Storing butter outside fridge

[paulmccartneysbagel]

Hi,

I'm trying to change some habits and lower the amount of UPFs my family has. One change I would like to try is real butter rather than spread.

Those that store butter outside the fridge - whats the best way? How long will it last before it goes bad?

I've cut off about a third of a block and left it in a butter dish on the counter. But I'm not sure how long it will last in this weather 🥵

It lasts for ages even in this heat. We use a block every three to four weeks and leave the whole block in the butter dish and have had it go off in the UK. Once it went rancid when we lived in Hong Kong but that butter must have been there for two months.

Doh. Never had it go off in the uk

We don't really find that butter goes rancid either. And it's pretty obvious if it has, as it smells really cheesy!

Just keep the butter dish in a coolish, darkish spot and you should be fine!

I use block butter. I put it in a butter dish with a lid and then keep it inside a cupboard. I haven't had one go rancid yet.

It's also worth noting that butter freezes exceptionally well so you can stock up when it's on offer!

Yes that’s fine. We live somewhere hot and I just do 1/3 block out in peak summer and it’s never gone off. I put a whole block out in winter, and it’s always 20 degrees in kitchen still and it’s fine

I keep a whole block in a thick glass dish with a lid in a darkish place on the counter top and I’ve never had it go off . We get through a block in 4/5 days usually .

Also it will last longer if it’s salted butter rather than unsalted. But both last fine. Butter has been around for a lot longer than fridges have.

Put it in a butter dish. It won't go off. There is a reason that fat is used in preserving of food. My grandparents never put butter in the fridge, always just on the table.

I am only one that uses butter in the house, so keep small portion in mini dish
and ad new butter as needed.

If you can cover it, it last longer. Oxygen is the main problem rather than heat

Thank you everyone! That's a resounding "it'll be fine"!

I have a butter dish but may invest in a better one.

Mine is in a lidded glass butter dish

Very very good point 😊

I felt sorry for DH trying to spread cold butter in the winter (kept on worktop) so bought him an electric butter dish as a bit of a novelty present.

https://alfille.co.uk/

It has worked really well, keeps butter at spreading temperature in winter and it isn't melting now.

We use a little square plastic tub from IKEA which is about 2 inches square.
We just cut off a 'slice' from the block then keep it in the tub on the counter. Airtight so it doesn't go off, and yes it will go soft in hot weather but won't melt unless it's in direct sunlight.
It's the best solution ever. With bigger butter dishes the butter doesn't get used up fast enough and the butter gets air exposure which makes it urgh.

We've a few of these tubs all the same size from an IKEA set and the butter slice fits perfectly.
Just fire the empty on in the dishwasher and get out a new one.

Also if it's a bit hard in colder weather 3 seconds in the microwave softens it spreadable on bread consistency.

I live in a hot country. Butter still stays out of the fridge (for most of the year!). We just keep ours in a bowl.

Hmm I find my butter does go off relatively quickly if not refrigerated. After about 2 days I can taste it going off and it's quite unpleasant. So, I keep it refrigerated and try to take a bit out in advance if I plan to use some.

We use unsalted French butter. I don't know if that explains it at all

We've always left our butter outside the fridge. When very warm so that it is going too soft we will put in the fridge, but that rarely happens. Never know it go bad. It is unsalted.

PS - we keep it in a ceramic butter dish in a fairly shady but not particularly cool spot.

I keep had a block at time in screaming butter dish.
It's never gone off.

Usually if ours has gone off it takes about 10 days in the middle of summer (only unsalted, have never had salted go off).

I've never had any go off, I keep it in various butter dishes.
If you're not sure though op get a French butter dish. It has water in the bottom to seal out the air.

Butter dish. Always fine, it doesn't hang around that long in our house! If very melty just cook with it instead

I've never had butter go off either! Cermaic butter dish and the only time it goes in the fridge is if it is so warm it starts to melt.