28/01/2026
Why does oil rise in your peanut butter jar?
Our peanut butter is all natural no extender and emulsifier.
Oil rises to the top of peanut butter jars because of a natural separation process, specifically in "natural" or "all-natural" brands that do not contain artificial emulsifiers or stabilizers. Peanuts are naturally high in fat, and when they are ground into butter, that oil is released. Without stabilizers to keep the mixture combined, the natural peanut oil separates from the solid particles over time.
Here is the breakdown of why this happens:
Lack of Stabilizers: Natural peanut butter typically contains only ground peanuts and sometimes salt. Without hydrogenated oils (added to traditional brands to keep them blended), the liquid oil naturally rises to the top.
Density Difference (Sedimentation): Oil is less dense than the peanut solids. Over time, gravity pulls the heavier, solid peanut particles down (sedimentation), forcing the lighter oil to the surface.
Oil is Liquid at Room Temperature: Peanut oil stays liquid at room temperature, making it easy for it to separate and form a layer.
How to Handle It:
Stir: Simply stir the oil back in.
Store Upside Down: Store the jar upside down in the pantry or fridge; this causes the oil to try to rise to the bottom, which makes it easier to mix when you flip it back.
Refrigerate: Keeping the jar in the refrigerator after opening helps slow down the separation process.
