Quick Answers
Eating expired almond butter may not be harmful in small amounts if it has been stored properly and shows no signs of mold or spoilage. However, eating large amounts or almond butter that is well past its expiration date and/or shows signs of spoilage can potentially cause foodborne illness.
Almond butter has become a popular alternative to peanut butter in recent years due to growing awareness of peanut allergies. It offers a creamy, nutty flavor and can be used as a spread, in baking and cooking, or eaten by the spoonful. But like other nut butters, almond butter has a limited shelf life. So what happens if you discover a jar of almond butter in your pantry and find it’s already expired? Should you throw it out immediately or is it safe to continue eating?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at whether it’s bad to eat expired almond butter. We’ll cover:
- The shelf life of almond butter and what expiration dates tell you
- Signs that almond butter has truly spoiled
- The safety of consuming expired almond butter
- Best practices for storing almond butter
- How to tell if expired almond butter is still usable
Knowing what to look for when determining whether a jar of almond butter is still good or needs to be discarded can help you avoid wasting food and reduce your risk of foodborne illness.
The Shelf Life of Almond Butter
Unopened almond butter typically has a best by date around 12-24 months from the date of manufacture. Once opened, it will stay fresh for about 3-4 months when stored properly in the refrigerator. The expiration date takes into account the potential for spoilage and product degradation over time. However, almond butter may still be safe to eat for a short period after its expiration date, provided it was stored correctly and shows no visible signs of spoilage.
There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to almond butter expiration dates:
- The expiration date is an estimate, not an exact date the food must be discarded by.
- “Best by” indicates when the almond butter is at peak quality, including flavor and nutrient content.
- “Use by” is more of a safety date – consumption after this date has higher (but not guaranteed) risk of foodborne illness.
- Once opened, the clock starts ticking more quickly towards spoilage.
While expiration dates are useful guidelines, your eyes, nose and common sense should also guide whether you choose to eat expired almond butter or discard it.
Factors that Shorten Shelf Life
Certain factors can cause almond butter to spoil faster and become unsafe to eat sooner:
- High temperature storage – Heat and temperature fluctuations speed up spoilage.
- Frequent opening – Each time the container is opened, oxygen is introduced and can react with the oils in almond butter.
- Humidity – Damp storage environments can lead to faster mold growth.
- Contamination – Dirty utensils or hands introduce bacteria when dipping into the almond butter.
- Low quality ingredients – Preservatives help inhibit spoilage, while lower grades of nuts become rancid faster.
Signs Almond Butter Has Spoiled
Although an expiration date is one indicator, there are other clear signs that can tell you if your almond butter has truly spoiled and become unsafe to eat:
Appearance
- Mold – Fuzzy spots or slimy film on the almond butter’s surface.
- Darkening color – Fresh almond butter should be a light beige or creamy off-white color.
- Separation – Fresh almond butter should be creamy and uniform. Separation of oils to the top layer indicates spoilage.
- Dry texture – The almond butter looks very dry and stiff, unlike its normal creamy consistency.
Smell
- Rancid odor – Rotten or paint-like smell indicates the fats in the almond butter have oxidized.
- Off aromas – Unpleasant or sour, funky scents mean spoilage bacteria are present.
- No smell – A complete lack of any nutty aroma also likely means the almond butter has turned.
Taste
- Bitter – Fresh almond butter should taste mildly sweet and nutty, not bitter.
- Sour or tangy – These flavors signify spoilage has changed the almond butter’s pH.
- No taste – Lack of nutty flavor indicates deterioration or aging.
If your almond butter exhibits any of these common signs of spoilage, it’s best to throw it out. Don’t take risks by tasting almond butter that is clearly rancid or moldy.
Is Expired Almond Butter Safe To Eat?
Eating a small amount of almond butter shortly after its printed expiration date is unlikely to cause foodborne illness for most people. However, there are some health and safety factors to keep in mind:
Potential Risks
- Foodborne pathogens – Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium botulinum, and Bacillus cereus are bacteria that can contaminate nuts and nut products. Their growth will be uncontrolled in expired almond butter.
