If there's one person who's devoted to butter, it's Ree Drummond. "I wouldn't want to live in a world in which butter didn't exist," she says. But what's just as bad as a world without butter might be discovering that your butter has gone bad, which may lead you to storing your butter in the fridge. But does butter really need to be refrigerated?
This question is one that has churned up on many occasions, especially for those who like to have softened butter at a moment's notice. After all, butter that's too cold will be harder to spread on toast and more difficult for baking in certain recipes. So, should you keep butter out on your counter instead? Sure, other dairy products like milk and cream should be kept refrigerated, but the right way to store butter isn't so cut and dry. It can depend on the type of butter (for instance, salted versus unsalted), the temperature in your kitchen, and even your storage method—some people like to use a butter dish or even a crock.
So, before you stock up on even more butter, read on to learn about whether or not it’s safe to keep butter at room temperature.
Does Butter Need to Be Refrigerated?
The short answer: butter does not need to be refrigerated! Butter is safe to leave out at room temperature under certain conditions, according to the U.S. Dairy industry. But there are a few caveats!
"The more salt there is, the safer it may be to leave the butter out on the counter.," the U.S. Dairy says. In other words, it often comes down to the type of butter you use—salted, unsalted, or whipped. If you want to leave a stick of butter out on the counter for a couple of days, it's best to do so with salted butter. Unsalted or whipped butter should be kept refrigerated, the U.S. Dairy says. It's also important to note that you shouldn’t leave pounds of butter out on the counter for long periods of time—instead, simply keep a stick or two out for a couple of days and store the rest in the fridge.
Another factor to consider? Temperature. "If it creeps above 70 degrees Fahrenheit in your kitchen, all butter should go into the fridge to avoid going bad," the U.S. Dairy says. Even salted butter that is left at room temperature can still go rancid eventually, so when in doubt, keep in the fridge or store in the freezer.
How to Store Butter
Whether you opt for the fridge or the counter, the proper storing methods for butter will help to preserve its freshness for longer. When kept on the counter, use a butter dish with a lid which works to keep light and air out—ultimately preventing it from going rancid. Alternatively, you can use a butter crock (sometimes referred to as a butter bell), which is a two-piece dish that uses a small amount of cold water to keep the butter fresh and spreadable.
When storing butter in the refrigerator, you can keep the butter in the original packaging and stash it in the coldest part of your fridge (note: storing it in your refrigerator door is not ideal!).
How to Know If Butter Has Gone Bad
The best way to know if your butter has gone rancid is to use your senses. If it has a bad smell, sour taste, or visible mold, it's time to throw it out! Luckily, butter has a pretty good shelf life and can last for about four months in the fridge or up to a year in the freezer.
