You might be taking a long trip or trying to prepare for the week but it’s always good to know how long a peanut butter and jelly sandwich last so you don’t waste money and food.
The good news is that there are a ton of ways to store your sandwiches that will keep your food fresh for long enough to eat them.
Keep reading to learn how long your sandwiches will last and what you can do to keep them fresh for even longer.
How Long Does a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Last For?
A peanut butter and Jelly sandwich will last for about three or four days at room temperature. If you refrigerate it, it will last for about a week. If you freeze it, it can last for up to two months. Peanut butter and jelly do not contain any ingredients that are perishable so they will last longer than other meals.
How long Does PB&J Last In the Fridge?
You’ll be able to keep a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the fridge for about a week as long as you keep it stored in the right way.
You could just keep it in a napkin and it would probably be fine but the most ideal way to store them is in wax or parchment paper.
Keeping them in the fridge helps the sandwich preserve longer because the cold doesn’t allow bacteria and other harmful toxins to your food.
Bacteria thrive at any temperature between 40 and 140 degrees so the longer your food stays in this zone the more quickly it will become rotten.
If you really want to store your sandwiches for a while you can even freeze them.
It’s the ideal way to keep them fresh for a longer period of time compared to room temperature or the fridge.
Will Peanut Butter Go Bad Eventually?
It takes a long time for peanut butter to go bad because it contains a high level of fats and a low level of moisture.
This combination is harmful to bacteria that will try to grow on your nut butter causing it to last longer than other foods without harming you.
The additional preservatives that are present in most commercially produced peanut butter also add to the shelf life.
Although peanut butter can last much longer on your kitchen shelf you should really only keep it for two or three months if it’s been opened and not kept in the fridge.
If you haven’t opened up your jar yet, you should be able to keep it for up to 24 months if your pantry doesn’t get above 85 degrees.
Be considerate of these estimates if you purchase mostly organic peanut butter.
The more organic versions don’t have all the preservatives that keep peanut butter fresh so you’ll want to consult the label.
Will Jelly Go Bad Eventually?
The USDA actually weighed in on jams and jellys and their shelf life so people don’t need to figure it out themselves.
Just like peanut butter jelly doesn’t contain perishables that make it go bad quickly.
The only difference about jelly compared to peanut butter is that most people stick it in the fridge immediately after opening and using it once.
You don’t have to do this as a jelly contains enough water activity to preserve outside of the fridge but there is no question it helps keep the jelly more fresh.
If unopened you can leave a jar of jelly in your pantry for up to 12 months and it will still be good.
Making your own jelly at home can be even better because of the method used for preservation.
Boiling the jelly in a can removes almost all of the air inside the container and if stored in a dark place could last you a couple of years.
Once you do open up your jar of jelly you will need to stick it in the fridge and it should last for around six months.
How to Spot a Bad PB&J Sandwich
I’ve learned one of the ways you’ll be able to spot a bad peanut butter and jelly is by looking at the bread.
Bread will rot much faster than your other two ingredients so you’ll see signs of mold appear after a day or two if it’s left out.
Mycotoxins are what the mold is made of and they will cause significant damage to your body if ingested.
Any presence of mold and don’t even second guess it, just throw the sandwich away. You wouldn’t want to take the risk.
The smell is going to be the other method in which you can tell if a sandwich is bad.
Anything kind of rancid smell and your sandwich has turned bad.
More than likely, microbes have found their way into your peanut butter and jelly, causing your sandwich to go bad.
Frequently Asked Questions About How Long is a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Good For
How Do You Store Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches?
The best way to store a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is to wrap it in wax paper or parchment paper and stick it in the fridge. By wrapping it and keeping it in a cooled area, you are lowering the risk of contaminants and your sandwich will last longer.
How Long Do Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches Last in the Freezer?
You can store a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the freezer for up to a month if wrapped tightly where there is no air circulation. The better you can wrap your sandwich the longer it will last. You can remove the sandwich the day of when you want to eat it.
Storing Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
You can store your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in a bunch of different ways and they will still hold for longer than a lot of other meals.
The best way to store them is in colder temperatures tightly wrapped in some kind of container or wrap.