Can You Freeze Almond Butter?

Made too much homemade almond butter or bought way too much for your needs? If so, you’re probably wondering: can you freeze almond butter?

The Short Answer

You can freeze almond butter, and it freezes well for at least 3 to 6 months. Freeze it in single-serving portions so that you don’t have to defrost a large container only to get a teaspoon or two.

That’s the gist of it. Here’s what we discuss in this article:

  • how freezing affects almond butter – does it freeze well?
  • freezing almond butter step by step, including a couple of storage options depending on your needs
  • thawing almond butter
Note

The method below works just as well for store-bought as homemade almond butter.

Interested? Read on.

Pre frozen almond butter blobs
Pre frozen almond butter blobs

Can You Freeze Almond Butter?

Almond butter, similar to other nut butters, freezes well. In other words, there aren’t any significant differences between fresh and frozen and thawed almond butter.

As you might imagine, the butter may separate after thawing, the same way it separates if it’s stored for a prolonged period. And you fix the separation the exact same way: by stirring it with a teaspoon.

Related: How to store almond butter?

(If your almond butter is emulsified, which usually means it’s mixed with another oil, it’s much less likely to separate than if it’s raw almond butter.)

If you stirred yours and it’s still too oily or chunky, it’s most likely because you didn’t give it a good stir before freezing. Making sure there’s no excess oil on the surface before you portion and freeze almond butter is crucial to getting good results.

Last but not least, keep in mind that store-bought almond butter lasts quite a long time, even after opening the jar. And that means that freezing isn’t usually necessary.

Homemade almond butter has a much shorter storage time, and it’s a much better candidate for freezing. Especially if you made a big batch.

Related: How long does almond butter last?

Stirred almond butter
Stirred almond butter: prep for freezing

How to Freeze Almond Butter?

Here’s how you freeze almond butter:

  1. Stir it. If the texture isn’t even throughout, meaning there’s some oil and top and the bottom is a bit more chunky, give the spread a good stir to even things out. This way, you won’t end up with portions drastically different in texture from one another.
  2. Portion it. Portion your almond butter in a way that makes sense for how you usually use it. Or plan to use it. Small airtight containers or an ice cube tray are popular options. Or you can freeze small blobs of almond butter on a silicone mat or plastic wrap. If you’re using containers, make sure there’s a tiny bit of headspace, but not too much. The more air in the container, the higher the chance of freezer burn after prolonged storage.
  3. Freeze it. Place the portioned almond butter in the freezer. If you find it helpful, you can add a label with the name and date for future reference.
  4. Repackage it after it’s frozen. If you’re freezing your almond butter in an ice cube tray or on a silicone mat, wait until the nut butter freezes solid, and then transfer the frozen blocks into a freezer bag. The bag will protect them from freezer burn and free up whatever you were using. Remember to squeeze out the air before sealing the bag.
Almond butter blobs freezing prep
Almond butter blobs freezing prep

If you’re wondering how long it takes almond butter to freeze, it depends entirely on how and how much you’re freezing. Small blobs or an ice cube tray should freeze within 3 to 4 hours, but a medium-sized container might take 6 to 10 hours to fully freeze.

Tip

When in doubt, leave your almond butter in the freezer overnight.

Once again, it’s crucial to consider how you will use the nut butter after defrosting before you jump into freezing. This makes it so much easier to work with later on.

I add the frozen nut butter to my smoothies, so teaspoon-sized blobs work great for my needs. You do you.

If you’re not sure how you’ll use yours, go with an ice cube tray. A single cube is large enough for a smoothie or to use it as a spread, and if you need more, you can always use a couple of cubes.

Frozen almond butter blobs in a freezer bag
Frozen almond butter blobs in a freezer bag

How to Defrost Almond Butter?

The best way to defrost almond butter is to leave it in the refrigerator overnight. If it’s a single blob or small cube, place it in an airtight container so that it doesn’t pick up smells from the fridge.

Obviously, if you’re thawing a fairly large container, assume that it’s going to take at least 10 to 12 hours to defrost. That means you need to start early.

And speaking of the fridge, remember that almond butter hardens at lower temperatures, so it’s not going to be nice and spreadable right after thawing. It needs at least 30 minutes at room temperature for that to happen.

Last, you might not always need to defrost almond butter before using it. In some cases, e.g., if you’re adding it to a smoothie, you can throw it in frozen (or half thawed), and things should work out just fine.

Defrosted almond butter
Defrosted almond butter: perhaps a bit of oil separation

Can You Refreeze Almond Butter?

You can refreeze almond butter, and it shouldn’t affect its quality that much. That said, it’s always better to freeze the nut butter well portioned so that there’s no need for freezing leftovers that have already been frozen and thawed.

How to Use Frozen and Thawed Almond Butter?

The short answer is: the same way you use fresh almond butter. You can use it as a sandwich spread, add to smoothies, use in cooked dishes or baked goods, or in anything in between.

If you’re not sure how to use your frozen almond butter, googling a phrase such as “almond butter desserts” will give you dozens of recipes to choose from.

Using thawed almond butter in smoothie
Using thawed almond butter in smoothie

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