it’s mostly full, or you can transfer it to a smaller plastic container or freezer bag.

This is to prevent freezer burn which can totally destroy the peanut butter if not stored correctly.

Another hack is to store the peanut butter in an ice cube tray for the first 24 hours and then transfer them to a container or freezer bag.

How Long Does It Take to Freeze Peanut Butter

It takes around 6 hours to fully freeze peanut butter in a container, but times may vary depending on the type of peanut butter and where you will store it.

For example, if you plan to freeze peanut butter in an ice cube tray, it will fully freeze within 2 hours, and you can store it in a plastic container or freezer bag.

The pure peanut butter will freeze the quickest because it doesn’t contain as much sugar, oil, and salt, in comparison to other types of peanut butter.

How Long Does Peanut Butter Last in The Freezer

Most types of peanut butter will keep well and stay fresh for up to 6 months in the freezer, but any longer, the quality of the flavor will decline and will not be great to use.

How to Defrost Peanut Butter

Defrosting peanut butter is a simple and straightforward process because you can simply allow it to thaw at room temperature during the day or allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight.

How To Defrost Frozen Peanut Butter

If you plan to defrost peanut butter overnight, your best strategy is to transfer the container to the fridge and allow it to slowly thaw all night.

Alternatively, you can keep it stored at room temperature and allow the peanut butter to defrost during the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Peanut Butter Healthy

In moderation, peanut butter can be a healthy ingredient because it’s rich in nutrients, very rich in antioxidants, and contains healthy fats.

However, the main downside is that peanut butter can be high in calories and some store-bought versions may contain additional oil, sugar, and salt.

As a result, consuming peanut butter in moderation is a healthy way to use this ingredient because it can be macro-friendly; a source of non-meat protein that contains healthy fats and low in carbohydrates.

Pure peanut butter is more healthy because it’s made from only peanuts which could be organic or fresh, and as a result, with no additional ingredients like oil or sugar, it will be lower in calories.

Is Peanut Butter Good For Weight Loss

Although there are health benefits to peanut butter, if you’re on a strict weight loss plan, peanut butter might not be your best ingredient.

On the other hand, if used correctly and if you choose a pure peanut butter spread, it can work well in your weight loss plan, and it has multiple benefits.

For example, because peanut butter is a rich source of monounsaturated fats, it will help you keep fuller for longer which can be a weight-loss strategy.

Also, peanut butter has a low glycemic index and can prevent spikes in your blood sugar which also helps with weight loss.

Furthermore, if you choose to go on a low-carbohydrate weight-loss plan, peanut butter is an ingredient that is suitable for low-carb recipes.

Ultimately, it’s best to eat peanut butter in moderation because it can be high in calories, and if you’re not too careful, you may consume more calories than expected if you’re carelessly adding teaspoons to your oatmeal.