The Only Way You Should Store Butter, According to Land O'Lakes

You shouldn't keep it on the counter for as long as you think.

There is one ingredient I cannot live without: butter. It goes in everything, on everything, next to everything—I’m convinced the stuff is the edible equivalent of a bar of gold. My fridge is stocked with multiple brands, salted and unsalted, ready to be spread, browned, melted, and compounded. 

Recently, I took some unsalted butter out of the fridge for a batch of cookies, but the day got away from me and hours later I remembered that those softened sticks were still on my countertop.

I realized, for all my butter love, I had no idea how long it could be left unrefrigerated. So I conferred with a culinary content specialist at Land O’ Lakes, Tonja Engen, to get some answers. 

Read More: I Asked 7 Pro Bakers To Name the Best Butter, They All Said the Same Brand

How Long You Can Safely Leave Butter on the Counter

The answer is pretty simple. According to Engen, butter should not be left out for more than four hours. While those few hours give it a little more wiggle room than other dairy products, which “the USDA and FDA require to be stored in refrigerated conditions,” Engen says to “always return any unused butter to the refrigerator. Leaving butter unrefrigerated can affect its color and flavor.” 

I asked if there was any difference between salted, unsalted, or whipped butter when it comes to leaving it unrefrigerated and, to my disappointment, Engen came back with a pretty straightforward nope!

It turns out, she says “the storage of butter at room temperature, no matter what type it is, is not recommended.” Good thing I didn’t wind up making cookies the other day. Those sticks had been out for almost eight hours! 

What About Butter Stored in a Butter Keeper or Butter Dish?

Clearly I was trying to find a loophole but, you guessed it… “No,” says Engen, “Storing butter in any vessel or container at room temperature does not help extend its shelf-life.” 

What about in the fridge? Well, it turns out that the best way to store butter, according to Engen, is “in its original packaging in the coldest part of the refrigerator.”

If you find butter on sale and want to stock up, she suggests sticking the whole carton in the freezer (just be sure to throw it in the freezer before its expiration date). 

The Best Way To Soften Butter Quickly

Engen suggests letting refrigerated butter stand at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes. “You can also cut the butter into small chunks and let it stand at room temperature for about 15 minutes,” she says, as “small chunks soften more quickly.” This is what I’ll be doing from now on.

When it comes to frozen butter, Engen shares what might just be my favorite butter tip of all: grate it.

“Grating butter onto a piece of waxed paper makes it easy to transfer it to a mixing bowl for use,” she says. “Let it sit at room temperature for just a few minutes and the shreds will warm up and soften quickly.”