Butter can be stored in the refrigerator, freezer or covered at room temperature. Even though most people keep butter in the fridge, all types of butter can be frozen without significantly affecting the quality. The salted butter and ghee can even be kept at room temperature so they are always soft and ready to use. Most producers make butters without waiting for them to be kept in the fridge when they leave the market, so just take proper care and you can store your butter almost anywhere!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Keeping the Butter in the Refrigerator
Step 1. Roll the butter in the original packaging or foil
Butter can be stored in the refrigerator in the container it came in as long as it is well sealed. If the packaging has torn or broken and you can't seal it, wrap it with aluminum foil so it stays fresh.
Step 2. Place the butter in the fridge away from other foods
Butter bins keep butter separate from other things in the fridge, which prevents it from absorbing the flavors and smells of other foods. Leave the butter in this compartment, or if you don't have it, put it away from other things that have a strong smell or taste.
Both salted and unsalted butters will stay fresh packaged in the fridge for three weeks or so
Step 3. Roll the butter twice so it will last longer if you are not going to use it soon
You can make butter last longer if you wrap it twice in aluminum foil before putting it in the fridge. If you don't think you're going to use the butter within three weeks of buying it, pack it one more time and store it away from other foods.
Butter with salt can last a few more weeks if it is packaged twice. The unsalted one will only last another week, so use it as soon as you can
Method 2 of 3: Freezing Butter
Step 1. Cut the butter into ¼ cup pieces to make it easier to thaw
Not all recipes call for an entire tablet of butter, so cut it into smaller pieces to make it easier to thaw when you need it. You can cut it into 2 cm pieces or measure ¼ cup portions.
- The size you are going to cut doesn't matter. You can increase or decrease the size depending on how you usually use the butter.
- It is not necessary to cut before freezing. You can freeze tablets or whole blocks, just remember that you have to thaw everything when you want to use the butter.
- Thaw the butter in the same way you would to soften butter left over in the fridge. You can leave it at room temperature, grate, heat it or just refrigerate it until ready to use.
Step 2. Protect the butter by wrapping it tightly with aluminum foil
Don't let the butter get frostbite or absorb the smells in the freezer. Wrap it tightly with aluminum foil so that no part is exposed to air.
Step 3. Place the packaged butter inside a plastic bag to freeze food
For better protection, place the butter wrapped with aluminum foil inside a plastic freezer bag. You can place several pieces of packaged butter inside it, depending on how much space you have in the freezer.
Consider using reusable plastic bags because they are better for the environment
Step 4. Write the freezing date and type of butter on the plastic bag
Butter with salt will last in the freezer for a year and butter without salt for about three months. Note the date you put the butter in the freezer on the outside of the plastic bag to see how long it has been there.
If you want to store both salted and unsalted butter in the same plastic bag, you will have to mark which is which individually
Method 3 of 3: Keeping Butter at Room Temperature
Step 1. Choose the salted butter to store at room temperature
Bacteria are less likely to proliferate in salted butter because of the high fat and salt content. Therefore, salted butter can be kept at room temperature for two to three weeks.
- Unsalted or whipped butter should not be left out of the fridge, as it will spoil quickly.
- You can also store the ghee at room temperature because its milk content is quite low. This means it doesn't spoil as fast as other dairy products.
- If it's hot and you don't have air conditioning, it's probably too hot in the kitchen to leave the butter out. If you don't want to find it melted or spoiled when the temperature is high, leave it in the fridge.
Step 2. Seal the butter well by placing it in a closed jar or a specially made butter jar
You can buy a special airtight butter pot or use any sealed pot to keep the butter out of the fridge. You just need to find a pot that doesn't expose the butter to air when you're not using it.
Pots made especially for butters use a vacuum seal. If you are concerned about exposure to air, consider purchasing one of these
Step 3. Do not leave the sealed butter in contact with heat
Do not leave butter near the stove or other appliances. Too much heat causes the butter to spoil or melt and make a nice mess. The best place to store it is on a table or counter, away from any appliance that heats food.
Step 4. Avoid cross contamination with utensils when using butter
Bacteria from utensils made to put food in your mouth or stir it in pans will contaminate the butter and make it spoil faster. Set aside a spoon or strainer especially to use with the butter and do not use it for anything else.
