Does Almond Butter Need To Be Refrigerated: Almond butter is one of the most highly nutritious and tasty meal alternatives for people who want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. It is the perfect option for healthy snacking that will not only keep you full for a long time but also help you lose some pounds.
Have you bought your first-ever bottle of Almond Butter and are confused as to whether you need to refrigerate it or not? Well, in this article we will discuss the same and also share with you some amazing storage tips to keep your Almond Butter fresh for a long time.
- Does Almond Butter Need To Be Refrigerated?
- How To Store Almond Butter Once Opened?
- Best Tips To Store Almond Butter Properly
- How Do You Know If Almond Butter Is Bad?
- How Long Does Almond Butter Last?
- Does Homemade Almond Butter Need To Be Refrigerated?
- Do nut butter needs refrigeration after opening?
- Is almond butter healthier than peanut butter?
- Should I store almond butter upside down?
- Should you drain the oil from almond butter?
- Is almond butter anti-inflammatory?
Does Almond Butter Need To Be Refrigerated?
No, Almond Butter is quite a shelf-stable dish that doesn’t necessarily need refrigeration to increase its longevity. Refrigerating Almond butter is absolutely your choice before opening it or after. You can decide whether to refrigerate your Almond butter or not depending upon the type of butter you have bought, whether it is synthetic or organic, what is the room temperature, weather, styles, frequency of usage, etc.
If your butter is “non-natural” then it mostly means that it has added stabilizers to sustain its quality outside the freezer. The key to keeping your Almond butter fresh and tasty is to find a cold place and a sealable container after usage.
How To Store Almond Butter Once Opened?
Storing your Almond butter depends on the conditions you are exposing it to. If the room temperature in your kitchen is cold enough then you can keep your bottle of Almond butter in your pantry itself. You need to make sure that it is a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight and high temperature-prone areas like cooktops, ovens, etc. because the healthy oils within your butter tend to oxidize if exposed to heat and light.
A room temperature of 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit is ok to store your Almond butter without refrigeration. In case the room temperature is not suitably cold enough then refrigeration is a must for you if you have an opened bottle of Almond butter. If you fail to do so, there are high chances of your Almond butter going rancid. Speaking about the best storage temperature, slightly lower than room temperature for example, 18 degrees Celsius is a good idea.
To know more about how to extend the shelf life of almond butter opening look at our article on Can You Freeze Almond Butter and understand the tips and tricks involved.
Best Tips To Store Almond Butter Properly
Now, let’s quickly look into some amazing tips to store your almond butter and keep its quality intact:
- Use clean and sterilized sturdy glass jars to store your almond butter.
- After cleaning your jars, if you see there is any scale or hard water film on the glass then you must soak the jar in a solution of 1C (240 ml) of white vinegar and 1 gallon( 3.78 L) of water for at least 1 hour.
- Make sure to wipe off any excess moisture in the jar. Dry it completely with a freshly laundered dish towel and only then put your homemade almond butter in it, otherwise, it May go bad due to moisture.
- Mason jars are considered to be the best to store almond butter or any other nut butter and preserved foods.
- Stop your habit of putting dirty fingers or utensils into your jar directly to dig out the butter.
How Do You Know If Almond Butter Is Bad?
If your opened jar of almond butter doesn’t have palm oil or other stabilizers and is kept at room temperature for too long then the oils are definitely going to separate. Oil separation is a perfectly natural and harmless process that doesn’t mean your butter has spoiled. Never drain out the oil because that will make your butter dry and hard to spread. Always make sure to give your butter a quick stir before using it to get its optimal consistency back.
However, there are some signs depicting that your almond butter has actually gone bad and is no longer safe and healthy to consume. The signs are as follows:
- Cross-contamination – Cross-contamination is one of the major reasons why almond butter goes bad. This happens when you unhygienically scoop out butter. Make sure you only use clean spoons for stirring or scooping.
- Putrid smell and taste – However, we don’t recommend this step, if you have moderate immunity then you can try taking a tiny amount of your butter and tasting it. If the butter tastes bitter and smells putrid, then it has definitely decomposed due to bacterial attacks.
- Discoloration and mold – Look for any change in the color or appearance of the almond butter. If you see the top layer showing dark spots or tiny white-fur-like entities floating then the butter has been invaded by fungi.
- Hardened texture – If you see that your jar of almond butter feels heavier and the butter inside has hardened to the extent of showing cracks on the top surface, then it means all the oils from your butter have been oxidized and it is no longer suitable for consumption.
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How Long Does Almond Butter Last?
The lifespan of almond butter majorly depends upon the type of butter you have. A closed jar of Almond butter can easily stay fresh for long beyond its expiration date. But once opened, it will last only for about two months in your kitchen pantry by soaking in all the moisture and heat if necessary conditions are not met.
Refrigerating your almond butter on the other hand will increase its shelf life by double, counter the oil separation process and hence delay the rancidification of oil.
Homemade Almond butter lasts only from a week to a month and is heavily dependent on how you’re storing it. Store-bought almond butter can easily last for 6 months to a year if it is unopened and refrigerated. Once opened, it can last for about 3 to 5 months at room temperature and upto 9 months in the refrigerator.
Does Homemade Almond Butter Need To Be Refrigerated?
Yes, homemade almond butter obviously doesn’t have as many added preservatives to extend its shelf life as store-bought ones. Even the natural preservatives like oils added to your almond butter can keep it intact only for a limited period of time.
Beyond that, if you plan to make a bulk of your homemade almond butter and enjoy it for a significantly long period of time, then refrigeration in an air-tight glass container is a must for you. While storing your homemade Almond butter make sure the jar you are using is properly sterilized and sealed.
Wondering whether Almond Butter goes bad or not then have a sneak peak into the article Does Almond Butter Go Bad and clear your doubts.
FAQs on Does Almond Butter Need To Be Refrigerated
1. Do nut butter needs refrigeration after opening?
No, as long as your butter is store-bought and “non-natural” it will not need refrigeration to stay stable. But for organic or homemade ones refrigeration is a must to keep the food safety and quality intact.
2. Is almond butter healthier than peanut butter?
Both almond butter and peanut butter are equal in calories and sugar. But almond butter is slightly healthier than peanut butter because peanut butter has more protein but almond butter has more vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
3. Should I store almond butter upside down?
Storing your nut butter upside down is an amazing method to release any trapped air bubbles within the butter that can possibly dry it out.
4. Should you drain the oil from almond butter?
No, you must never drain off the natural oil on top of your almond butter or you will end up drying out your butter and making it hard and difficult to spread.
5. Is almond butter anti-inflammatory?
Yes, almond butter is anti-inflammatory, because it is a good source of vitamin E that reduces inflammation and any risk of heart disease.
Bottom Line
Almond butter is an amazing snack made up of ground almonds and oil, along with sugar and honey sometimes. It is shelf stable only if it is “non-natural” and store-bought. The more natural or homemade it is, the higher the chances of the butter going bad if not refrigerated.
Though refrigeration is a very smart idea to keep your almond butter fresh for a considerably long time, we always recommend you consume it within the first couple of months or make a smaller batch of homemade almond butter and consume it within a couple of weeks. With this we end today’s topic here, we’ll meet super soon with more such interesting food-related articles like Can Almond Flour Go Bad and others.