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Original poster

To keep spreadable butter in the cupboard

244 replies

willywallaby · 08/01/2026 21:05

Every time MIL comes round she moves the spreadable butter from the cupboard to the fridge and explains that it spreads straight from the fridge, so it needs to be kept in the fridge. Spreadable butter does not spread straight from the fridge though. None of the own brand ones do and Anchor doesn't. I don't know about Lurpak. MIL bakes all her own sourdough so maybe it spreads better on there. And it spreads okay on toast. But making a regular sandwich on supermarket sliced bread is a ridiculous experience with spreadable butter unless it's at room temp. I only keep spreadable butter in the fridge if the weather is hot enough to liquify the butter. Or if MIL has been round and I haven't put things right again.

OP posts:
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6
Tdcp · 09/01/2026 07:52

If you by it from the shop and it's in the fridge then it belongs in the fridge. I know people's opinions on real butter differs though but yes spreadable belongs in the fridge.

KaleidoscopeSmile · 09/01/2026 07:50

willywallaby · 08/01/2026 21:24

I don't really care about those of you who use block butter, it's not relevant. I didn't ask what butter everybody uses.

What a sweetheart you are!

May you always have rock hard spread

soupyspoon · 09/01/2026 07:42

RampantIvy · 09/01/2026 07:39

There is no such thing as 'spreadable butter' OP so you are right. The spreads that come as 'spreadable', unless they are cheap marg, do not spread at cold temps.

Yes there is, and yes they do.

There isnt because a) its not butter and b) they are not spreadable from the fridge unless you want your bread ripped to rags.

Wholenutislife · 09/01/2026 07:41

EleanorReally · 09/01/2026 06:19

people insist on putting my tomatoes in the fridge
now that is wrong

And potatoes...winds me up!

DeepTealCat · 09/01/2026 07:41

newrubylane · 08/01/2026 22:40

Of course spreadable butter lives in the fridge. Ours spreads absolutely fine. How cold is your fridge??

This! Her fridge is clearly far too cold if the spreadable butter won't spread when taken out...

soupyspoon · 09/01/2026 07:39

Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 09/01/2026 07:34

What is relevant is how salted the butter us and what the packaging says. A lot of spreadable ones do need to be kept in the fridge. Only salted butter can be kept out of the fridge unsalted should be in the fridge, the salt is the preservative. Spreadable ones have other things added to them to make them more spreadable such as oils etc and sometimes this does mean they need to be in the fridge.

Show quote history

Fat is the preservative, not the salt. There isnt enough salt in butter to 'preserve' it

Full fat and high fat products dont go off as quick. Practice with some full fat milk vs skimmed milk if you dont believe me

Last week I opened a carton of full fat milk with the use by date of 26th Dec, it was fine.

Same with low fat cheese (bleugh), goes mouldy way before proper cheese ever would.

Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 09/01/2026 07:39

willywallaby · 08/01/2026 22:54

I mean lurpak spreadable and own brand knockoffs thereof. Although I haven't tried actual lurpak, that might spread straight from the fridge. MIL herself used anchor spreadable and I used her tub straight from the fridge to make a pile of sandwiches last week. The bread got SHREDDED.

Show quote history

The thing is OP stuff like Anchor is a very different product to Lurpak? Anchor is a margarine, Lurpak spreadable is a blended butter. They aren't the same thing?

RampantIvy · 09/01/2026 07:39

There is no such thing as 'spreadable butter' OP so you are right. The spreads that come as 'spreadable', unless they are cheap marg, do not spread at cold temps.

Yes there is, and yes they do.

millymollyminging · 09/01/2026 07:39

willywallaby · 08/01/2026 21:24

I don't really care about those of you who use block butter, it's not relevant. I didn't ask what butter everybody uses.

With that attitude she probably does it to piss you off. Don’t blame her.

