Yes, butter should generally be kept in the fridge to maintain freshness and prevent it from going rancid, especially if you won't use it within a few days, but you can keep a small amount of salted butter on the counter in a covered dish for easy spreading if your kitchen isn't too warm. Unsalted, whipped, or cultured butters should always be refrigerated, and always store butter away from light, air, and strong odors like garlic or onions.
Unsalted, whipped or raw, unpasteurized butter is best kept in the fridge to minimize the chances of bacterial growth (4). Salted butter does not need to be stored in the fridge since the risk of bacterial growth is so low.
Should You Leave Butter on the Counter? 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 for more than one to two days.
Drawers are a better spot – as long as your butter isn't next to stinkers like onions or garlic as it'll absorb the flavors. If your butter is going to be around for more than a few days, fridge it. Or you can freeze it for months at a time, as long as you wrap it up tight in foil or a freezer bag first.
According to the USDA, you can leave butter out of the fridge at room temperature for a short period of time, usually one to two days, as long as your kitchen temperature is not too high (below 70 degrees Fahrenheit); however, for optimal freshness, it's best to store butter in the refrigerator.
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.
Smell: If butter smells sour, cheesy, or otherwise off, discard. Taste: If you notice a sour, bitter, or off flavor, discard. If the butter simply absorbed flavors from nearby garlic or onions in the refrigerator, it's still safe to use in cooking (although you might want to avoid using it for baking applications).
Dairy Australia advises: Always check the use-by date, to ensure natural freshness and quality. Butter is best kept refrigerated at 4˚C, protected from light and sealed in its original container or wrapping until it is used as it readily absorbs odours from other foods.
Use a clean, dry butter dish with a tight-fitting lid, and store it in a cool spot away from direct sunlight or the stove. For food safety, stick to storing salted butter in a dish on the counter and keep unsalted and flavored butters in the fridge unless you're serving them soon.
If you go to a French home, you may see butter on the counter. People store butter in a special dish called a butter keeper or butter bell. This smart dish uses water to make a seal. The seal keeps butter fresh and soft every day.
European homes often leave butter out on the counter. This makes butter soft and easy to spread. People do this because it is a tradition. European butter has more butterfat, so it stays fresh longer.
Butter will usually bear an expiration date on its packaging, but remember: use-by, best-by, and sell-by dates are indicators of quality, not food safety. So while it's best practice to consume your butter before you reach those dates, it's generally safe to go beyond them, as long as you refrigerate or freeze it.
Butter also consists of at least 80% fat, and bacteria needs water to grow. Since butter is mostly fat, it creates a barrier that makes it almost impenetrable to bacteria. Another factor determining how long butter is safe to be left on the counter is the presence of salt.
How long does butter last in the refrigerator? Of course, if it's the height of summer or your kitchen is particularly warm, that butter is best moved to the refrigerator. In the fridge, it will last about a month past the package date if unopened and about two weeks past the package date once opened.
The short answer is yes, you can. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have consistently said that you can store butter on the counter for a few days without it going bad (rejoice, room temperature butter fans!
Not enough to promote significant bacteria growth. This is especially the case with salted butter, since salt inhibits the growth of bacteria. Salted butter will keep for weeks at room temperature.
If you buy butter far in advance of use, store butter in the freezer. This is the best way, as 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.
Does butter go bad if I don't refrigerate it? Butter that is not refrigerated may become darker in color and the taste and odor may change over time. That is why it is best to keep butter refrigerated.
LURPAK® QUALITY BUTTER SINCE 1901
We have had an uncompromising approach to making real, quality lactic butter since 1901. Made only with the highest quality ingredients Lurpak® butter has a distinctive, creamy delicate and fresh taste.
The healthiest butter in Australia is generally considered grass-fed butter, like Westgold, due to its higher omega-3s and CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid), but for a heart-healthier choice, nutritionally dense spreads with plant sterols or lower saturated fat, such as those with olive oil or canola, are often recommended over traditional butter by dietitians. Always check nutrition panels for low saturated fat and trans fat, especially with Western Star or Devondale if choosing dairy.
Food held between 5oC and 60oC for less than 2 hours can be used, sold or put back in the refrigerator to use later. Food held between 5oC and 60oC for 2-4 hours can still be used or sold, but can't be put back in the fridge. Food held between 5oC and 60oC for 4 hours or more must be thrown away.
TRUST YOUR SENSES: LOOK, SMELL, AND TASTE BEFORE YOU WASTE
Look at it: if you notice any mold or discoloration, it's best to throw it out. Next, smell it. Fresh butter has a mild, creamy scent. If it smells sour or rancid, it's time to discard it.
Unless you can see any visible signs of expiration or notice a sour, unpleasant smell, it's generally safe to use expired butter.
If you have salted butter in your fridge, Chapman says you're even more in the clear. “Microbes don't like salt,” he says, saying they're less likely to grow in foods with a high concentration of the mineral. Eating spoiled butter isn't harmful in the long run, but it can cause vomiting or diarrhea.