The Only Way You Should Store Butter, According To Land O' Lakes
It's not in the fridge door.
Caitlin Bensel
Whether or not you can leave butter out on the counter is a common storage debate, as is whether you should store butter in its wrapper or can put it in the freezer. With so many questions about how to store butter, we consulted the experts at Land O' Lakes about the dos and don'ts. The more than one hundred-year-old company knows a thing or two about butter, and gave us pointers for how to keep butter fresh, safe to eat, and not absorbing odors.
The Best Way to Store Butter
Although many like to leave their butter out on the counter, Land O' Lakes says it's best to keep it in the fridge if you don't plan to use it within a few hours.
"The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require that most dairy products be stored in refrigerated conditions, including butter. If you take butter out of the fridge, do not leave it at room temperature for more than four hours because this can affect its color and flavor," says Tonja Engen, Culinary Product and Content Manager at Land O’ Lakes.
If you need to soften butter quickly, say for a last minute baking project, check out our guide here.
Meet Our Expert
Tonja Engen is the Culinary Product and Content Manager at Land O’ Lakes. She develops strategic recipe content and concepts for all products and channels, provides culinary trend insights, and manages culinary photo and video shoots.
Best Practices for Storing Butter
Aside from food safety, proper butter storage helps ensure that the product you purchase stays fresh and tasting like the rich, creamy ingredient it is. (And not like whatever else is in your fridge.)
"Fresh butter should have a delicate cream flavor and pale-yellow color. Butter quickly picks up off-flavors during storage so it’s important to keep it away from foods with strong odors, such as onions or garlic," says Engen.
To keep the butter from spoiling, it's important to keep the product nice and cold, which is why the fridge door, one of the least cold places in the fridge, is not an ideal spot for storing, despite the butter compartments built into them. (It's also not a great place to store eggs, milk, or other dairy for the same reason.)
"Store butter in its original packaging in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not in the refrigerator door, for no longer than one week beyond the date printed on the package. Once the carton has been opened, place it in a resealable plastic bag or airtight container and store in refrigerator," says Engen.
How to Freeze Butter for Longer Storage
Freezing butter is a great way to extend its shelf life but there are a few things to keep in mind before simply tossing it into the freezer.
Land O'Lakes recommends freezing sticks in their original carton.
They also advise using your frozen butter within four months, if it is frozen before the expiration date on the package.
To soften the frozen butter, Land O'Lakes recommends letting it thaw in the refrigerator overnight, but it can also be quickly softened by grating the frozen butter on a box grater. The shreds will quickly soften in a few minutes at room temperature. For less cleanup, they suggest grating the butter onto a piece of wax or parchment paper, allowing you to easily transfer it to a bowl or plate.
Related: Can You Freeze Butter?
How to Tell if Butter Has Gone Bad
Worried your butter has gone bad? Here's what Land O' Lakes says to look for when you suspect your butter might no longer be good to use.
"As mentioned, fresh butter has a delicate cream flavor and is pale-yellow in color. If the butter has gone bad, it will smell bad, and the flavor will begin to taste sour. Another sign is the color of the butter will turn a darker shade of yellow. If this happens, it will be best to toss the butter out," says
Engen.
We would also note that any signs of mold are another indicator that the butter is spoiled. As always, when in doubt, toss it out.
Related: 11 Types of Butter—And How To Use Them
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