Peanut Butter: Why I Store It
Peanut butter is a vital ingredient to have at home. While you may have it sitting in the pantry without paying much attention to it, it can come in handy when you need something flavorful and full of protein.
Mark reminded me of a famous man, George Washington Carver, who was often called the “Peanut Man.” He grew up in the South and went from being enslaved to one who earned his doctorate and became well-known worldwide.
Although he is known for developing over 300 peanut plant products, he was also an inventor and helped the economically starved southern states through some tough times. You can learn about his peanut products by visiting the website of Tuskegee University.
Storing peanut butter is a must in my household. I like to stock up on it while it’s on sale and keep it in the pantry until I’m ready to use it. If you missed Harry’s comment, he puts his peanut butter jars in FoodSaver bags and seals them before placing them in the freezer. It extends the life of the jars, and they taste great.
There are a few good reasons to store it. If you’re unsure why you should have this kitchen staple at home, continue reading to learn more. In case you missed this post, here’s the link: The Best Peanut Butter Bar Recipe
It Has a Long Shelf Life
When it’s not opened, you can keep your peanut butter in the pantry for nearly a year before opening it and using it. The shelf life isn’t as long when you open it, giving you about three months to finish using it. However, it’s still a longer shelf life compared to many other foods once they’ve been opened.
Peanut butter can stay fresh in an airtight container with a seal and lid attached. I know I can stock up on peanut butter, place it in the cabinet, and leave it there until we need to open a new one.
In my household, we run through peanut butter like nobody’s business because everyone enjoys it. But with just the two of us, we buy small jars, and I can’t eat rancid peanut butter.
It’s an Excellent Source of Protein
While peanut butter tastes great, there is more to it than its great flavor. One thing you might like about peanut butter is that it’s an excellent source of protein. Getting protein from other sources, such as peanut butter, is essential if you don’t eat meat.
Even if you eat meat, you may still want to increase your protein intake by consuming peanut butter daily. With enough protein, you can feel energized throughout the day without relying solely on caffeine to keep you alert.
It Contains Antioxidants
Although this post is about peanut butter, I wanted to add the picture above as a reminder that almond butter is a similar product with many uses and benefits, including beneficial nutrients galore. If you haven’t used it before, give it a try. You’ll find it’s a great addition to your pantry inventory.
Many people don’t realize that peanut butter contains antioxidants, which are good for the body. Consuming foods that contain antioxidants is good for your heart health. They can improve the condition of your heart and help prevent severe conditions, including heart attack and the development of heart disease.
While it’s good for the heart, the antioxidants in peanut butter may also prevent different forms of cancer from developing. Who knew that peanut butter could be so beneficial to your health?
Now that you know it’s an excellent source of protein and antioxidants, you may look forward to buying more of it.
There Are Different Variations Available
Peanut butter comes in different variations, giving you plenty of opportunities to find your favorite. While the most straightforward options are creamy or crunchy, other versions contain white chocolate chips, cinnamon, and even raisins.
It’s easier to find impressive peanut butter varieties now than ever before. So, if you want peanut butter with a touch of honey or a cinnamon and raisin touch, you can find what you’re looking for at the grocery store or online.
You Can Do a Lot With Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is an excellent ingredient at home because you can do so much with it. It’s not uncommon for me to grab a spoonful and eat it just like that because it tastes fantastic, but that isn’t the only thing you can do with peanut butter when you want to eat it.
There are many ways to get creative with it, such as using it as an ingredient to add flavor, protein, antioxidants, and nutrients to your meal.
Sandwiches
Peanut butter can be used to make all kinds of sandwiches. To prepare traditional peanut butter and jam or jelly sandwiches, spread peanut butter on one side of the bread and then add jam or jelly to the other.
However, peanut butter tastes excellent with other spreads, including marshmallow fluff, honey, or Nutella hazelnut. It all depends on what you like to eat with your peanut butter. Most importantly, you can switch it up and always make something new and different using peanut butter.
Crackers
Spread peanut butter on crackers for a quick and delicious snack. Peanut butter goes great on all kinds of crackers, including buttery Ritz crackers, soda crackers, and even saltines. So, no matter what you have at home, you can spread your peanut butter on top and enjoy a quick, easy, and delicious meal.
Cookies
Did you know that you can even make cookies with peanut butter? You can combine a tablespoon or two of peanut butter with flour, sugar, and other ingredients to prepare the most delicious peanut butter cookies you’ve ever tasted.
