How Long does Butter Last in the Fridge?

Whether you use butter frequently or perhaps occasionally, you might be curious about how to keep it fresher longer without sacrificing flavor. Generally, butter lasts between six to nine months when kept in the fridge. Butter stamped with a “best by” date will remain fresh for at least a month after that date. However, it is important to store butter properly to prolong its shelf life. The shelf life of butter is a function of the production method and storage methods.

Although butter can be kept in the fridge for up to six months, there are noticeable changes in its quality and freshness after three months.

How Long Does Butter Last in the Fridge

How Long does Butter Last in the Fridge?

In the refrigerator, butter is known to last for four to five weeks. If the butter has been left on the counter at room temperature, several food safety experts advise using it up within a month or two.

A refrigerator can hold butter, a dairy product, for roughly three months. The truth is that it can last longer, but doing so will involve freezing it, where it will keep its freshness for up to three years. Butter is created by churning milk or cream into a product that has a higher moisture content than whipped cream.

How to Utilize your Frozen Butter?

Nearly as convenient as keeping butter in the fridge is keeping it in the freezer. It takes no more than 30 minutes to get it ready for usage.

If a recipe you’re working on calls for melted butter, take out the desired quantity from the freezer and melt it on the stove or in the microwave. Make sure to keep a close eye on the butter as it melts because it burns easily when it is frozen or thawed.

If a recipe calls for softened butter, place the necessary amount in a microwave-safe basin and heat for 10 minutes at a time, stirring after each minute, until the butter rains but does not melt.

Every 10 seconds, flip the butter over to ensure equal heating on both sides. If you’re not in a rush, hang some of your frozen food from the refrigerator overnight to thaw. It must be ready to employ at the next moment.

When to Toss your Butter

Any butter that has developed a bad flavor, color, or smell should be thrown away. It might make you sick and won’t do some of your recipe’s ingredients any favors. Use the butter you have if it has to be replaced until you are ready to spend more time in the store.

The Very Best Time to Stock up on Butter

Over the previous few decades, butter has increased in price significantly. Throughout the holidays, stock up on butter if you’re looking for a strategy to save money. If grocery stores anticipate a higher volume of baking during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, they will often have butter on hand.

You can stock up on butter each year and fill your freezer.

Unsalted Butter Lasts a Month in the Fridge

If kept properly, unsalted butter will last for up to a month in the fridge. It can even be left out overnight, provided the room temperature is 700F or higher. Ideally, it should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator’s main section, where it can remain as fresh as possible.

The shelf life of butter depends on how much you use it. If you’re not using it right away, butter can start to melt and cause off-flavors. Refrigerating butter can delay the onset of these odors. It can also last a month or longer when frozen.

While unsalted butter can last for a month in the fridge, it can last as much as a year in the freezer. In addition, salted butter can stay good for up to 12 months. It’s safe for consumption after this period. When purchasing unsalted butter, be sure to check the label carefully. It should be free of artificial coloring or preservatives. If there’s an unusual smell, color, or flavor, you should dispose of it. By freezing, you can stock up on the freshest butter and enjoy it for a longer period.

Salted Butter Lasts Longer

It is possible to extend the life of salted butter by storing it in an airtight container. This will also keep the flavor of the butter. It is recommended to use a butter crock, which contains a chamber of cold water. Butter also lasts longer when it is kept in the fridge.

Stored at room temperature, salted butter can last up to two weeks. However, it is not advisable to leave it on the counter for longer than two days. This is because it can absorb odors and tastes from its surroundings. Alternatively, store the butter in a butter crock, which has an airtight seal that prevents the spread from absorbing any contaminants.

Unsalted butter can be kept in the fridge for two to three weeks, or for up to six months if it is stored in an airtight container. However, salted butter will remain good for a full year if kept refrigerated.

Raw Butter should be Kept in the Fridge

The best way to store raw butter in the refrigerator is to wrap it in aluminum foil. This keeps the butter from absorbing any flavors from other foods in the fridge and protects it from freezer burn. Make sure the foil covers the entire block of butter. It is also best to place it in an airtight container.

