Nuts are a great source of healthy fats that help the heart and help to balance your blood sugar. This means that almond butter is a great substitute for regular butter for vegans or anyone trying to eat less dairy daily.
Almonds are also rich in fiber, which helps you feel full quickly and helps to balance your cholesterol. In addition, almonds have a lot of protein, which is great for vegans or vegetarians trying to increase their vegetable protein intake.
However, store-bought almond butter is usually sweetened with added sugar, so it should not be consumed in excess. For this reason, some people make their own almond butter at home.
Like anything that is made from nuts, almond butter can become spoiled.
What’s the bottom line?
While open, store-bought almond butter can last up to 9 months past its expiration date when kept in the fridge, homemade almond butter has a much shorter shelf life, lasting only a couple of weeks.
Signs Your Almond Butter Has Gone Bad
Almond butter is made from a nut, and just like any nut, it can become rancid. The process of rancidification happens because this type of butter contains the natural oil that is present in almonds. The exposure of this oil to moisture, air, light, heat, or bacteria slowly makes it become rancid.
You can easily tell if your almond butter has gone bad by smelling it. When the butter is rancid, you can detect a sour, unpleasant odor. If you try the smell test and still can’t tell, you can try a very small amount of butter to check the taste. It has probably gone bad if it doesn’t taste sweet and nutty anymore.
Another sign that your almond butter is no longer good for consumption is the appearance of black or brown spots on the surface, which means it has become moldy.
When you open the jar after not using the almond butter for a long time, you may find a layer of oil on top. This does not mean the almond butter has become spoiled. You simply have to stir to mix the oil with the almond butter again. This oil helps to keep the almond butter smooth and easy to spread.
How To Store Almond Butter
A lot of foods don’t like heat, and almond butter is one of them. This means that you should store it in a cool place, like a pantry or a kitchen cabinet. You can also keep your almond butter in the fridge, which a lot of people prefer to do once they have opened the jar.
An open jar of almond butter can be safely kept at room temperature, in the pantry, or in a cabinet, but you should keep a closer eye on it since it will probably become rancid more quickly than if it was kept in the fridge.
You will notice that when you keep your almond butter in the fridge, it will become harder, making it more difficult to spread. Simply remove the jar from the fridge 10 to 15 minutes before consuming it, allowing it to reach room temperature, and you will be able to use it properly.
How Long Does Almond Butter Last?
Though different brands of almond butter may have slightly different shelf lives, in general, an unopened jar should last about six months past the expiration date. If kept in the fridge, it will last even longer, up to a full year after the expiration date.
Once you’ve opened the jar, the shelf life of the almond butter becomes shorter due to exposure to environmental factors such as heat and humidity.
When kept at room temperature, an opened almond butter will usually last from 3 to 5 months, and when stored in the fridge, it can last up to 9 months.
Don’t forget to check for signs of spoilage when you decide to use it so that you don’t end up ruining a meal with almond butter that has gone bad.
The Verdict On Almond Butter
Unopened almond butter can last up to 12 months after the expiration date if kept in the fridge and about half that time if kept at room temperature.
Once the jar of almond butter is open, you can forget the best-by date unless you decide to open it just when it’s about to spoil. If the expiration date is still far away, keep in mind that the almond butter will last from 3 to 5 months in a cabinet or the pantry and from 6 to 9 months in the fridge.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try making your own almond butter instead of buying it at the store. Be advised that homemade almond butter has a much shorter shelf life than store-bought almond butter and typically lasts only a couple of weeks.