And if you don’t feel like baking cookies, you can prepare no-bake cookies using peanut butter, oats, chocolate, honey, and other ingredients. The no-bake cookies are an excellent source of protein, so you can eat them as a pick-me-up in the middle of the day when you need a bit of extra energy.
These aren’t the only things you can do with peanut butter. Some people like to spread it on English muffins, some want to use it for apple slices, and others like using it in some of their favorite baked goods, including banana bread with chocolate and peanut butter. You can find hundreds of recipes containing peanut butter as an essential ingredient.
Mice & Rat Bait
Ray reminded me about using peanut butter to catch mice and rats. How did I forget that one?!?! Mouse Traps, UltaSonic Plugins, and Rat Traps.
What is the Shelf Life of Opened and Unopened Jars?
Here’s the deal: Peanuts and most nuts are oily and will become rancid very quickly if they sit on your pantry shelf. This is why I always recommend storing nuts of any kind in your freezer. Therefore, I recommend looking at the brand of peanut butter or almond butter you purchase and looking at the “best if used by this date.”
Now, this doesn’t mean you will need to toss that jar in the trash the next day —of course, it doesn’t. But a year later, I would question the quality of the peanut butter. If the jars are open, I would eat the product within 2-3 months. Almond butter will depend on the brand.
- 1-1/2 cups butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup peanut butter
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups flour
- 4 cups oatmeal
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2-3 cups chocolate chips sweet chocolate or semi-sweet These will be sprinkled and spread over the cooked pan of peanut butter bars, so set these aside.
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Preheat the oven to (350°F) = (176°C) degrees.
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Grease a large cookie sheet ( approx. 12 inches by 16 inches).
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Cream the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar, then add the eggs and continue to cream the mixture.
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Add the rest of the ingredients (except the chocolate chips) and blend until smooth.
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Spread the peanut butter mixture onto the greased cooked cookie and bake for 10 minutes.
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After baking, turn the oven OFF, and quickly sprinkle the chocolate chips over the bars and return the pan to the oven to melt the chocolate.
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After 2 minutes remove the pan again and smooth the chocolate chips evenly across the peanut butter bars.
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Let them set up overnight before cutting, preferably.
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You can also place the pan in the refrigerator to set the mixture quicker after letting it cool for a few minutes.
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Once the chocolate chips and the peanut butter bars are set, you can cut them into squares.
Final Word
In my household, peanut butter is a staple. None of us have an allergic reaction to peanut butter, so we eat it as often as possible. Not only is it nutritious, but it’s also a great source of protein that is easy to use to make different meals.
If you’re not storing peanut butter, you should consider it. You can buy peanut butter containers on sale to save money and keep them in your pantry until you’re ready to use them. Just check the dates. May God bless this world, Linda
We keep plenty around. We like it but my granddaughter will always eat it when everything else fails. She’s on the spectrum and has had throat issues fixed on the past several years. I literally thinks it’s kept her going. I know during my athletic army years it was a great source of quick easily digestible protein and other good stuff.
Hi Matt, Mark and I will eat P & J for dinner sometimes if we have had a hectic day. I grew up with peanut butter on crackers, I love it! I’m glad peanut butter has helped with her throat issues and health. Kids love peanut butter! Linda
We have powdered peanut butter. Haven’t tried it yet, but will when the others are gone. I just bought some almond butter. I first bought some almond butter biscuits. Like a sandwich cookie. It tasted so good I had to buy some almond butter. I also saw some cashew butter
R.
Hi Deborah, we can buy almond butter biscuits??? I bet we can make some!! I did not know we could buy cashew butter, oh my gosh! I bought one can of powdered peanut butter, but as I remember it did not have a long shelf-life. It was hard for me to stir, it’s thick, like peanut butter. The taste was fine. I remember it has less fat or something. Not sure. Great reminder. Linda
Although I cannot eat peanut butter(almond and cashew are great!), please remember that peanuts can grow one of the more toxic molds on the planet! Be careful, please. Also, any nut butters that need stirring, should be kept refrigerated once open and stirred. I store them upside down as I find them easier to mix that way. Enjoy and stay safe!
Hi Jan, thank you, I do remember reading that about peanuts growing molds. I love almond butter. I’m glad you mentioned that some of the nut butters need to be refrigerated, thank you! I like the idea of turning them upside down. Linda
It’s also good on celery with raisins or dried cranberries. Also, wrapped in a lettuce leaf. ‘Tis good.
