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How Long Does Apple Butter Last? [Shelf Life Guide]

Apple butter is a type of fruit spread that can be made from the pulp leftover when apples are pressed for their juice.

It has a sweet, rich, and slightly tart flavor.

Some people even refer to it as “apple sauce on steroids”.

You may notice that the texture will change over time, and the flavor might become slightly more tart.

This blog post will discuss how long apple butter lasts in the fridge, how to store it, and how to tell if your apple butter is bad.

What is Apple Butter?

what is apple butter

Apple butter is a thick spread made out of the pulp leftover from pressing apples.

It can be sweetened with sugar or honey, and sometimes even vinegar to make it tangy.

It is often used as a substitute for peanut butter or almond butter.

The consistency can vary from super chunky to creamy, depending on the desired end product.

Some apple butter is brown, while others are red due to the sweetened pears and lack of sugar and spices.

Apple Butter can be enjoyed in many dishes, including baked goods and cold cereal.

In particular, apple butter goes well on toast with cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top.

Apple butter also makes an excellent spread to use in place of regular nut butter such as peanut or almond butter.

How to Store Apple Butter?

how to store apple butter

Apple butter is a thick paste, and as it cools down, its consistency will thicken even more.

It’s essential to store this spread in an airtight container, preferably one with a lid that can be sealed tightly.

This will prevent the apple butter from drying out over time, and it’ll have longer shelf life than if you leave it open or covered loosely with plastic wrap.

Apple butter is delicious on toast, pancakes, muffins, or scones.

It isn’t advisable to store at room temperature, and it should be refrigerated for optimum shelf life once opened.

If you don’t plan to use the entire jar in a few weeks, spoon apple butter into individual jars or containers and freeze them.

This will prevent future spoilage by preventing bacteria from entering while also keeping the spread fresh for months at a time.

How Long Does Apple Butter Last? Does Apple Butter Go Bad?

how long does apple butter last

An apple butter recipe is a beautiful thing, and it’s incredibly satisfying to make your own.

Yes, you can buy many varieties of pre-made apple butter at the grocery store, but making them yourself is not only more economical than buying from the shelves – but it’s also much tastier than the store-bought variety.

But, how long does apple butter last? The answer to that question is a little complicated because there are two factors at play: time and temperature.

First, let’s talk about temperature.

Apple butter has a pretty high sugar content, making it prone to spoilage if stored at an improper temperature.

The lower the storage temperature is for apple butter, the longer it will last:

For example, store your opened jar of apple butter in the fridge, and you’ll likely be able to enjoy its delicious taste for around a year.

But, if you want to enjoy it even longer than that, store your jar in the freezer, and it will last for up to two years.

In general, unopened jars of apple butter will last up to two years at room temperature, but refrigeration or freezing can extend their shelf life.

Now let’s talk about time–or rather the date on your opened jar and how it relates to its expiration date.

As you’ve probably noticed, most jars of apple butter come with a “sell by” date.

This is the last day on which retailers can legally sell it on store shelves.

But this doesn’t mean that after its expiration date, your apple butter will suddenly become inedible.

It just means it could start to spoil sooner than if you’d eaten it before its use-by or best-before dates.

If you don’t plan on eating a jar of apple butter in the next month or so, store it in your fridge to prevent spoilage.

How to Tell if Apple Butter is Bad?

how to tell if apple butter is bad

Are you looking for a recipe to boost your immune system? Apple butter can be used in many recipes.

But first, you have to know if the apple butter is fresh and ready.

To test whether or not an item of food has gone bad, it’s essential that one look at the color consistency.

If the apple butter is still a golden yellow color, it’s probably OK to eat.

But if it starts to turn brown or orange and has little chunks of fruit that have separated, then you know it’s gone bad.

Another sign of spoilage is if the apple butter has lots of bubbles and it’s become watery-looking.

Rotten or bad apple butter will most likely have a strong odor, which can be detected before tasting the food itself.

If you see an undesirable smell coming from the applesauce, another sign is to look for.

If your apple sauce doesn’t seem right at all, no matter what color it may be, avoid eating it.

It’s best to enjoy your apple butter as soon as possible, but if it is not eaten, then refrigerate what you have left.

Conclusion

In conclusion, apple butter is a delicious and healthy alternative to sugar-laden peanut or almond butter.

Plus, it’s easy to make.

There are many different ways of making apple butter–from slow cooking the apples with honey over low heat for hours to roasting them in an oven at high temperature until they’re caramelized and browned.

You can also buy jars of it at your local grocery store if you don’t want to take the time (or have space) for such projects.

The shelf life of apple butter is limited, so the best advice we can give you is to eat it all while it’s fresh.

does apple butter go bad

How Long Does Apple Butter Last? Does Apple Butter Go Bad?

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Shelf Life
Servings 1 Serving

Ingredients
  

  • Apple butter
  • Air-tight containers
  • Labels and markers

Instructions
 

  • Read the guide thoroughly to learn how long it lasts.
  • Check the u0022Best-by-dateu0022 to know when it expires.
  • Make sure to store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (pantry or fridge).
  • Always check for signs of spoilage before using.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @EatDelights or tag #eatdelights!

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