Peanut butter will last longer if stored in one area - not the cupboard

By Nicola Roy, Spare Time writer

Peanut butter will last much longer if it's stored in the right way (Image: Getty)

Peanut butter is an excellent way to take your breakfast to delicious new heights, whether you're spreading it on toast or putting a spoonful on your porridge.

A good source of protein and healthy fats, peanut butter is a staple ingredient in many people's kitchens, and there are so many brands out there to choose from.

However, it can be really irritating to crack open a jar and find that oil separation has occured - which, although it's a natural process, can be a pretty messy fix.

Likewise, as you get closer to the bottom of the jar, all that remains is bone-dry stuff that cannot be spread.

Thankfully, there's a very easy solution, and it all comes down to what you do with the jar.

Peanut butter can be a nightmare to spread when you get to the bottom of the jar (Image: Getty)

Users on Reddit have shared a variety of wild and whacky ways to get that creamy texture back.

They range from “give the jar a stir and hope for the best” to “blend the peanut butter in a food processor or with an immersion blender to recreate the creamy consistency”.

In fact, the answer is far more simple. According to Richard Price, food expert at Brit Superstore, it comes down to where and how you’re storing it.

He said: "Healthier peanut butters separate because they’re lacking additives or stabilisers that bind the oil to the solids. As a result, the oil naturally rises to the top of the jar over time.

"To avoid this, the key is to store your peanut butter upside down in the fridge. By flipping the jar, you force the oil to move back through the solids.

"Keeping it chilled slows the oil’s movement, causing it to firm up before it can fully separate again. In essence, the oil re-incorporates itself, saving you the hassle of constant stirring."

It really is that simple to preserve your peanut butter's creamy texture, without having to get the hand blender out.

However, this isn’t the only reason why you should rethink where your peanut butter is kept.

Richard said: "Refrigerating the spread extends its shelf life, maintaining its freshness and preventing mould growth. Give this a try and you’ll find your peanut butter’s flavour and texture are preserved for much longer."