A spoonful of peanut butter tastes good all by its self.
I like it here, I like it there, I really like it anywhere!
Hi Mary, oh my gosh, I grew up with peanut butter on celery with raisins! Oh, cranberries sound great, too! I will have to try the lettuce leaf, and I love a spoonful of peanut butter! Life is so good! Linda
Update:
My grandson likes to stir a spoonful of peanut butter into his hot chocolate. Just another use for it. I have yet to try it like that. He says it tastes great. He is a picky eater so I was surprised by that. It must be good.
Hi Mary, oh my gosh, I love chocolate peanut butter ice cream! I need to try this!! I love new ideas, thank you! Linda
My vegan grandkids love peanut butter and banana sandwiches and as a snack, a banana with peanut butter spread on it. Yum all day. Thanks again for yet another great post.
Hi Debra, thank you for your kind words. The grandkids are the best! Almost my entire family is going vegan, I love hearing this! Linda
Peanut butter is also the best bait to put in rat and mice traps.
Oh Ray, you are so right!! I need to add that to the post, how did I forget that one!!! LOL! Thank you, Linda
I don’t really care for bananas by themselves. I often eat a toasted english muffin with peanut butter and banana buttons for breakfast
Hi Margaret, I like the term, banana buttons! I have not heard that before, thank you for sharing! I grew up on peanut butter sandwiches with sliced bananas, which I have now learned are banana buttons! I LOVE this! Linda
What can you use in place of oats in this recipe?
Hi Robin, are you asking about oatmeal or oat groats? It has 4 cups of oatmeal. You can possibly replace the white flour with oat flour, I can’t guarantee the results because I have only made it like the recipe shown. I wish I could help, Linda
Hi Robin, I’m sorry, I now see you are asking what to use instead of the oats. I’m not sure, I will have to think about that. You may need to experiment with different items, even beans possibly. Linda
I like peanuts but peanut butter FORGET IT. I just can’t eat it. I am also allergic to most nuts. The only ones I can eat are peanuts, cashews, and walnuts. I showed my allergy list to a doctor all 10 pages and he said he had never seen someone with such a long allergy list (Of course I didn’t just list my allergies I made sure I put what reaction I had on it also), and he was surprised I could eat Peanuts, cashews and walnuts but no other nut. Never had seen someone who wasn’t allergic to either ALL nuts or Peanuts. That said I can’t eat peanut butter. I don’t know what the difference is but it just makes me sicker than a dog. So I stay away from it. My husband and kids like peanut butter but I stay away from it. I do that with a lot of foods.
Hi Jackie, I have a friend who has a daughter that is allergic to peanuts. We never have peanut butter when she is around. It’s not worth the allergic reaction. Be careful, Linda
Wow Linda,
great reminders on my favorite. I’m going to share something that this post inspired just now. I had some bananas that I wanted to use up so I sliced them in little circles and froze them on parchment paper I made a chocolate type sauce with coconut oil and choc chips and a tlbs of cocoa.
Now my light bulb moment I’m going to use peanut butter in with the dipped chocolate and bananas After I dip all I then place them in a container for the freezer and on such hot days I just get a few out and it’s such a great treat my grands and hubs love them.
Hi Debbie, oh my gosh this is the best idea ever! I love chocolate, coconut, and bananas. Yummy! Linda
Hi Linda,
I check Amazon or Walmart.com when I have extra money. If the peanut butter is on sale I buy several jars. We buy the 2 packs of the Jif. I have been fortunate to catch it a lot cheaper than in the store sometimes. But since COVID the prices are not so much different. My daughter goes in on it with me. Sometimes we buy 10 of the 2 packs. You can buy more online sometimes. Our Walmart has had very little on the shelf since COVID. We go through the Jif peanut butter around here. I do buy cheaper brands to have on hand to give to people who need help. I have 20 year shelf life powdered peanut butter for the time when we cannot buy it.
Chloe likes to spread peanut butter on a tortilla and with sliced bananas and roll that up and eat it. Your Peanut Butter Bar recipe sounds delicious and I am going to make that!
