There is a canister of cocktail peanuts from the holidays, or a bag of in-shell peanuts you meant to roast, and you can’t remember when you bought it. Do peanuts go bad? They do, through rancidity and mold. Here is what the National Peanut Board, university extension guides, USDA and FDA say about shelf life, storage and spoilage.
Do peanuts go bad?
The Short Answer: Yes. Peanuts can turn rancid or grow mold, especially with heat or moisture. The National Peanut Board lists bagged peanuts, in the shell or out, at 1 to 2 months in the pantry and 4 to 6 months in the refrigerator. It lists unopened cans or jars at 2 years. These are quality estimates, not a promise of safety. Discard peanuts with visible mold, because USDA lists nuts among foods to throw out when moldy and FDA names peanuts among the foods most susceptible to aflatoxins. A normal look and smell can’t rule out harmful bacteria, per UC.
For a complete pantry and fridge reference, see our Food Storage Guide. For peanut products, see whether peanut butter goes bad, whether peanut butter needs to be refrigerated and whether PB2 goes bad. For other nuts, see whether almonds, pecans, pistachios and walnuts go bad.
Peanuts: At a Glance
Pantry (room temperature)
1 to 2 months for bagged peanuts, in the shell or out (National Peanut Board). Kansas State and NDSU list 4 months for unopened in-shell nuts
Refrigerator (40°F or colder)
4 to 6 months (National Peanut Board). NDSU lists 4 to 6 months for opened nuts, and NCHFP lists one year for nuts
Freezer (0°F or colder)
Kansas State says to freeze for longer storage. NCHFP lists 1 to 3 years for nuts, depending on the type
Unopened cans or jars
2 years (National Peanut Board). Kansas State lists 3 months and NDSU 1 year for an unopened vacuum can of nuts
Moldy peanuts
Discard them. USDA lists legumes and nuts under “Discard”
Rancid peanuts
UC says rancid nuts are not unsafe, but quality is poor. We’d throw them away
“Best by” date
A quality date, not a safety date, per USDA
Best storage
Cold, sealed and dry
Key Takeaways
The National Peanut Board lists bagged peanuts, in the shell or out, at 1 to 2 months in the pantry and 4 to 6 months in the refrigerator, and says to store peanuts in airtight containers.
UC’s consumer nut guide says peanuts are a legume, not a tree nut, and that its storage, safe handling and allergy information applies to peanuts as well as tree nuts. It lists no peanut-specific times.
USDA’s mold page lists peanut butter, legumes and nuts under “Discard” when moldy, and says not to sniff a moldy item.
FDA says the foods most susceptible to aflatoxins include peanuts, and that regularly eating foods with aflatoxins can increase the risk of liver cancer. FDA’s nonbinding compliance guidance says it may consider peanuts and peanut products with more than 20 parts per billion of total aflatoxins to be adulterated.
UC says refrigeration and freezing do not destroy the bacteria
