Can You Freeze Almond Butter? – I Test 3 Methods [Pics]

Have you just made a massive batch of almond butter and realized there’s no way you can eat it all before it starts to turn?

Or are you sick of having to dirty a spoon each morning spooning almond butter into your smoothies?

You’re in the right place.

In this article, I share my results from freezing almond butter using 3 different methods. I also give you step-by-step instructions to ensure your almond butter freezes just as well.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Can you freeze almond butter?

Freezing almond butter is a great way to extend its shelf life. Simply portion out your almond butter into small airtight containers and pop it in the freezer. You can even use an ice cube tray to make almond butter cubes. If the almond butter splits upon thawing, stirring should fix it.

Can you freeze almond butter? Yes

How long does almond butter last in the freezer? 6-12 months

Does almond butter freeze well? Yes

Can you refreeze almond butter? Yes

Any watch-outs for freezing almond butter? It might split upon thawing, but this is easy to fix.

All-natural almond butter (where almonds are the only ingredient) will freeze solid pretty quickly in a home freezer – since almond oil’s freezing point is 0°F (-18°C). 

It’s harder to predict the behavior of almond butter with additives. 

This is because the extra ingredients will have an effect on both the freezing point and the rate of freezing.

A note on my experiment 

To see how well almond butter freezes, I ordered several tubs and used them to perform the following tests:

• How long almond butter freezes for (at best quality)
• Refreezing almond butter several times to check the texture and consistency
• Testing different ‘hacks’ such as portioning the almond butter into ice cube trays and pre-made sandwich squares.

Related: Can You Freeze Biscotti?

How to freeze almond butter

1. Portion your almond butter out into small airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Smaller portions freeze much faster.
2. Put a layer of plastic wrap / wax paper over the surface of the almond butter in the airtight container, or squeeze all the air out of the freezer bag (optional).
3. Close your airtight container and put it in the freezer.

The plastic wrap helps to protect the surface of the almond butter from frost.

Too much headspace in the container, or excess space in a bag exposes the almond butter to a lot of cold freezer air.

Never use a glass jar to freeze almond butter because (although unlikely) the glass might break in the freezer.

A big tub of almond butter will take up to 24 hours to freeze completely, while smaller portions will freeze in as little as 3-4 hours.

Note: All natural almond butter (where almonds are the only ingredient) will freeze solid in a home freezer – since its freezing point is 0°F (-18°C). 

It becomes harder to predict the behavior of almond butter with additives, because the extra ingredients will have an effect on both the freezing point and the rate of freezing.

Alternative options

Here are some alternative methods to freeze your almond butter.

Almond butter portioned into ice cube trays is perfect for stress-free smoothies, and slices make almond butter sandwiches a breeze.

Ice cubes

If you plan to use the almond butter in smoothies or you want it in ready-to-use portions then spoon the almond butter into an ice-cube tray and freeze it in that.

After about 3-4 hours the cubes will be frozen solid and you can transfer them into a bigger airtight container for long-term storage. 

Work quickly when you’re doing this because the cubes will start to melt almost immediately. 

Slices

Frozen nut butter slices was a hack that went viral a few years ago.

Most people think it’s a pretty useless life hack… but they haven’t tried almond butter shards over ice cream!

You need a big piece of wax paper and a rolling pin.

Dollop a few spoonfuls of almond butter onto the wax paper and fold it in half, then use the rolling pin to flatten the almond butter into a thin slab.

Freeze the slab. 

Once it’s solid, you can cut or break it up into a shape of your choice and store the slices in an airtight container.

Work quickly with the almond butter while it’s out of the freezer because it will start melting immediately.

How to thaw almond butter

To thaw almond butter, take it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw overnight. For faster thawing, you can simply leave it out on the side for 20-30 minutes. If the almond butter splits while it’s thawing, give it a quick stir and it should come back together.

Natural almond butter is most prone to splitting.

If your almond butter has additives it’s less likely to split. To avoid splitting, thaw the almond butter in the fridge rather than on the counter.

The cool air and slower thawing reduce the chances of the solids and oils separating.

Avoid thawing almond butter in the microwave because oil is very unpredictable in the microwave.

If you need really speedy thawing, use a warm water bath or the heat from your hands to warm the almond butter.

Stirring while the almond butter while it’s thawing also helps to prevent splitting.

Tips for freezing almond butter

Here are a few quick tips to ensure you have a stress-free freezing experience.

Label your container

This is a step most people forgo, but it can be really easy to lose track of how long things have been in the freezer and which batch you should take out first. 

Labeling your container with the date you put the almond butter in the freezer means you’ll always use it in time.

Different almond butters can freeze differently

All-natural almond butter (where almonds are the only ingredient) will freeze solid in a home freezer, since its freezing point is 0°F (-18°C). 

It becomes harder to predict the behavior of almond butter with additives, because the extra ingredients will have an effect on both the freezing point and the rate of freezing.

Frozen almond butter makes a great dog treat

My dog loves frozen almond butter in her kong, she goes crazy for it!

So if you’re looking for a new dog treat, try it out.

Just make sure there’s no xylitol listed as an ingredient on your almond butter because this is toxic to dogs. All-natural almond butter is best for dog treats.

How long does almond butter last?

Note that these numbers are based on natural almond butter (where the only ingredient is almonds). 

If your almond butter contains preservatives, it will last even longer.

Does almond butter go bad?

Almond butter won’t become unsafe to eat, but it can go rancid because of the oil. It’s very easy to tell if your almond butter is rancid because it will smell off and taste bitter. Keeping the almond butter in a cool, dark place (like a fridge or freezer) helps preserve it.

Does almond butter freeze well?

Yes, almond butter freezes perfectly. In my tests, there were no adverse effects on the taste or texture of almond butter after freezing. The only thing to be aware of is that the freezing-thawing cycle can cause almond butter to split. But this is easily remedied with some stirring.

Natural almond butter freezes solid, so it’s easy to shape how you want. 

If your almond butter includes other ingredients like stabilizers and preservatives, it might not freeze as solid but keeping it at freezing temperatures will still help preserve it.

Can you refreeze almond butter?

I tested re-freezing almond butter and it worked fine, the almond butter tasted good and there were no textural changes. Storing the almond butter in an airtight container is crucial for re-freezing. If your almond butter develops a lot of frost the first time you freeze it, it won’t refreeze well. 

How To Freeze Almond Butter

In this quick recipe, I show you the best way to freeze your almond butter.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Spread

Cuisine: American

Keyword: almond butter, freeze almond butter

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 614kcal

Equipment

• Tupperware
• Plastic wrap
• Ziploc bag
• Ice cube tray

Ingredients

• 1 portion almond butter

Instructions

• Portion your almond butter out into small airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Smaller portions freeze much faster.
• Put a layer of plastic wrap / wax paper over the surface of the almond butter in the airtight container, or squeeze all the air out of the freezer bag (optional).
• Close your airtight container and put it in the freezer.
• A big tub of almond butter will take up to 24 hours to freeze completely, while smaller portions will freeze in as little as 3-4 hours.
• Almond butter will last 6-12 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 614kcal