The Oil Trick To Stop Nutella From Solidifying

It's an indulgent, anytime treat smeared on toast. It's a socially acceptable excuse to have chocolate for breakfast. And it's a hit with all age groups and palates. Nutella, the creamy hazelnut spread, is a shelf-stable delicacy delicious on a wide range of vehicles — but without proper care and storage, it can quickly lose its creamy, spreadable texture. Immediately upon opening a jar of the sweet hazelnut spread, the consistency is perfectly silky smooth and easy to dollop out onto bread or your carb of choice. But if you've ever opened a jar that's been sitting in the pantry for a bit, you know the opened product can dry out and develop hard, crunchy bits that are less than desirable.

Before you resign yourself to crusty, crumbly, less-than-ideal Nutella, there's a quick hack to prevent the deterioration of texture before it begins. Spread a thin layer of peanut oil or any other neutral oil such as safflower oil onto the surface of the jar of Nutella before you close the lid and store it. This thin layer of oil acts as a protective coating or a seal, effectively preventing air from escaping and keeping the product from drying out. This helps preserve the just-freshly-opened, spreadable texture without altering the delicious flavor of Nutella. 

Nutella is made with pureed hazelnuts, plus added palm oil, rich cocoa, sweeteners, and ingredients like milk and vanillin. It's ready to spoon out and schmear upon opening, but if stored improperly or kept in the fridge, the oils and other ingredients can separate and solidify. There's a case to be made for storing peanut butter in the refrigerator – a little-known hack that can extend its lifespan significantly. The same logic doesn't hold up for Nutella, though you wouldn't be blamed for assuming it would. Nutella is shelf-stable, and refrigeration makes the content too stiff to spread. 

Your best strategy for preserving its texture is pantry storage, and preventing the flow of air in and out of the jar with a thin layer of oil. Apply just a bit with a pastry brush or even a paper towel. As is the case with many foods, oxygen and sunlight are two of the primary factors that alter Nutella's texture and ultimately hasten its lifespan. Keep your jar stored somewhere dry, dark, and room temperature — a pantry or cupboard is ideal — and always tightly screw on the lid. This, coupled with a layer of oil to seal out and keep moisture from escaping, should keep your Nutella stays in tip-top shape. It will stay ready to whip into an indulgent breakfast, boost a mug of hot cocoa, or spread into a rich French toast brunch treat well before it expires.