I know if you landed on this page, you are trying to figure out if you can freeze butter?
This short guide not only answers that question, but we will also show you the best way to do it.
So, keep reading to find out if you can or can’t.
Can You Freeze Butter & Should You Be Doing It?
Yes, you can definitely freeze butter, even if it is salted or unsalted and it is highly recommended if you want to extend the shelf life of this dairy product.
Butter holds up really well in the freezer and according to Land o Lakes, you can store frozen butter up to four months.
The company recommends that you use the butter before four months, as they state “Butter may begin to lose its fresh butter taste and pick up flavors and odors from the freezer if stored for longer than four months.”
Should You Be Freezing Butter?
ABSOLUTELY, YES. If you see butter on sale, buy them up and just store them in the freezer till you are ready to use them.
Businessinsider.com highlighted this in their ‘Science says you should freeze your butter’ article. They interviewed a food science expert, Dan Souza, who explained why freezing butter is a good idea.
“You can buy a pound of butter, keep three sticks in the freezer, and keep the other one in the fridge,” Souza says. “That will keep it really fresh.”
The freezer is great place to store fatty foods, simply because “It’s dark and cold in there, so it slows down rancidity, which is a problem with really fatty things.”
So, if you are looking to make your butter last longer, storing it in the freezer is is a must!
Related: Can You Freeze Cream Cheese?
How to Freeze Butter: A Step-by-Step Guide
Freezing butter, whether it is a stick, box or tub is quite easy and once it is packaged properly, you really should have any problems storing it in the freezer.
How to Freeze Sticks, Boxes, Tubs of Butter?
- Place Stick, Box or Tub of Butter in a Freezer Safe Bag/Container
While you can place butter, regardless of how it is packaged in the freezer, ideally you want to give it a bit more protection. By placing it in the freezer safe bag/container, it will have an added layer of protection against the harsh freezer conditions and you will also not have to worry about foul odors seeping into your butter.
- Date Bag/Container Before Placing in the Freezer
Before placing your butter in the freezer, it is a good idea to place the date on the freezer bag/container. You can store butter for up to 4 months in the freezer and having the containers dated, you can have an idea as to how long they have been sitting in there.
How to Thaw Frozen Butter?
When you are ready to use your frozen butter, you are going to have to thaw it out. The best way to do that is to let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
By doing the above method, the butter will be like when you first put it in, ready to be used.
If you plan on using the butter right away, but you are not in rush, you could always sit at room temperature till it fully thaws out.
If you are strapped for time, you could always thaw out the butter in the microwave (Even Though This is Not Recommended). The microwave will not defrost evenly and there is the possibility that instead of softening the butter, you end up melting it.
If you want to be really careful, you can place the frozen butter in a microwave safe plate and zap it for 5-10 second bursts. Keep checking to ensure that is soft enough, but not melted.
Wrapping it up
Freezing butter is a superb option to consider if you are looking extend the shelf life.
There is no significant change in texture or taste after it has been frozen, once it is packaged properly.
You can store butter in the freezer up to four months and if you are looking to extend the shelf life, or keep it fresh, you should definitely consider freezing it.
