Can peanut brittle go bad? If you pile up a lot of peanut brittle at home, of course you feel worried about it, whether it will spoiled or lose its taste. If you are curious about the shelf life of peanut brittle, here we will explain everything for you.
The peanut brittle is a sweet and crunchy food, a mix of sugar and peanuts that makes it very pleasing to the mouth. That’s why many of us collect this food at home as a snack that is ready to be enjoyed anytime.
The crunchiness sometimes makes you buy in large quantities and stockpile at home. Don’t do that, unless you’ve read this article about the shelf life of peanut brittle, and how to store it.
How Long Does Peanut Brittle Last?
Brittle is a dry food, the combination of sugar and peanuts makes it a sweet crunchy food. Fortunately, peanut brittle is a long-lasting food, this is not the same as most other grilled foods. The table below shows you the shelf life of peanut brittle.
How Long Does Peanut Brittle Last Unopened?
If you haven’t opened the package, then your peanut brittle can last long enough, its shelf life in the pantry can reach 6 to 7 months. In the refrigerator, it can last up to 6 or even 8 months.
So, if you buy a lot of peanut brittle, try to keep it in the package if you don’t want to eat it yet. If the package has been opened, air and moisture contamination will make your peanut brittle spoil quickly.
How Long Does Peanut Brittle Last Once Open?
As soon as you open the peanut brittle that you bought, the shelf life immediately becomes shorter.
Crackers that have been opened can last 2-3 months in the pantry and can last 6 to 8 months if you store them in the cooler.
How Long Does Peanut Brittle Last at Room Temperature?
If you want to store at room temperature, then make sure you store your peanut brittle in a cool, dark place, not close to a source of heat and sunlight.
Storing it at room temperature will extend peanut brittle shelf life by up to 2-3 months.
| Pantry | refrigerator | |
| Peanut brittle(opened) | 2-3 months | 6-8 weeks |
| Peanut brittle( unopened) | 6-7 months | 6-8 weeks |
| Homemade peanut brittle | eight weeks | 6-8 weeks |
How Can You Tell if Peanut Brittle Is Bad?
You don’t have to worry about your peanut brittle, it’s not a fast food, but it will lose freshness and quality over time. So, knowing whether peanut brittle is bad is very important so that you can still avoid bad ones.
Here are some signs that your peanut brittle is bad. If you find one of the following indications of spoilage, then throw away your peanut brittle.
1. Mold: If you see that your peanut brittle is starting to get moldy, white fuzz or a purplish color appears, then this is a sign that it has gone bad.
2. Off smell: If you smell an unpleasant or rancid smell on your peanut brittle, then that is a sign that it has spoiled. So do not eat it unless you are not afraid of the risks.
3. Taste: If the taste starts to change, then that is a sign that your peanut brittle is starting its decomposition process. When the sugar in peanut brittle oxidizes, it won’t take long for it to be bad.
4. Has lost its crispiness: Another sign to determine the spoilage of peanut brittle is that the texture is soft, slippery or sticky. If the peanut brittle that was fresh when it was hard, and now it’s starting to get soft, then it’s already reduced in quality, but you can still eat it, it’s just that the taste is not satisfying.
Is it Okay to Use Expired Peanut Brittle?
There is no significant risk, you just don’t get the promised peanut brittle delicacy.
If you buy peanut brittle, pay close attention to its condition, look at the production date and if there is, pay attention to the “best before” date. But this does not mean that after that date it is has gone bad. This only shows when you should eat it fresh. If it’s past the “best before” date, the peanut brittle will start to lose its taste and delicacy.
If you eat something that is already bad and feel nauseous, then that is a side effect and it is a reaction from the fungus that is in it.
Can You Freeze Peanut Brittle To Extend Its Shelf Life ?
Yes, you can freeze peanut brittle, but this is not a soggy food that should be frozen. If you freeze it, the peanut brittle will only last 3 months. So, freezing them is not the best alternative for extending the life of peanut brittle.
When put in the freezer, it is exposed to moisture so that its shelf life becomes shorter.
If you are trying to freeze it, then place it in an airtight container before freezing it.
How long does Peanut brittle last in the Refrigerator Vs. Shelf Stables?
The best way to store peanuts is in your kitchen in a cupboard or pantry in an airtight container. Do not store in the refrigerator because it can make it moist and spoil quickly. What if you want to store peanut brittle in the refrigerator? Let’s take a look at the peanut brittle shelf life in fridge vs. in shelf stable.
– Refrigerator
Storing peanut brittle in the refrigerator will make it chewy and less crunchy.
But if you want something chewy, then store it in an airtight container and refrigerate it to last up to 8 weeks.
– Shelf-stable
Peanut brittle is a sweet dry food with the addition of natural sugar. You can extend its shelf life by storing it at room temperature in an airtight container.
If you store it at room temperature in your kitchen cupboard, away from sources of heat, moisture, and sunlight, it will last for months. Remember to close the container well so that no air gets in.
How to Store Peanut Brittle?
You have to know how to store it properly so that the peanut brittle shelf life is longer. Follow these tips!
Your peanut brittle should be stored in an airtight container or airtight plastic. Then place it in a cool, dry, dark kitchen cupboard and away from heat or other sources of heat including direct sunlight.
If you have a lot of peanut brittle, it is best if you put a layer of parchment paper between each peanut brittle to prevent sticking and piling up.
Check out more:
>> Do Lollipops Expire? How Long does it Last?
>> Do Cheez-its Expire? How Long Do Cheez-Its Last
What are Alternatives to Peanut Brittle if it has Gone Bad?
If you can’t enjoy peanut brittle for various reasons, there are alternative peanut brittle that you can try, including:
- Macadamia Nut Brittle
- Crunchy Pistachio Brittle
- Spicy Peanut Brittle
- Coconut Brittle
- Salted Chocolate Brittle
Those are some alternatives for peanut brittle that are no less tasty and crunchy.
We hope that what we have explained can increase our knowledge about the shelf life of peanut brittle, can it can go bad, how to properly store it and so on.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup peanuts, chopped
Instructions
- Please use the 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Then, collaborate the ingredients like the sugar, corn syrup, and water.
- Cook it to boil over medium heat, and stirring constantly.
- Continue boiling until the mixture reaches 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) you can use the thermometer for this.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and peanuts.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and let cool there
- Break into pieces and enjoy!
Notes
- For a chewier brittle, cook the mixture to 310 degrees F (155 degrees C).
- For a crunchier brittle, cook the mixture to 320 degrees F (160 degrees C).
- Be careful not to overcook the brittle, or it will be hard and chewy.
- Let the brittle cool completely before breaking it into pieces.
- Store your brittle in an airtight container at room temperature, its will last up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition Facts: Calories: 138, Total fat: 5.4g, Saturated fat: 1.2g, Polyunsaturated fat: 1.3g, Monounsaturated fat: 2.3g, Cholesterol: 3.4mg, Sodium: 126mg, Total carbohydrates: 20g, Dietary fiber: 0.7g, Sugars: 15g and Protein: 2.1g.
