Did you buy a few too many sticks of butter at the grocery store and don't foresee yourself using them anytime soon? Or are you contemplating stocking up before the holiday rush so you're prepped for all that seasonal baking? Either way, you might be wondering: Can you freeze butter?
The answer is yes, you can freeze butter. In fact, it's is a great way to make it last even longer. Butter has a pretty long shelf life in the fridge already (about four months for unsalted and six months for salted) but you can extend that time even further by freezing your favorite butter brand when you get home from the grocery store.
Of course, it needs to be stored properly to avoid freezer burn and you can't freeze it forever (it is perishable after all!). You should also know how to thaw it properly so you don't ruin your All-Butter Pie Crust. So read on for more tips on how you can freeze butter the right way!
How to Freeze Butter
Butter is best frozen in its original packaging. Just place the unwrapped sticks in their box right in the freezer. For more protection, you can also wrap the box in some plastic wrap or place in a freezer bag. If you've already opened the butter, then you should wrap each stick tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place them in a freezer bag to store.
How to Thaw Butter
There's several ways to ways to soften butter. The easiest, if you plan ahead, is just place in in the fridge overnight. Then, simply use it as you normally would. If you need melted butter right away, you're in luck! Just melt the butter straight from frozen in the microwave. These same tips work for margarine vs. butter.
Another alternative to defrosting butter faster is to grate it like you would cheese. Place a box grater over wax paper or parchment and grate the frozen butter on top. Then simply allow it to sit out at room temperature and that should soften up in a few minutes.
Different Ways to Use Frozen Butter
In certain applications, yes, you can use frozen butter. Think of recipes that call for cold butter pieces: pie crust, scone recipes, and homemade biscuits, for instance. If you use the grating trick, you can just immediately proceed with the recipe. Don't wait too long, though. You don't want it to thaw out and become too soft.
How Long Does Frozen Butter Last?
Salted butter can be frozen for up to one year, and unsalted butter for up to nine months. The salt acts as a preservative so it makes it last a bit longer than the unsalted variety. (Still, that's longer than it would last in your favorite butter dish on the kitchen countertop.)
How to Tell if Frozen Butter Has Gone Bad
If your butter has been in the freezer for longer than one year, it's time to toss it! As long as your freezer maintains its temperature then your butter will be good up to one year frozen. Label the packaging with the date you froze it so you can be sure it is still fresh.
