The Life-Changing Magic of Storing Natural Peanut Butter Upside Down
- Lifestyle
- Exienent
- · Updated
The easiest way to stop natural peanut butter from separating is to store the unopened jar upside down in your pantry. The oil slowly migrates back through the peanut mass, so the jar is already mixed when you open it, with no stirring gadgets or strong arm muscles required.
Why does natural peanut butter separate?
Natural peanut butter separates because peanuts naturally contain a lot of oil, and without artificial stabilizers, that oil rises to the top over time because it is lighter than the solid peanut mass.
The result is familiar to every fan of natural peanut butter. You open a brand new jar and are greeted by an inch of clear, separated oil sitting on top of a cement-like block of peanuts. You stick a butter knife in to mix it, and within seconds oil is overflowing onto your counter, your hands are greasy, and the peanut butter at the very bottom is still rock-solid. It is a frustrating mess that almost makes you want to go back to the processed stuff loaded with hydrogenated oils.
How does the upside-down storage trick work?
Storing the jar upside down forces the oil to travel through the peanut butter on its way to the top. When you buy a new jar from the store, don't just put it right-side up on the shelf. Turn it so it's resting on its lid. Yes, that is literally it.
With the jar inverted, the oil has to travel up through the dense peanut butter to get to the "top" (which is now the bottom of the jar). This slow migration of oil naturally mixes the peanut butter for you while it sits in your cupboard.
By the time you are actually ready to open it and make a sandwich, the oil has distributed itself throughout the entire jar.
What else helps keep peanut butter creamy?
Two extra habits get the best results from this trick:
- Check the seal: Before you turn that jar upside down, make sure the lid is screwed on extremely tight. You do not want a slow oil leak dripping all over your pantry shelves.
- Move it to the fridge after opening: Once you open the jar (and find mixed, creamy peanut butter inside), put the lid back on and store it in the refrigerator. The cold temperature solidifies the natural oils, locking that consistency in place. It should not separate again, and you won't need to stir it for the rest of the jar's life.
Is it worth trying?
Storing natural peanut butter upside down is one of those incredibly simple, "why didn't I think of that" life hacks that fixes a minor daily annoyance at no cost. Give it a try with your next grocery haul!
