If your family is anything like mine, butter is one of the most important items in your fridge. Not only is it essential for baking fresh treats such as croissants, cakes, and cookies, it is also vital for early-morning bagels, fresh-out-of-the-oven dinner rolls, and perfectly grilled corn cobs. Of course, being such big butter fans, we have our favorites. Kerrygold is the Rolls-Royce of the butter world, transforming late-night buttered noodles into a dish worthy of a five-star restaurant, IMHO. Of course, one can never go wrong with a classic Land O’ Lakes salted butter. It’s perfect for melting and dipping with crab and lobster meat. Though, if you don’t consume butter on a near-daily basis, you may be wondering how long butter lasts and asking, “Does butter expire?” Here’s everything to know about butter expiration.
Yes, butter expires.
The dates on the packages are a good place to start. For the shelf life of butter, follow that “sell by” or “best by” date you see on the cover. It’s usually okay to still eat the butter a week beyond that date, but if you’re thinking of eating it a month beyond that date, you’d have to store it correctly.
Here’s how to store butter.
Butter needs to be stored properly at, or below, 41 degrees Fahrenheit. If you keep it at room temperature for too long, the oils in the butter will go rancid.
Put your butter in the freezer for long-term storage, and it’ll last for 6 to 12 months. In the fridge, it should last a month past the printed date unopened and two weeks beyond the printed date after it’s been opened.
Keep the butter fresh by storing it in your fridge immediately after purchase and after each use. Use an inner shelf rather than the shelves on the door because the temperature fluctuates whenever the fridge is opened.
Here’s how to tell if butter is spoiled.
You’re in luck—thankfully, it’s easy to tell if butter has gone bad. Spoiled butter will be too soft or too hard and possibly even grow mold. If you’re unsure, look for discolorations or sour smell and/or taste. (Don’t worry: eating a small amount shouldn’t hurt your health.)
Butter does expire, but it’ll be okay.
You now know that butter does expire, but its shelf life is still quite long. You’ll likely finish the pack before it starts to go bad, so just remember to store it correctly. If you have a lot of butter in your fridge, it’s time to start baking!