Blessings, Jackie Perkins
Hi Jackie, oh I need to check online to look for lower prices, a great tip!! Thank you for letting me know the stores are low on stock. I’m fuzzy about my peanut butter brand too. Jif and Skippy are my favorite. That recipe is so good, I hope you like it. Stay well, stay healthy, Linda
To Jackie; I am allergic to ALL NUTS and SEEDS especially Almonds, Hazelnuts and Sesame Seeds. When tested I didn’t have a severe reaction to Peanuts but none the less a reaction to them. I have been told by my PCP and Allergist to NEVER eat any nuts or seeds and products with nuts and seeds in them. Until last year I had never had any problems with nuts although my lips would itch after I had anything with Almonds in it. But I never put 2 and 2 together and realized that I might be allergic until I ended up in the ICU with anaphylaxis reaction to peanut butter. My tongue and face was swollen beyond belief. I can’t be around anyone eating peanuts or peanut butter, the smell makes me sick The reaction is very dangerous and can kill you. I love peanut butter and have eaten it until I was 72 years old, but have not eaten any since. I am now 73 years and would like to see some more years. Love your site and the recipes I can use.
Hi Mildred, oh my gosh, that is scary!! Glad you’re okay!! Thank you for your kind words, Linda
My husband is the baker in our family. He makes Peanut butter Blossoms, but unlike most recipes who add the Hershey Kisses when the cookies come out of the oven and the cookie is still soft, my husband adds them before baking. The heat changes the chocolate and makes it even better.
Hi Chris, wait are you talking about the peanut butter cookies you put the kiss in the middle? Does your husband add the kisses in the batter? Oh my gosh!! I’m all over this, I want to make some right now!! Love it! Linda
Set the kiss in the center of the unbaked cookie on the cookiesheet. Trust me it will not melt. This only works with the regular kisses, not the dark chocolate
Hi Chris, oh my gosh, I’m going to make some of these! I need to pick up some chocolate kisses, what a great idea! Linda
I stir a tablespoon or two of chunky peanut butter into my bowl of cooked oatmeal. I also add a blob or two to cold cereal. It adds protein and it’s delicious!
Hi Eileen, oh my gosh, this is a great idea! Now I need to jet a jar or two of chunky peanut butter! Thank you!! Linda
I love to spread crunchy peanut butter and raisins on a flour tortilla. Then roll it up. Sunflower butter is delicious. the recipe in the article sounds great. But I’ might use white chocolate and raisins.
Hi Jonescrusher, that sounds delicious! Linda
Linda, I snack on peanut butter and celery, or sometimes peanut butter and carrot sticks. We’ll agree to disagree on how long peanut butter lasts after the jar is opened. The jar of creamy peanut butter I’m currently using has a best by date of October 2024 and I probably opened it a couple of months before that. Still good nine months later. And by good I mean it still smells and tastes great. But it is stored in a dark pantry.
HI Ray, I think different brands may smell rancid earlier, who knows. I love peanut putter on celery and carrot sticks! LInda
Oh, and Eileen’s comment about chunky peanut butter in oatmeal is a winner. And like Elvis, I do on occasion enjoy a peanut butter and banana sandwich.
Hi Ray, I love chunky peanut butter, I better try it in oatmeal! I grew up eating peanut butter and banana sandwiches! Life is good! Linda
I keep my peanut butter supplies mainly as a way to bridge between sales of the good stuff. You have to really watch the BB dates on sale items though. I only buy peanut butter that is pretty much just peanuts with a hint of salt and doesn’t have added sugar or other unnecessary ingredients and since I live alone I buy the smaller jars when possible. Besides PBJ and PB honey toast I use it to make cookies, also peanut sauce for various Asian recipes. I like the crunchy style for cookies but mostly get smooth. Some places have peanut butter machines where you can get it made with freshly ground peanuts and fill various sized containers but I’m a bit leery of how well they might clean those things.
Hi Alice, I hear you, i love the peanut butter with just salt but, I tend to buy what’s on sale. Now I want to make peanut butter cookies! Oh, and a peanut butter and honey sandwich is yummy! Linda
Peanut butter is almost a miracle food, as long as you aren’t allergic. It’s a great protein and will help keep off hunger, stabalize low blood sugar and all sorts of other things.
I am a diet controlled diabetic and sometimes my blood sugar will drop if I am not paying attention or not eating long lasting proteins, and sometimes just because. Last summer, I found packets of Skippy All Natural peanut butter on Amazon, about 10 packets to a box and 6 boxes to a case. Each packet has one serving of peanut butter. We used them to make sandwiches while traveling. The real value has come since then. I need to keep something quick to eat all the time. I might need it today and not again for 2 weeks, but I need to keep a quick and easy protein snack for when my blood sugar drops. I take a packet of peanut butter, tear off the corner and eat it straight from the packet. While I wish it didn’t have added sugar in it, that actually benefits me right now. These would make fantastic additions to homemade MREs and 72 hour food kits. A lot lighter weight than a jar of peanut butter.
