You open a new jar of natural peanut butter and find a layer of oil on top. Some people think it's water, or that the jar has gone bad. It hasn't. That oil shows your peanut butter is pure.
Where the oil comes from
Peanuts are about half oil by weight. When they're roasted and ground, that oil is released into the paste. Sweetened peanut butter contains a little fully hydrogenated vegetable oil that holds everything together, so it doesn't separate. Natural peanut butter has nothing added, so over time the ground peanut settles and the lighter oil rises. Warm weather speeds this up, which is why it's so common in Nigeria.
Is it safe to eat?
Yes. It's the same oil that was inside the peanuts. Don't pour it away, or the peanut butter left behind will turn dry and hard to spread.
How to mix it back in
- Stir well with a clean spoon or butter knife for about a minute, reaching right to the bottom of the jar.
- If it's very separated, scrape everything into a bowl, stir until smooth, then spoon it back into the jar.
- Once it's smooth, keep it in the fridge. The cold stops the oil separating again and keeps it thick.
How to stop it separating
- Store unopened jars upside down. The oil moves to the bottom and mixes in more easily when you open the jar.
- Keep jars out of direct sun and away from the stove.
- After the first stir, store the jar in the fridge.
When peanut butter has actually gone bad
Oil on top is normal. These signs are not:
- a sour, bitter or paint-like smell
- a stale or bitter taste
- mould or dark spots
- a hard, dry texture that won't mix back together
If you notice any of these, throw the jar away.
Natural or no-stir?
If you'd rather never stir, choose a sweetened peanut butter. If you want one ingredient and no added sugar, a quick stir is the trade-off. Dodan Natural Peanut Butter is 100% roasted Nigerian peanuts, and our Sweetened Peanut Butter Creamy stays smooth with no stirring.
0 comments