How Long Does Peanut Butter Last?
Storage method
Peanut butter — commercial — pantry, from date of purchase
6 to 24 months in the pantry
- Cool, dry pantry or cupboard
- Applies from date of purchase · commercial
Pick a valid date to calculate the recommended use-by window.
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper (v128, snapshot 2026-07-24) · About this data · Report an issue
FoodStorageCheck — official USDA FoodKeeper guidance · foodstoragecheck.com
All official guidance for peanut butter
Every storage entry the USDA FoodKeeper dataset lists for this food, exactly as published (v128, snapshot 2026-07-24). “No official duration listed” means the source does not provide a number for that combination — not that the food lasts forever.
Peanut butter — commercial
| Where | Condition | Official time |
|---|---|---|
| Pantry | from date of purchase | 6 to 24 months |
| Pantry | after opening | 2 to 3 months |
Peanut butter — commercially produced, containing hydrogenated fat or other stabilizers
| Where | Condition | Official time |
|---|---|---|
| Pantry | from date of purchase | 6 to 9 months |
| Pantry | after opening | 2 to 3 months |
| Refrigerator | from date of purchase | 12 months |
| Refrigerator | after opening | 3 to 4 months |
Peanut butter — natural
| Where | Condition | Official time | Notes from the source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | from date of purchase | 12 months | Or package use-by date, whichever comes first. |
| Refrigerator | after opening | 3 to 4 months | — |
Common questions about peanut butter
- How long does peanut butter last in the pantry?
- 6 to 24 months in the pantry, counted from the date of purchase, per the USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset. Assumes a cool, dry pantry away from light.
- How long does peanut butter last after opening?
- Once opened — pantry: 2 to 3 months, per the USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset.
Two reminders that apply here
Keep the fridge at 40 °F (4 °C) or below.Refrigerator times in this dataset assume a refrigerator held at or below 40 °F. An appliance thermometer is the reliable way to check.
The two-hour rule.Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90 °F / 32 °C) should be discarded, per FoodSafety.gov. Storage windows assume food was refrigerated promptly.