We bought some of the dried peanut butter powder when our youngest was going backpacking for a week. It mixed easily in a plastic bag and tasted fine. We just used tap water and while backpacking she used filtered water from streams to mix it. The biggest drawback is that once opened, the powder has a very short life. So if you have the powder and open it, make plans to use it to make all sorts of things. While she was off mixing her peanut butter in a plastic baggie, we were home enjoying peanut butter pancakes, peanut butter cookies, just about anything tasty using peanut butter. My advice is to buy it in small containers and be prepared to vacuum seal it after each use, unless you have plans to use it quickly.
Hi Topaz, I had no idea we could buy it in “packets” that’s awesome for so many reasons. Yes, I bought one can of powdered peanut butter but it has such a short shelf life I stick to the small jars and they are cheaper. But for backpacking that’s awesome! LInda
Between keeping snacks in the car while we were camping…. almost every drive was longer than planned and all activities seemed to take longer. I wanted to avoid fast food. Amazon and I became very good friends and I found single serving packets of so many things…. peanut butter, nutella, jelly, honey and even powdered milk. The cost per serving is more but for just some ocassions, the expense is worth it. I use a snack sized baggy and add a couple of tea bags, some honey packets, a coffee stirrer, and a couple real lemon backets and keep those in the camper, the car, my office and my purse.
I packed them for snacks in the car while we travelled and then used them to make 24 hour food kits for both kids and families. With things going the way they are now, I will do the food kits again because they may need the food to make it through a week one day. Or they can use it as a grab and go for a camping trip.
Aldi is another place that is a life saver. Their signature brand of food does not contain any artificial food dyes and ususally tastes just as good or better than the name brands. Their ingredient labeling is the best I’ve seen to avoid allergens, it seems that the only ones who don’t have allergens are the ones avoiding any animal products.
HI Topaz, your family eating peanut butter with a spoon is the best! I LOVE it! I love your ideas about the small packets for 24 hout kits, great tip! Linda
Ahh..yes. Grampa’s favorite food. Oh wait, that might be catsup! No one really wants to know everything he puts catsup on. *sigh* But yes, he is diabetic, type 2, controlled with diet, exercise, and a very “cranky” wife. (you should see the face on a new Dr. when he tell the doc “diet, exercise, and a very “b****” wife. But don’t doubt that he is quite correct! I’ve been able to get him to eat vegetables (!). He has also gone from 368 lbs. down to the current 164 lbs. Poor fella! Can everyone hear him groaning without his Hungryman TV dinners? You can tell I feel just terrible about his “diet”. Yup.
Hi Cheryl, oh my gosh, that is sooooooooo awesome your hubby lost weight by eating healthy and exercising!! Congratulations to him and his coach YOU! Love it! Great story, Linda
My dad was a major peanut butter lover. My mother hated everything about peanut butter from the taste to the smell to the texture. The joke between my parents was that if she ever ran out of peanut butter he was going to divorce her. They were married for over 60 years when my dad passed away, so she must have kept the peanut butter stocked.
One day my mom came in from hanging laundry and found all 5 of us quietly sitting around the table eating peanut butter from a spoon. Mom was livid and took all the spoons and was telling us that we couldn’t do that as she was walking into the living room, where she found Daddy sitting on the sofa with the jar of peanut butter and a spoon.
My middle sister was the pickiest child eater of all times. The only protein she would eat was peanut butter. She ate it on bread or crackers. Or marshmallows if Mom wasn’t in sight. My mother even brought it up with the doctor who said that peanut butter was a great protein and she would outgrow it one day. (That man was the genius that kept all 5 of us sitting at the dinning room table for our entire lives until we ate something we didn’t like. When it comes to green beans, I would still be sitting at the dinning room table with green beans rotted to dry earth and the whole room encased in cobwebs.) As an adult, she is one of the least pickiest eaters around and peanut butter is still her favorite.
Oops! Forgot! If we have an extra jar of pb on the shelf in food storage and it is 6 months from expiration I’ll pick up another two in the store. I then give the one or two in food storage the local college food pantry.
HI Cheryl, that’s a great reminder, college students can use those jars of peanut butter!! Great tip! Linda