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

Have you just made a massive batch of cashew butter and realized there’s no way you can eat it all before it goes off?

Or are you sick of having to dirty your knife each morning spreading your cashew butter on toast? (Frozen cashew butter toast slices are real!).

You’re in the right place.

In this article, I share my results from freezing cashew butter using 3 different methods.

I also give you step-by-step instructions to ensure your cashew butter freezes just as well.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Can you freeze cashew butter?

Freezing cashew butter is a great way to extend its shelf life. Simply portion out your cashew butter into small airtight containers and place them in the freezer. You can even use an ice cube tray to make cashew butter ice cubes.

If the cashew butter splits upon thawing, a quick stir will bring it back to normal.

Can you freeze cashew butter? Yes

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

Does cashew butter freeze well? Yes

Can you refreeze cashew butter? Yes

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

All-natural cashew butter (where cashews are the only ingredient) will freeze solid pretty quickly in a home freezer.

It’s harder to predict the behavior of cashew butter with additives (but the ones I tested still froze without issues).

Why? Because the extra ingredients will have an effect on both the freezing point and the rate of freezing.

Related: How To Salt Unsalted Nuts

A note on my experiment 

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

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

How to freeze cashew butter

1. Portion your cashew butter out into small airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Smaller portions freeze much faster.
2. Put a layer of plastic wrap (or wax paper) over the surface of the cashew 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 cashew butter from frost.

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

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

A big tub of cashew 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 cashew butter (where cashews are the only ingredient) will freeze solid in a home freezer.

I can’t find any information online about the freezing point of cashews or cashew oil. That said, I do know that the freezing point of almond oil is 0°F (-18°C) and peanut oil is 37°F (3°C).

Cashew butter is very likely to sit somewhere in between these numbers. This is also confirmed from my testing.

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

Related: How To Freeze Almond Butter

Alternative options

Here are some alternative methods to freeze your cashew butter.

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

Ice cubes

If you plan to use the cashew butter in smoothies or you want it in ready-to-use portions then spoon the cashew 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 went viral on social media a few years ago.

Most people think it’s a pretty useless life hack… but they haven’t tried cashew butter shards with bananas on toast. (Thank me later!).

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

Dollop a few spoonfuls of cashew butter onto the wax paper and fold it in half, then use the rolling pin to flatten the cashew 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 cashew butter while it’s out of the freezer because it will start to melt immediately.

Related: How To Keep A Banana Fresh After Peeling

How to thaw cashew butter

To thaw cashew 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 cashew butter splits while it’s thawing, give it a quick stir and it will come back together.

Natural cashew butter is most prone to splitting.

If your cashew butter has additives, it’s less likely to split.

To avoid splitting, thaw the cashew 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 cashew 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 cashew butter.

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

Tips for freezing cashew 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 cashew butter in the freezer means you’ll always use it in time.

Frozen cashew butter makes a great dog treat

My dog loves frozen cashew 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 cashew butter because this is toxic to dogs.

All-natural cashew butter is best for dog treats.

How long does cashew butter last?

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

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

Does cashew butter go bad?

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

Does cashew butter freeze well?

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

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

If your cashew 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 cashew butter?

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

How To Freeze Cashew Butter

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

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Spread

Cuisine American

Servings 1 person

Calories 590 kcal

Equipment

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

Ingredients

  

• 1 portion cashew butter natural or store-bought

Instructions

 

• Portion your cashew butter into small airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Smaller portions freeze much faster.
• Put a layer of plastic wrap or wax paper over the surface of the cashew 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 cashew butter will take up to 24 hours to freeze completely, while smaller portions will freeze in as little as 3 hours.
• Cashew butter will last 6-12 months in the freezer.

Keyword cashew butter, freeze cashew butter