Once opened, Peanut butter (commercial) keeps about 2–3 months in the pantry. Unopened, it keeps about 6–24 months.
2–3 months opened in the pantry, against 6–24 months sealed in the pantry. Green is what this situation leaves you; husk is what it spends.
| Situation | Keeps for |
|---|---|
| Unopened · pantry | 6–24 months |
| Opened · pantry | 2–3 months |
Air and warmth are what shorten an opened item's life — the right container buys back the days the packaging gives up once the seal's broken.
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About 2–3 months in the pantry, according to USDA FoodKeeper v128.
Peanut butter (commercial) is shelf-stable at room temperature: cool, dry pantry, sealed — refrigerating after opening is optional and mainly preserves quality. Refrigerating it mainly preserves quality rather than safety.
Look for: A rancid, paint-like, or musty smell; Bulging, leaking, deeply dented, or rusted cans; Insects or webbing in dry goods; Mould or discoloration. Those are the general signs for pantry staples — USDA FoodKeeper v128 publishes no spoilage note for Peanut butter (commercial) specifically. Never taste something to test it — when in doubt, throw it out.