Is It Safe To Store Your Butter In The Cupboard And Not In The Fridge?

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In this world, you’re either one of two people — someone who keeps their butter in the fridge, or someone who does not. Because butter is technically dairy, many people swear by keeping their butter in the fridge so that it doesn’t go bad. But on the other hand, many people store their butter in a cupboard with zero issues. So, which is the correct way to store butter?

source: wikiHow

According to Simple Most, it’s not necessary to keep your butter in the fridge. Why? Well, although butter is a byproduct of dairy, the butter-making process allows it to be pathogen-free. Basically, the way butter is made and processed makes it very resistant to disease, bacteria, and other instances that make dairy products go bad.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your unrefrigerated butter stays as fresh as possible. Simple Most sat down with Ben Chapman, food safety expert and professor at North Carolina State University. First of all, Chapman revealed that salt is a key player in keeping butter fresh. The saline solution of salt and water surrounding the fat molecules in butter is what keeps bacteria away.

Secondly, Chapman advised that it’s important to store your butter in the correct conditions. It’s best to store butter away from oxygen and sunlight, preferably in a cool, dark place. If you store your butter in a contained butter dish within a drawer or cupboard, you should be good to go.

It’s also important to keep the butter as clean as possible. Use clean utensils every time you go to scoop some butter, and make sure a buildup of crumbs doesn’t happen. Chapman also suggests only keeping out as much butter as you’re able to eat in a week, as after a week, the quality begins to diminish.

Now that you know your room-temperature butter is safe to consume, you can enjoy perfectly spreadable butter on your toast, bagel, or scone in peace!