If your peanut butter has an unpleasant smell, taste or appearance, it has likely gone bad. Tasting a small amount of rancid peanut butter is unlikely to cause food poisoning. For best shelf life, ...

Store processed peanut butter in a cool spot for up to six months, or natural peanut butter in the fridge for up to two months. Signs it’s time to toss include mold, off smells, strange textures, or ...

Claire is Lifehacker's Senior Food Editor. She has a B.S. in chemistry, a decade of food journalism experience, and a deep love for mayonnaise and MSG. People are very particular about peanut butter.

Some people prefer to refrigerate natural peanut butter, as it is prone to separation, and cold temperatures can slow down that process. As with nuts and whole grains, refrigeration can also stave off ...