Did you make too much homemade almond butter or buy too much for your needs? If so, you’re probably wondering: can almond butter be frozen?
the short answer
You can freeze almond butter and it freezes well for at least 3 to 6 months. Freeze it in individual servings so you don’t have to thaw a large container just to get a teaspoon or two.
That is the gist of it. This is what we discuss in this article:
- how freezing affects almond butter – does it freeze well?
- freeze almond butter step by step, including a couple of storage options depending on your needs
- defrost almond butter
Note
The method below works just as well for store-bought almond butter as it does for homemade.
Interested? keep reading
Can you freeze almond butter?
Almond butter, similar to other nut butters, freezes well. In other words, there are no significant differences between fresh and frozen and thawed almond butter.
As you can imagine, butter can separate after thawing, in the same way that it will separate if stored for a long period of time. And you fix the separation in exactly the 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 lumpy, chances are you didn’t stir it well before freezing. Making sure there is no excess oil on the surface before dividing and freezing the almond butter is crucial to good results.
Last but not least, keep in mind that store-bought almond butter keeps for quite a while, even after you open the jar. And that means freezing isn’t usually necessary.
Homemade almond butter has a much shorter shelf life and is a much better candidate for freezing. Especially if you made a big batch.
Related: How long does almond butter last?
How to freeze almond butter?
This is how almond butter is frozen:
- stir it up If the texture isn’t even, which means there’s a bit of oil and the top and bottom are a bit thicker, give the pasta a good stir to even things out. This way, you won’t end up with portions that are drastically different in texture from each other.
- portion it Divide your almond butter in a way that makes sense for how you normally 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 use containers, make sure there is some free space, but not too much. The more air there is in the container, the greater the chance of freezer burn after prolonged storage.
- Freeze it. Place the almond butter in portions in the freezer. If you find it useful, you can add a name and date tag for future reference.
- Repackage it after it is frozen. If you are freezing your almond butter in an ice cube tray or silicone mat, wait until the nut butter is frozen and then transfer the frozen blocks to 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.
If you’re wondering how long it takes for almond butter to freeze, it completely depends on how and how much you’re freezing. Small drops or an ice cube tray should freeze in 3-4 hours, but a medium-sized container can take 6-10 hours to freeze completely.
Advice
If in doubt, leave your almond butter in the freezer overnight.
Once again, it is crucial to consider how you will use the nut butter after thawing it before freezing it. This makes it much easier to work with later.
I add the frozen nut butter to my smoothies, so the teaspoon sized drops work great for my needs. You do.
If you’re not sure how you’ll use yours, go with an ice cube tray. A single cube is big enough for a smoothie or to use as a spread, and if you need more, you can always use a couple of cubes.
How to defrost almond butter?
The best way to thaw almond butter is to leave it in the refrigerator overnight. If it’s a single drop or a small cube, place it in an airtight container so it doesn’t absorb odors from the refrigerator.
Obviously, if you’re thawing a fairly large container, assume it will take at least 10-12 hours to thaw. That means you have to start early.
And speaking of the fridge, remember that almond butter hardens at lower temperatures, so it won’t be nice or spreadable right after thawing. You need at least 30 minutes at room temperature for that to happen.
Lastly, you may not always need to thaw almond butter before using it. In some cases, for example, if you’re adding it to a smoothie, you can throw it in frozen (or half-thawed), and things should work just fine.
Can almond butter be refrozen?
You can refreeze the almond butter, and it shouldn’t affect its quality as much. That said, it’s always best to freeze nut butter in portions so there’s no need to freeze 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 spread on a sandwich, add it to smoothies, use it in cooked dishes or baked goods, or anything in between.
If you’re not sure how to use your frozen almond butter, googling a phrase like “almond butter desserts” will give you dozens of recipes to choose from.
