By Better Living | Created at 2026-10-03 22:59:51 | Updated at 2026-10-03 23:35:31
1 hour ago
You’ve probably had this happen: a jar of Nutella ends up in the fridge, maybe because anything with milk in it feels safer cold, and the next morning you’re trying to dig a knife into what feels like a hazelnut-flavored brick. That’s not bad luck. Ferrero, the company that makes Nutella, tells you not to refrigerate it, and says exactly why.
Does Nutella need to be refrigerated?
The short answer: No. Ferrero says to store Nutella at room temperature, 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C), in a cool, dry place with the lid closed tightly, and not to refrigerate it because it will harden and become difficult to spread. It’s a texture issue, not a safety one. If yours has already been in the fridge, Nutella’s U.S. FAQ says to leave it at room temperature for 24 hours and it will soften.
For shelf life and how to tell if a jar has actually gone bad, see our companion post: does Nutella go bad. For a complete pantry storage reference, see our Food Storage Guide.
Key Takeaways
- Nutella doesn’t need refrigeration, and Ferrero advises against it. Its food service FAQ gives 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C) as the storage range.
- Cold makes it hard and difficult to spread. Nutella’s U.S. FAQ says the texture changes below about 65°F, so a chilly winter pantry can do it too.
- Heat causes the opposite problem: Ferrero says excessive heat speeds flavor loss and can make the oils separate. Stirring well should bring it back together.
- Opening the jar doesn’t change any of this. Ferrero says Nutella’s 12-month shelf life holds even after opening, at room temperature.
Why the Fridge Turns Nutella Into a Brick
The answer is palm oil, Nutella’s second ingredient. Ferrero says it chose palm oil partly because it’s naturally semi-solid at room temperature, which gives the spread its smooth texture without hydrogenation (Nutella’s palm oil page explains this). Chill it and that fat firms up further, taking the whole spread with it. Ferrero’s food service FAQ puts it plainly: “Do not refrigerate Nutella, otherwise it will harden and become difficult to spread.” Refrigerating it isn’t dangerous. It just defeats the point of a spread.
What Too Much Heat Does
Warmth causes the opposite problem. Ferrero says excessive heat speeds up flavor loss and can make the oils in Nutella separate, leaving a layer of oil on top. Nutella’s U.S. FAQ says stirring well should bring it back together. That’s why the guidance lands on a moderate range rather than “keep it cold” or “keep it warm.”
Why It’s Safe Out of the Fridge
Nutella’s U.S. ingredient list is sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, skim milk powder, fat-reduced cocoa, soy lecithin and vanillin. The milk is a dried powder, not fresh milk, and Ferrero says the spread has no artificial colors or preservatives. A spread that’s mostly sugar and fat with very little water leaves spoilage microbes little to work with. That’s our explanation of the food science rather than a Ferrero statement, but it’s why the manufacturer treats the pantry, not the fridge, as the normal place for an opened jar.
How to Fix a Jar That Got ColdNutella’s U.S. FAQ says to keep the jar at ambient temperature, 65 to 75°F, for the next 24 hours and it will soften. Give it a good stir once it does. If you need some soft right away, spoon a portion into a bowl and let it sit out for a few minutes while the rest of the jar warms up.
Quick Storage Reference
- Pantry or cabinet, 64 to 75°F: Correct, per Ferrero. Lid closed tight.
- Refrigerator: Not recommended. Ferrero says it hardens and becomes difficult to spread.
- Next to the stove or in a sunny spot: Avoid. Ferrero says excessive heat speeds flavor loss and can separate the oils.
Does Nutella Need to Be Refrigerated FAQ
What happens if you accidentally refrigerate Nutella?
It hardens and becomes difficult to spread, but it isn’t unsafe. Nutella’s U.S. FAQ says to leave the jar at room temperature, 65 to 75°F, for 24 hours and it will soften.
Does opened Nutella need to be refrigerated?
No. Ferrero’s storage advice is the same for opened and unopened jars, and it says Nutella’s 12-month shelf life holds even after opening. See does Nutella go bad for the details.
See also
Why does Nutella harden in the fridge but not on the counter?
Palm oil, its second ingredient, is semi-solid at room temperature and firms up in the cold. Nutella’s U.S. FAQ says the texture changes below about 65°F.
Is it ever necessary to refrigerate Nutella?
No. If your kitchen runs hot in summer, well above 75°F, move the jar to the coolest cabinet in the house rather than the fridge.
Where’s the best place to store Nutella in the kitchen?
A pantry or cabinet that stays between about 64 and 75°F, away from the stove, oven, dishwasher and sunny windows. Keep the lid closed tightly between uses.
Further Reading
- Does Nutella Go Bad?
- Does Peanut Butter Need to Be Refrigerated?
- Should Honey Be Refrigerated?
- Foods You Should Never Refrigerate
- Complete Food Storage Guide: 120+ Foods
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