Tooobvious · 09/01/2026 07:39

It's kept in a fridge in the supermarket so I keep it in the fridge - but I take it out and leave it at room temp for a short time before I use it. It only takes a couple of minutes to get spreadable, so I just get plates, bread etc. ready in the meantime.

But your MIL should mind her own business. It’s a question of principle. If you want to keep it in the cupboard, do. Tell her "Thanks, but I prefer to keep it in the cupboard so please leave it there."

ChocHotolate · 09/01/2026 07:37

Clover spreads straight from the fridge, only one I’ve found that does

soupyspoon · 09/01/2026 07:37

There is no such thing as 'spreadable butter' OP so you are right. The spreads that come as 'spreadable', unless they are cheap marg, do not spread at cold temps.

Its ultimately oil and butter so can live quite happily in the cupboard.

Im a butter fiend, I have real butter, kept on the worktop.

Last night I was caught short and only had a new pack of butter which was from the fridge. I had to slice it like cheese and put that on top of my welshcake.

Was nice.

Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 09/01/2026 07:34

willywallaby · 08/01/2026 21:24

I don't really care about those of you who use block butter, it's not relevant. I didn't ask what butter everybody uses.

What is relevant is how salted the butter us and what the packaging says. A lot of spreadable ones do need to be kept in the fridge. Only salted butter can be kept out of the fridge unsalted should be in the fridge, the salt is the preservative. Spreadable ones have other things added to them to make them more spreadable such as oils etc and sometimes this does mean they need to be in the fridge.

HipHopDontYouStop · 09/01/2026 07:33

My butter is in a covered butter dish in the cupboard. It’s used up within three days. We are all alive and well.

Get rid of marge and spreadables. They’re plastic.

Your mil shouldn’t be moved by your stuff around.

Everything0Everywhere · 09/01/2026 07:31

@Noreeen I've learnt something new there!

GlassofRosePorfavor · 09/01/2026 07:25

Pretty sure my ds used one pack of flora a term 🤢 😂

Noreeen · 09/01/2026 07:20

Everything0Everywhere · 09/01/2026 07:10

What's the difference between spreadable butter and margarine? I class them as the same thing?
They need to stay in the fridge otherwise they will go off.
Only actual butter can be left out.(Block butter sold in paper)

Spreadable butter is real butter blended with oil to soften it slightly.

Margarine is vegetable oil, emulsifiers, colouring etc.

Everything0Everywhere · 09/01/2026 07:10

What's the difference between spreadable butter and margarine? I class them as the same thing?
They need to stay in the fridge otherwise they will go off.
Only actual butter can be left out.(Block butter sold in paper)

Comtesse · 09/01/2026 07:00

Spreadable butter is minging, yabu.

Twinkletwinkly · 09/01/2026 06:58

I found this info about why should the spreadable varieties be stored in the fridge …
Bacterial Growth: The added moisture and oil create a more favorable environment for bacteria to grow compared to traditional butter, so the fridge is crucial for safety.

You’ve maybe been lucky so far but food poisoning from dairy products can be extremely nasty. In this instance I’d listen to your mother in law.

MadamCholetsbonnet · 09/01/2026 06:56

I am Team MIL.

Spreadable butter is sold refrigerated and needs to be kept in the fridge. It says so on the packaging.

Peridoteage · 09/01/2026 06:54

I use spreadable butter straight from the fridge with no problems.

It goes VERY soft almost runny if left out

It will depend on:

  • your fridge temp (mine is set at 4 degrees)
  • your house temperature (mine is typically 19 degrees)

If you keep your house cooler it may be it stays ok out of the fridge

Picoloangel · 09/01/2026 06:54

I’ve used this for years and have always kept it in cupboard unless it’s very hot.

Tumbleweed101 · 09/01/2026 06:51

I keep mine in the fridge but some brands are more spreadable than others from the fridge. I’m using Clover at the moment and that’s ok. I’ve used flora before and that wasn’t so much, for example.