How Long Can You Leave Butter Out Before It Goes Rancid?

Does butter go bad? Yes! Does butter need to be refrigerated? Ideally. So how long can you leave butter out before it goes rancid? That depends. Read on for everything you need to know about storing butter.

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Does Butter Need to Be Kept in the Fridge?

A stick of butter that’s bound to be melted can start off ice cold straight from the fridge, but if you need softened butter for slathering on toast, creaming with sugar, or whipping into a fluffy buttercream frosting, you may prefer to leave it out on the counter indefinitely to keep it at that nice, spreadable consistency.

However, it’s a much better idea to keep your butter in the refrigerator, protected from heat and light.

In a typical fridge, butter will keep for as long as four months.

How Long Can You Leave Butter Out of the Fridge?

Butter usually can be kept out for several days without going rancid (salted butter will keep longer than unsalted butter because the salt acts as a preservative). Exactly how long butter will stay fresh at room temperature depends on how much heat and light it gets and whether it’s wrapped.

Room temperature is the ideal temperature for butter you’re keeping out of the refrigerator, but American homes are generally warmer than their European counterparts, so in the U.S. it’s much more common to consider butter a product that needs immediate refrigeration.

Ceramic butter crocks, or “bells,” extend butter’s life span because they keep it cool and protected.

If you have ghee, you can keep it in an air-tight container for up to three months at room temperature, or a full year in the fridge. (Since the milk solids are strained out in the process of making ghee, it lasts much longer than butter at room temperature, but it will go bad eventually.)

How Do You Tell If Butter Is Bad?

If your butter tastes stale, bitter, or has a strong smell, it’s probably rancid. Rancidity is the result of the fat oxidizing. This process is accelerated by exposure to the elements (think: the sunlight hitting your kitchen counter, your butter-loving friends and family, and contact with certain metals—for example, a butter knife).

Can You Freeze Butter?

Yes! Butter can be frozen for up to a year (longer freezing may impair flavor and texture), so if there’s a sale and you want to stock up, toss those extra sticks in the freezer—but see below for another important tip.

How to Store Butter

Room temperature, refrigerated, and frozen butter all should be stored tightly wrapped or in a covered dish, advises Emily Luchetti, executive pastry chef at San Francisco’s Farallon restaurant. “Butter can pick up so many flavors, regardless of whether it’s in the fridge or not,” Luchetti says. “Even if you leave it out, it’s best to cover it with aluminum foil.”

The California Milk Advisory Board recommends keeping butter wrapped as well (to keep it from picking up unwanted odors), and advises storing it in the coldest part of the refrigerator for optimal freshness and flavor. Butter producer Land O’Lakes advises against storing butter in the butter keeper on the fridge door, as the temperature there may be higher than elsewhere in your refrigerator.

How to Use Butter (Besides the Obvious)

You’ll have to decide for yourself whether or not to refrigerate your butter, but you can’t make the wrong choice with any of these recipes for flavored butters that will spice up any meal, below.