花生酱要不要放进冰箱冷藏？

If you’ve been refrigerating your peanut butter, though, it may shock you to know that many people don’t — and peanut butter is actually perfectly safe at room temperature. That said, there are reasons you may prefer to keep peanut butter cold; that depends on your preferences and on what kind of peanut butter you keep on hand. But first: the safety question.

Peanut butter is one of those foods that you don't need to refrigerate. If the jar hasn’t been opened, you can expect it to last in the pantry (食品贮藏室) for six to nine months. After opening, it’s good for two to three months. Peanut butter is given as an example of a food that is “safe indefinitely.” It may take on a stale flavor or an unappetizing texture (口感) or color over the years, but it’s not likely to kill you. 

How is this possible? A jar of peanut butter is mostly oil and solids. Like dairy butter, peanut butter just doesn’t have enough water in it to be a hospitable place for germs to grow.

So peanut butter is safe at room temperature. That doesn’t mean it’s bad to keep it in the fridge, so here’s where you’ll have to consider a few other factors.

The first is how long it takes you to go through a jar of peanut butter. Many people have no problem eating their way through the jar in a matter of weeks or, for some of us, days. But if you tend to have the same jar sitting around for months on end — longer than the two to three months — it will stay fresher if you keep it in the fridge. 

The other consideration is texture. If you use a natural peanut butter that tends to separate into oil and solids, you can mix it thoroughly and then store it in the fridge. That way, the peanut butter will stay mixed longer. On the other hand, if you like your peanut butter to be as spreadable as possible, you may prefer the softer texture that comes with storing it in the pantry.

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1.What does the second paragraph tell us?

A Unrefrigerated peanut butter is unsafe.

B Refrigerating peanut butter changes its color.

C The flavor of peanut butter always keeps the same.

D Opened peanut butter can keep over half a year.

解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据第二段的“Peanut butter is given as an example of a food that is “safe indefinitely.””以及“but it’s not likely to kill you”可知，可知，花生酱被列为“无限期安全”食品的一个例子，即它可以无保质期，且不太可能杀死你（对你不利）。故选D。

2.What does the underlined word “hospitable” probably mean?

A Healthy.

B Suitable.

C Necessary.

D Safe.

解析：选B。B词义猜测题。根据上一段可知，花生酱不放冰箱也是安全的，接下来本段讲的是原因，结合划线部分前后文可知，花生酱的主要成分是油和固体，没有足够的水分，无法成为细菌生长的温床。故选B。

3.What is suggested if you can finish a jar of peanut butter in a month?

A Storing it in the pantry.

B Keeping it in the fridge.

C Buying dairy butter instead.

D Keeping it in the freezing room.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据倒数第二段可知，对于那些需要几个月才能吃完一瓶花生酱的人来说，把它放在冰箱会更新鲜，但是许多人能在几周内甚至几天内就能吃完一瓶花生酱，这样就可以放在储藏室就行了。故选A。

4.When will you keep peanut butter in the fridge?

A When you prefer soft texture.

B When you love natural peanut butter.

C When you want it more spreadable.

D When you want to separate its oil and solids.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据最后一段可知，如果你用的是天然花生酱（这种花生酱容易分解成油和固体），这时你就可以把它充分混合，然后放在冰箱里。故选B。