If there’s something I love to eat fresh, it’s almond butter. It’s so quick and easy to blend up and tastes so good. Add in the lack of chemicals and fresh almond butter is a total win.

However, once you make your almond butter, you may be wondering how long does fresh almond butter last?

Below, I share all the details about how long is fresh almond butter good for as well as what it is, how long you can keep store bought almond butter and how you should store it for maximum shelf life.

How Long Does Homemade Almond Butter Last?

What Is Fresh Almond Butter?

Almond butter is what we call the result of blending almonds until they form a smooth spread. This spread can then be used on bread, cooking, in smoothies, etc and is similar to peanut butter.

almond butter

It is pictured here.

You can also buy almond butter in stores. This is also made by blending almonds but usually has many other additives and preservatives as well. This means the answer to how long is almond butter good for is longer for store bought options. More below!

You can read about what almond butter tastes like here.

How Long Does Homemade Almond Butter Last?

The fresh almond butter shelf life is about a couple of weeks. You may struggle to keep it that long though since it tastes so good!

Fresh almond butter should be kept in the refrigerator although it will last in the pantry for short periods. This assumes you keep it in an airtight container.

almond butter

How Long Does Almond Butter Last?

Store bought almond butter will last longer thanks to preservatives and additives. In fact, an unopened jar of almond butter can last up to a year after its expiry date!

This makes it easy to always keep some almond butter on hand.

It’s worth remembering that the expiry date listed on almond butter is usually a “best before” date. This means the manufacturer is saying it will taste its best if you consume before this date. It does not mean the product is bad or gone off if you eat it after.

In general, the answer to how long is almond butter good for after expiration date is about six months if it’s unopened. It can last 3-5 months after the expiration date if it is opened and stored in a cool, dark pantry. It will depend on the exact brand and what is contained in the product, however.

This means that store bought almond butter can last a long time.

How Long Does Almond Butter Last In The Fridge?

Almond butter will last longer in the fridge than in the cupboard especially if you live in a warmer climate or in the summer.

The six months after the expiry date that almond butter can last in the pantry for an unopened jar can extend to up to a year in the fridge.

Likewise for opened containers, if you keep it in the fridge, it can extend the lifespan from 3-5 months to 9 months.

The following table tells you all the answers to how long can you keep almond butter.

The almond butter is….It is stored in the…It lasts…
HomemadeFridgeA couple of weeks
Store bought, unopenedFridgeUp to a year after the expiration date
PantryUp to six months after the expiration date
Store bought, opened FridgeUp to 9 months
Pantry3-5 months after opening
Almond butter storage times. All are approximate and assumes the pantry is cool, dark and not humid and the almond butter is stored in an airtight container

How To Store Homemade Almond Butter

Homemade almond butter should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

This not only helps the almond butter last longer but also helps stop the oils inside the almond butter from separating. If you do notice oil separation, give the almond butter a good stir.

It’s important that air is kept out of the almond butter as this can cause moisture and bacteria to grow in the almond butter.

For store bought almond butter, you should also store it in an airtight container, but you can choose whether to keep it in the pantry or fridge. You should only choose the pantry if you are not living in a hot environment and have a cool, dark pantry where you can keep it.

Of course, if you choose to keep it in the fridge, it will last longer. You can see how long you can expect the almond butter to last in each environment in the table above.

Don’t open store bought almond butter until you are ready to use it as it lasts longer when it has never been opened.

almond butter

How To Tell If Almond Butter Is Bad

So you’ve done the right things. Your almond butter is in an airtight container and stored in the fridge or pantry, but you’re not sure how long it’s been and whether it’s still ok to eat.

Almond butter contains oils which mean it can fall victim to rancidification. This is when oils become exposed to air, light, moisture or bacteria which cause the product to have a bad taste and odor.

So how can you work out if your almond butter is bad?

It’s quite simple. Simply start by looking at the almond butter and sniffing it.

If you notice any brown or black spots in the almond butter, toss it.

If there is a sour smell, paint-like smell, any bad or chemical-like smell, toss it.

If there is some oil separation that’s not a sign of it spoiling. Give it a good stir to help with this.

If you still aren’t sure, have a small taste. If it doesn’t taste like its usual almondy, sweet taste then toss it.

Basically, if you notice anything not right while looking, sniffing and tasting (apart from oil separation), toss it.

You can read more about how almond butter goes bad here.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you have found this guide to how long does raw almond butter last useful! Homemade almond butter is delicious and correct storage means it will last longer for you to enjoy.

Click here to read our guide to what almond butter tastes like. Want to know how long almond oil lasts? Find the answer here! You can find all our guides to everything almond related here.

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