Do You Need To Refrigerate Butter? Here's The Definitive Answer.

We love butter almost as much as Paula Deen does . And it’s irksome when refrigerated butter is too hard to spread smoothly over toast, or melt into a cup of morning coffee  (yes, you read that correctly). Which summons an important question:

Should you refrigerate butter, or can you leave it out on the counter in a butter dish? 

The simple answer is yes, most butter survives just fine without refrigeration. But any longer than a week on the countertop or any warmer than 70 degrees Fahrenheit could put it in a danger zone. 

Butter is made from dairy, and dairy is usually stored at cold temperatures. But butter’s high fat content and the salt in salted butter  prevent it from growing bacteria as quickly as other dairy items, Food52 points out. 

Therefore, you CAN store butter at room temperature ... if your room is a moderate temperature. 

The FDA cites that most butter keeps just fine  at an “ambient temperature.” Experts at The Kitchn  and Food52  call this “ambient temperature” anywhere below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If your room rises above that threshold, then throw your butter in the fridge. 

And no longer than a week, please. 

Salted butter generally lasts about a week outside the fridge . If you keep it in an airtight container, like a European-style butter crock , it can last up to two weeks .

If you’re uncertain, you can always smell or taste your butter before using it. A tiny whiff or teensy nibble won’t kill you , and you’ll be able to recognize rancid butter quickly.

Don’t forget to freeze butter you don’t need! 

In the fridge, butter will last for about four months , or about a month past the “sell by” date  on the package. But it can last up to a year in the freezer  if it’s fresh. So buy all the glorious, high-quality European sticks you want, and keep them nice and chilly to enjoy for months to come.