- Aflatoxin – A toxic mold byproduct that can grow on nuts in humid environments and is a known carcinogen.
- Rancidity – Eating rancid fats can potentially irritate the stomach and intestines.
- Loss of nutrients – Vitamins like A, B, and E degrade over time with exposure to light, heat, and/or oxygen.
Mitigating Factors
- Refrigeration slows bacteria growth.
- Preservatives help inhibit mold and bacterial growth.
- Low moisture content makes an unfavorable environment for toxins.
- Roasting nuts reduces levels of anti-nutrients like phytic acid.
- Individual sensitivities – Young children, pregnant women, elderly, or immunocompromised individuals face higher risks of foodborne illness.
As a processed and acidic food with low water content, properly stored almond butter has a low risk for growing hazardous bacteria like Clostridium botulinum. However, increased time, temperature, and moisture exposure allows for a wider variety of spoilage issues.
Best Practices For Storing Almond Butter
Maximizing the shelf life of almond butter comes down to how you store it. Here are some tips for keeping almond butter fresh for as long as possible:
Storage Conditions
- Cool temperature – Store almond butter at or below room temperature, ideally refrigerated.
- Low humidity – Dampness encourages faster spoilage from mold.
- Darkness – Light oxidizes nutrients like vitamins A and E.
- Tightly sealed – Keep container closed to block oxygen exposure.
Handling Practices
- Keep utensils and hands clean when dipping to prevent bacteria transfer.
- Don’t allow water or condensation to get into the container.
- Remove any surface mold and the almond butter below to avoid spreading.
- Keep refrigerated after opening and use within 3-4 months.
Choosing Quality Products
- Select almond butters made with all natural ingredients when possible.
- Avoid added sugars or oils, which can turn rancid faster.
- Raw almond butter has a shorter shelf life than roasted.
- Buy from reputable brands that follow food safety protocols.
Following basic food storage best practices helps keep almond butter fresher for longer after opening. Discard if you see any signs of spoilage.
How To Know If Expired Almond Butter Is Still Usable
The best way to determine if a jar of expired almond butter is still safe and usable is to examine it carefully using all your senses. Here are some tips on what to look for:
Appearance
- Check for any mold, fuzziness, spots, or slimy film on the surface. This indicates spoilage.
- Look to see if oils have separated out. A little separation is normal but a thick oily layer or watery layer means spoilage.
- Clumps and crystallization are signs of aging but don’t necessarily mean the almond butter is spoiled.
- Make sure the consistency looks smooth and creamy, not dried out.
Smell
- Give it a sniff test. It should smell pleasant and nutty without any sour, bitter, or strong “off” odors.
- If it smells at all unpleasant, it is best to discard it.
Taste
- Do a small taste test if it passes visual and smell checks. Flavor should taste normal.
- Any bitter, sour, or stale flavors are a red flag for spoilage.
- Properly stored almond butter can taste pleasant for weeks or months past its best by date.
Storage Conditions
- Was it stored sealed in a cool, dry pantry or refrigerator?
- Was the jar handled properly without introducing contamination each time it was opened?
- Has it been opened for more than 4 months?
Trust all your senses – sight, smell, taste can accurately determine if expired almond butter has truly spoiled, even if the best by date was surpassed by a short window of time.SMALL SUB-HEADING: When in doubt, throw it out. Don’t taste any almond butter you suspect may be spoiled.
Conclusion
Eating expired almond butter comes with some risk of foodborne illness, but that risk remains relatively low if the almond butter was properly stored, shows no signs of spoilage, and is consumed in small amounts and not on a regular basis. The best by date is an effective guide but not an absolute measure of whether almond butter is safe to eat or needs to be discarded.
Your best defenses are storing almond butter correctly, keeping an eye out for common visual and aromatic signs of spoilage, and using good judgment. Adhering to basic food safety practices, trusting your senses, and being wary of any almond butter that seems noticeably degraded will allow you to enjoy almond butter that may be perfectly fine for a short period past its printed date. But don’t take risks with almond butter that clearly exhibits signs of mold, rancidity, or other spoiled characteristics.