How long does peanut butter last?

Checked 24 Oct 20262 official publishers, 4 sources

Unopened: 6-24 months in the pantry.

Storage times for peanut butter by state and place
StatePantryFridge 40 °F
Unopened 6-24 months FoodKeeper Extension Not stated
Opened 2-3 months FoodKeeper Extension Not stated
With stabilizers, unopened 6-9 months FoodKeeper 12 months FoodKeeper
With stabilizers, opened 2-3 months FoodKeeper 3-4 months FoodKeeper
Natural, unopened Not stated 12 months FoodKeeper
Natural, opened Not stated 3-4 months FoodKeeper
Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

SourceStatePantryFridge
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Unopened6-24 months-
Nebraska ExtensionUnopened6-24 months-
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Opened2-3 months-
Nebraska ExtensionOpened2-3 months-
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018With stabilizers, unopened6-9 months12 months
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018With stabilizers, opened2-3 months3-4 months
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Natural, unopened-12 months
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Natural, opened-3-4 months

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

  • Or package use-by date, whichever comes first. FoodKeeper

What the sources say

For regular commercial peanut butter, FoodKeeper gives 6 to 24 months in the pantry from the date of purchase and 2 to 3 months in the pantry once the jar is opened.1

The Nebraska Extension chart lists the same two ranges for peanut butter, 6 to 24 months unopened and 2 to 3 months opened, in a pantry or cupboard at 50 to 70 °F.21

Its single peanut butter row has no refrigerator or freezer time.2

FoodKeeper keeps a separate entry for commercially produced peanut butter that contains hydrogenated fat or other stabilizers.3

Unopened, that kind keeps 6 to 9 months in the pantry or 12 months in the fridge from purchase.3

After opening it gets 2 to 3 months in the pantry or 3 to 4 months in the fridge.3

Natural peanut butter is listed only for the fridge, with no pantry time: 12 months unopened from purchase and 3 to 4 months after opening.4

For the unopened jar, FoodKeeper adds that the package use-by date applies instead if it comes first.4

Once opened, natural and stabilized peanut butter share the same fridge time of 3 to 4 months, but only the stabilized kind has a pantry time.34

Rules that apply here

Best-by and use-by dates
Honey

Sources

  1. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 387: Peanut butter, commercial. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Peanut butter, commercial. DOP_Pantry: 6-24 Months; Pantry_After_Opening: 2-3 Months
  2. Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Peanut butter 6 to 24 months (unopened); 2 to 3 months (opened)
  3. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 488: Peanut butter, commercially produced, containing hydrogenated fat or other stabilizers. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Peanut butter, commercially produced, containing hydrogenated fat or other stabilizers. DOP_Pantry: 6-9 Months; Pantry_After_Opening: 2-3 Months; DOP_Refrigerate: 12 Months; Refrigerate_After_Opening: 3-4 Months
  4. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 489: Peanut butter, natural. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Peanut butter, natural. DOP_Refrigerate: 12 Months (Or package use-by date, whichever comes first.); Refrigerate_After_Opening: 3-4 Months
  5. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.