Another option is a French butter dish (also known as a ceramic butter crock or French butter keeper), which is a special dish that allows you to keep room counter butter fresh for about a month.
According to the USDA, butter is safe at room temperature. But if it's left out for several days at room temperature, it can turn rancid causing off flavors. The USDA does not recommend leaving it out more than one to two days.
The butter crock, also known as a butter bell or butter keeper, is a two-piece contraption that keeps butter fresh on the counter for up to 30 days. The butter goes in the “bell,” which you place in the water-filled crock. This device keeps butter smooth and spreadable for whenever you need it.
Leave It Out, but Not for Too Long
They've even suggested a lenient stance that butter, when properly covered, is okay to be left at room temperature for a couple days. Food scientist Harold McGee also agrees that keeping butter at room temperature for a few days is just fine.
Salted butter is less prone to going bad on the counter than unsalted butter. If you're a serious supporter of leaving butter out, go with the salted kind. It's important to note, however, that the amount of salt in different brands of butter can vary.
Pop the bell into the crock and the water level will rise around the bell, sealing it off and keeping it cool. Change the water every two to four days to keep things fresh. 4. Store on the counter or in the pantry, away from direct heat or sunlight, to prevent the butter from melting.
The butter cone is then placed, butter side down into the cup containing the water. Until you get used to using it, you should do this step over the sink, as water may overflow out. After a few goes, you'll figure out just how much water you need by sight, but to be clear… the butter should touch the water.
If you buy butter far in advance of use, store butter in the freezer. Freezing butter does not alter the taste or texture of butter. If you use butter frequently, keep it in the refrigerator away from aromatic foods (such as garlic or onions) because butter absorbs odors easily.
The shelf life of butter varies, depending on your storage method. Typically, butter will last in the refrigerator for up to two weeks but will keep at room temperature for up to two days if stored in an airtight container away from direct sunlight. In the freezer, butter will last for up to nine months.
“If the butter has only been on the counter at room temperature for a few hours or overnight and has maintained a temperature below 70°F, it should be just fine to place back in the fridge,” says Ryan.
How Long Should Butter Sit Out To Be Room Temperature? To soften butter, we recommend leaving it on the kitchen counter for 30 minutes to an hour. Keep in mind that the speed at which your butter will soften depends on the temperature of your kitchen.
Any sour or off-putting smell means it's a goner. Same goes for taste: If it tastes sour or off, toss it out. 5 And don't worry, a small taste of rancid butter won't hurt you. Of course any visible mold, discoloration, and changes in texture are visible cues that it's time to throw the butter in the trash.
A butter crock has two parts: the bottom crock and the lid, which has an upside-down bowl attached to it. The crock is where you place the water, and then you spread your stick of butter into the lid. The water ensures the butter remains at a safe room temperature and soft.
You want enough water to where it is coming in contact with the lip of your lid cavity once you put it back on the base. You will want to refill your water about once a week. I also like to add in a pinch of salt to prevent mold from forming when my kids inevitably drop their crumbs and jelly into the water.
For the uninitiated, a butter keeper inverts the familiar butter dish, and then dunks it in water—it's only a little less weird than it sounds. The keeper is essentially a ceramic or stone crock with a lid that fits deeply inside. To use one, you let your butter soften to the point it just becomes malleable.
The lid is placed upside down back into the base. The water creates an airtight seal that preserves the freshness of the butter while keeping it at room temperature. The secret to keeping your butter fresh and spreadably soft is to keep a butter crock on your counter.
Perhaps you are using a high buttermilk butter, and as salt facilitates the removal of buttermilk, if the butter was not properly worked relative to salt content you may be seeing either buttermilk or casein precipitant on the surface. Also, the buttermilk may not have been well washed out.
Butter and margarine can both be stored at room temperature, but be mindful of a few things. The USDA recommends only leaving out an amount of butter that can be used within two days. After two days, the butter may taste rancid. So if you leave out just a little at a time, you won't have to worry about food waste.
It's fine to leave unsalted butter out on the counter for a few hours if you're planning to bake with it, but if you're going to leave any butter out at room temperature for an extended period of time, make it salted. That's because the salt in salted butter adds extra protection against any sort of bacterial growth.
Freshly laid eggs need to be refrigerated immediately. Fresh eggs purchased from a farmers market need to be refrigerated as soon as you get home. Per USDA guidelines, eggs should be stored at 40 degrees F or below to help minimize the risk of Salmonella.