- Refrigerate immediately after purchase and store on refrigerator shelves.
- It’s best to keep butter in its original wrapper. The foil helps prevent spoilage that may result from exposure to light and air, as well as offering protection from the aromas and flavours of other foods in the refrigerator.
- Left unwrapped, either salted or unsalted butter will keep in the refrigerator for at least 8 weeks. Salted butter, in fact, will last an additional 4 weeks, since salt acts as a preservative. Once you open the wrap, however, butter should be used with in 3 weeks.
- If you keep butter unwrapped in a butter dish on your counter, it should be used within a few days. So make sure you put only the amount you can use in a short time in the compartment.
- Butter left for too long a period at room temperature will develop a rancid taste.
- Butter can be frozen, but should be wrapped in additional foil or a freezer bag to further protect it. Properly wrapped, it will keep for up to 6 months. After this time, it might begin to lose its flavour or pick up freezer odours. The salty taste of salted butter may intensify with freezing.
- Thaw frozen butter for 6 to 7 hours in the refrigerator or 3 to 4 hours at room temperature. Refreezing of thawed butter is not recommended, since it will diminish its flavour.
- For best flavour, bring out only as much as you will be serving and remember to return it to the refrigerator between meals.
