Butter Vs Cheese: Which Has A Longer Shelf Life?

Butter and cheese are both dairy products, but they have very different shelf lives. Butter can be stored at room temperature for a few days or even a week, and in the refrigerator for about a month past the package date if unopened. On the other hand, cheese is highly perishable and should be refrigerated at all times. So, while butter has a longer shelf life than cheese when left out at room temperature, proper storage methods can extend the shelf life of both products.

Salted butter vs. unsalted butter

Salted and unsalted butter are both made of the same quality butter, but there are a few differences to note. Salted butter, as the name suggests, has salt added to it, usually anywhere from 1.25 to 1.75 percent of the total weight. The amount of salt, however, varies between brands. Salt is a preservative, so salted butter has a longer shelf life than unsalted butter—we're talking about three to four months. Salted butter also has a higher water content, which can affect the outcome of baked goods.

Unsalted butter, on the other hand, gives you more control over the flavour of your recipe as it has less salt and a lower water content. This is especially important in baked goods where the pure, sweet cream flavour of butter is key, such as butter cookies, brownies, and pound cakes. Unsalted butter also ensures the natural flavour of your food comes through.

When it comes to storage, both types of butter can be kept in the refrigerator or freezer. Unsalted butter is best kept in the fridge, whereas salted butter can be stored at room temperature for a few days or even a week. However, it's important to note that the more butter is exposed to elements like heat, light, and oxygen, the more the fat inside breaks down, which is what makes it go bad. Therefore, storing butter in the fridge or freezer will help to prolong its life.

Proper storage

Butter

Butter can be stored in the refrigerator, the freezer, or covered on the counter. Salted butter can be stored at room temperature for a few days, but it should be used within a week after it has been softened. The salt content helps to keep the butter fresh. Unsalted and whipped butter, on the other hand, should be refrigerated. The USDA and FDA recommend refrigerating these types of butter, and they are best kept chilled in their original packaging.

When storing butter in the refrigerator, it is best to keep it in the coldest area, usually near the back, and away from foods with strong smells or tastes. For long-term storage, butter can be frozen. To do this, cut the butter into chunks, protect it by wrapping it tightly in aluminum foil, and place it in a freezer storage bag. Label the bag with the date and type of butter. Salted butter will keep fresh for about a year in the freezer, while unsalted butter is good for about three months.

Cheese

Cheese is best stored in the refrigerator, in an environment that allows for gas exchange. It should not be stored in plastic wrap as this cuts off the air supply and traps in too much moisture, which can lead to undesirable flavours and textures. Instead, cheese paper, parchment paper, or aluminum foil should be used. Blue cheeses should be separated from softer cheeses and wrapped in tin foil and placed in a ziplock bag to prevent them from drying out.

How to tell if butter has gone bad

While butter doesn't go bad as quickly as other dairy products, it does eventually spoil. Here are some ways to tell if your butter has gone bad:

Check for Changes in Smell, Taste, and Appearance

Trust your senses! The first sign that your butter has gone bad is usually a sour or rancid smell. The same goes for taste; if it tastes sour or off, throw it out. Don't worry, a small taste of rancid butter won't harm you. Visible mould, discolouration, or changes in texture are also signs that it's time to discard the butter.

Consider the Storage Conditions and Expiry Date

The way you store your butter will impact its shelf life. Butter kept at room temperature, especially in warm conditions, will spoil faster than butter stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Check the expiry date, and if the butter is past its prime, look out for the signs of spoilage mentioned above.

Store Butter Properly to Extend its Shelf Life

To extend the life of your butter, store it in a covered airtight, opaque container in the refrigerator, choosing a colder part of the fridge rather than the door. If you're keeping butter on the counter, use a butter crock or dish with an airtight seal, and only keep out a small amount—what you'll use within a day or two. Additionally, avoid storing butter above 72°F (22.2°C), and keep it away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and foods with strong odours.

For long-term storage, freeze your butter. It's best to freeze it before its use-by date and to use it within a few months, as even well-stored frozen butter will eventually lose quality over time.

Freezing butter

Butter can be frozen and it's a great way to make it last longer. If you have more butter than you can use, freezing it before the best-by date is a good way to preserve it. Butter has a pretty long shelf life in the fridge already (about four months for unsalted and six months for salted) but you can extend that time by freezing it.

The first rule of storing butter is that you should store as little as possible at room temperature. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends only putting out what you will use within one or two days. Salted butter is fine at room temperature, although it does last longer in the fridge.

How to Freeze Butter

Butter is best frozen in its original packaging. Place the unwrapped sticks in their box right in the freezer. For more protection, you can also wrap the box in some plastic wrap or place it in a freezer bag. If you've already opened the butter, then you should wrap each stick tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place them in a freezer bag.

Since cutting frozen butter can be challenging (and dangerous), pre-slice the sticks into manageable 1 or 2-tablespoon pieces and wrap them individually.

Be sure to store frozen butter away from pungent frozen foods, such as onions, as butter easily picks up flavours and odours from the foods stored around it.

How to Defrost Butter

The best way to defrost butter is to place it in the refrigerator overnight. Cutting a frozen stick of butter isn't advisable, so it's better to thaw a whole stick or pound at a time, depending on what you're using it for.

If you need butter immediately, you can thaw it in the microwave by heating it for 10 seconds, flipping it to another side, and heating it for another 10 seconds. Continue doing this, watching it closely, until the butter is soft but not melted.

Salted butter can be frozen for up to one year, and unsalted butter for up to nine months. The salt acts as a preservative, so it makes it last a bit longer than the unsalted variety.

Butter's shelf life

Butter has a surprisingly long shelf life, even at room temperature. However, like most foods, it does eventually go bad. Proper storage is key to prolonging its life.

Butter is made from fat and protein components of churned cream and contains about 80% butterfat. This high fat content makes it difficult for bacteria to penetrate, which is why butter can last longer than other dairy products. However, the fat content also means that butter is at risk of going rancid when exposed to heat, light, and oxygen.

At room temperature, butter can be kept for a few days or even a week. It should be stored in a covered container, such as a butter dish or a French butter keeper, to protect it from heat, light, and oxygen, all of which encourage spoilage.

For longer-term storage, butter can be kept in the refrigerator, preferably in the coldest part, for about a month past the package date if unopened and about two weeks past the package date once opened.

For even longer storage, butter can be kept in the freezer, where it will last for six to nine months, or even a year if properly wrapped.

To prolong the shelf life of butter, it is important to store it in an airtight, opaque container, away from direct sunlight, the stove, or other sources of heat. It should also be kept away from other foods with strong smells, as butter can absorb flavours and odours.

Frequently asked questions