How many times have you left a stick of butter at the end of your fridge and forgotten all about it? But while salt can be used after it's 'best by date,' most people aren't sure if its the same for butter.
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If you are wondering if there's an equivalent for the 'sniff test' to check on your butter, we have all the info for you! Plus, the actual way to store butter so it doesn't go bad.
Does butter go bad?
As per Southern Living, because butter is mostly fat, harmful bacteria can find it difficult to penetrate it. Thus, butter can last way longer than any other diary product.
However, butter does come with a limited life span. Due to its fat content, elements such as heat, light, and oxygen can affect its taste and quality, making it go rancid and unfit for consumption.
As per the article, one of the easiest ways to ascertain if your butter is still okay, is to sniff it. Any kind of 'sour or off-putting' smell is your first indicator that the butter has gone bad.
The second indicator is taste. If your butter tastes sour or off, it's time to bin it. Consuming mildly off-tasting butter is generally okay, and not a danger to your health.
If you start seeing visible discolouration or changes in texture, the butter has clearly gone bad. Again, visible mould on the butter is also a very obvious sign that its not fit for consumption anymore.
How to properly store butter?
Depending on whether you have properly stored your butter, it could be fit for consumption after its 'best by' date. But do ensure that the butter doesn't show any of the signs of going bad, as laid out above.
As per the experts at Southern Living, here are the proper ways to store butter:
If you store you butter in the fridge, do use the butter compartment. This is because butter can absorb odours from the fridge, which is not the most appetising. Butter can be stored in the fridge for about three months. Beyond this, it might change in quality and freshness.
For longer storage, you can freeze your butter. Carefully wrap your butter in plastic, and put it in the freezer. Thaw it normally before use. Once frozen butter has been thawed, it should be used within a month.
If you store butter on the counter, make sure you use an airtight, opaque container, and keep it away from heat and sunlight. Room-temperature butter should be consumed within a day or two. Unsalted butter should generally be stored in the fridge.
Read more:
⋙ This is the correct way to melt butter to perfection and it's not in the microwave
⋙ People shocked to learn they have been spreading butter wrong their whole life
⋙ Tinned food can go bad, here's how to store it properly
Sources used:
Southern Living: 'Does Butter Go Bad?'
