Once you’ve taken advantage of a great sale on butter, the next question is what to do with it.
Thankfully, it is very easy to freeze butter so you can save more money and waste less food.
Can you freeze butter?
Whether you’ve stocked up on a ton of butter thanks to a sale or you just don’t have enough space in your fridge, chances are there will be a stick or two of butter in your freezer.
It might be second nature to place your butter in the freezer, but at some point, it might lead you to ask if this is actually ok.
The good news is that yes, you can freeze butter. However, there are certain circumstances and precautions you should take in order to have the best tasting butter possible.
Not only should your butter be properly stored in the freezer, but you should also use it in a specific time frame.
The more you know about freezing butter, the better it will taste when you go to use it.
How to freeze butter
To freeze butter, start by wrapping it well. Frozen butter can still absorb pungent smells, such as from onions, so you will want to protect it while in the freezer.
After a time, even butter can succumb to freezer burn, so wrapping is, again, an important step.
You can wrap your sticks of butter in either aluminum foil or an airtight freezer bag.
Label the date you place your butter in the freezer as well as the remaining time before it will hit its best by date.
Place your butter in your freezer. If you have older butter already in the freezer, move that to the front and place the new butter behind it.
This will ensure you don’t leave the butter in the freezer for too long.
How to thaw butter
Once you are ready to use your frozen butter, it’s time to thaw it. First, check to see how much butter you need and when you will need it.
It’s best if you can simply place your butter in the refrigerator overnight. This allows a natural, gradual thaw for the best results.
It’s also best to keep butter in the fridge until your recipe calls for it or any other time you need to use it.
If you’re in a rush and really need to thaw your butter, you can place the butter in the microwave.
Put the butter on a plate and microwave for 5 seconds. Then, rotate so the butter is on a different side.
Again, microwave for another 5 seconds. Do this two more times until the butter has been placed on all four sides.
A few seconds is all you need; more and the result will be melted butter.
**How about milk and butter combined? Find out if about freezing buttermilk in this guide here!!!**
Other ways to store butter
Fridge
The best place to store butter is in the fridge. It will remain cold but can quickly be brought to room temperature.
Butter can be stored in the fridge until the best by date on the side. The shelf life of refrigerated butter is usually around 6 months.
Room Temperature
Room temperature butter is best for buttering toast but you don’t want to leave it out for very long.
Keep butter at room temperature for about 2 weeks.
If it is summer or you live in a very hot climate, butter can become rancid after only a few days.
In this case, you might want to place your butter in the fridge until the temperature cools.
How long can you freeze butter
You can freeze butter for up to one year for the best results.
How to use frozen butter
Creating a flaky pastry requires frozen butter.
Simply take your butter out of the freezer and use a cheese grater on it.
Then, when you knead your dough it will remain chilled so you don’t have to use as much flour to work it.
Recommended Post: Can you freeze milk? Is it a delicate and fragile dairy product to freeze?
Related Questions
Is it okay to freeze butter?
Yes, it is ok to freeze butter. Freezing butter is a very practical task.
If the butter is on sale or you’ve run out of the room, simply wrap your butter and place it in the freezer for when you next need it.
Does freezing butter ruin it?
No, freezing does not ruin butter. However, you don’t want to use butter that has been stored in your freezer for years.
Like all perishable foods, even butter in the freezer has a shelf life. You can leave the butter in the freezer for up to one year and expect consistent results.
Still, once you plan on removing your butter, check for any signs of freezer burn.
If there is any, it’s best to use a different stick as a freezer burn will ruin your butter.
What happens if you freeze butter?
If you freeze butter, it solidifies and locks in its freshness. Frozen butter that is properly sealed can last up to one year in the freezer.
It’s best to wrap in a Ziploc bag or aluminum foil. This way no other smells, such as onion, can penetrate the butter and ruin its taste.
How long does defrosted butter last?
When you purchase butter, check the best by date. You can safely use your butter before then and expect good, consistent results.
Butter can still be edible past that date, but you will want to pay more attention to its texture and smell before using it.
When you put your butter in the freezer, check to see how much time is left before hitting that best by date.
Write it on your freezer package. Once you have defrosted your butter, the remaining time is how long it will last for the best results.
Conclusion
Who can resist when butter is on sale? As long as you have room in your freezer, stock up and freeze it for when you actually need it.
Freezing butter takes just a little preparation and will still have its great taste once it is thawed.