It is important to keep butter refrigerated, especially salted butter, at temperatures over 70°F. Butter can also be stored in the freezer for up to a few months. In general, butter should be used within three weeks after it is opened. However, if you don’t want to risk consuming it too soon, leave it out for a couple of days.

There are many reasons why butter should be stored in the refrigerator. The main reason is that it helps prevent bacteria growth. Butter is highly prone to oxidization. The process of oxidization is accelerated by light, heat, and oxygen exposure. Keeping your butter in the fridge will slow the oxidization process and keep it fresh for longer.

How does One Tell if Butter is Spoilt, Rotten, or Bad?

By adhering to the necessary hygiene and food safety procedures, foodborne illness can be completely eliminated. In most cases, the best tools for figuring out whether the butter has gone rancid are your instincts. These aren’t perfect, though.

Butter that is rancid will become pale, maybe grow mildew, and either be too soft or too hard, making it difficult to spread. Additionally, butter that is rancid may smell stale, cheesy, or rotting. Of course, there are going to be a few health hazards linked with rotten goods, so always remember to practice food safety and use your food before its expiration date!

How to Thaw Frozen Butter?

Butter could be stored in the refrigerator practically as easily as other foods. It can be prepared for usage in as little as thirty seconds.

Take the quantity of butter required from the refrigerator and melt it on the stovetop or in the microwave if your recipe calls for melted butter. Keep a tight check on butter while it is melting since it burns easily whether it is frozen or thawed. If a recipe calls for softened butter, melt the butter for 10 seconds at a time in a microwave-safe container until it softens but does not melt.

Flip the butter to ensure that it cooks evenly on all sides after every ten seconds. Put some cold butter in the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight if you won’t be using it straight away. It should be ready to use the following day.

Reference: Production of an 18% protein liquid micellar casein concentrate with a long refrigerated shelf life

How should Butter be Kept to Increase its Shelf Life?

Depending on how it is kept, butter can keep a long time in the refrigerator. When you store yours in the refrigerator as soon as you receive it and each time you use it, you may help keep it fresher for longer. It must be refrigerated at 40°F or lower.

You can freeze it for up to 6 months with maintaining flavor by replacing the wax wrapper with foil or another freezer-friendly material. Just a few benefits of effective food storage include saving money on food, eating healthily, and protecting the environment by minimizing waste.

What Health Benefits can you Get from Butter?

1 tablespoon of butter has 355 IU (international units) of vitamin A, which corresponds to 10% to 15% of the daily recommended value, according to Harvard Health. The National Institutes of Health note the significance of vitamin A for your heart, lungs, kidneys, immune system, vision, and reproductive systems.

According to a Business Insider piece on what precisely gives some butter that yellow tint, butter created from grass-fed cows also has a high level of beta-carotene and omega-3 fatty acids. According to Mount Sinai, beta-carotene transforms into vitamin A in the body, providing you with additional advantages like better eye health, a robust immune system, and good skin.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, omega-3 fatty acids are a component of a heart-healthy diet, and current research indicates that they may be beneficial in preventing disorders of the brain and eyes.

How do you make sure you’re consuming butter in moderation considering that it has a few unexpected health benefits? Given that butter is primarily made up of saturated fat, it’s a good idea to include it in your daily intake of saturated fat while responding to that question. Adults should keep their daily intake of saturated fat to 10% of total calories, according to the Cleveland Clinic. According to Healthline, if you consume 2,000 calories per day, you should consume no more than 22 grams of saturated fat, or 3 tablespoons of butter, daily.

Conclusion

Butter is frequently kept in the refrigerator, but only for a brief period of time. Due to its high-fat content, butter can quickly turn rancid if kept at room temperature for an extended amount of time. Some chilled goods come with a “best by” date, but this one does not. Every household has a different preference on how long butter will keep in the fridge.