Can butter be kept on the counter? Food safety experts weigh in

Due to its dairy nature, butter is considered a product that should be stored exclusively in the refrigerator. But is that really the case? This question is explained by Bri Bell, a dietitian and food safety specialist.

Butter is one of the most commonly used food products. It must contain at least 80 percent milk fat, although versions with lower fat content are also available and must be appropriately marked on the label. When taken out of the refrigerator, butter is usually very hard. So, how should you store butter to keep it soft but not spoil too quickly? Is it possible to safely keep it on the kitchen counter?

The answer to this question can be ambiguous. Butter churned by hand from unpasteurized milk or cream should be stored in the refrigerator because, at room temperature, it spoils quickly due to the faster growth of bacteria. However, store-bought butter, made from pasteurized milk, is less susceptible to bacterial growth and does not require cold storage.

- Butter is safe to eat after being out at room temperature. One reason it doesn't go bad as quickly as other dairy products at room temperature is because it's low in carbohydrates and proteins, which are mold and bacteria's preferred food sources - said Bri Bell, a dietitian and food safety expert for the portal allrecipes.com.

Nevertheless, it is worth paying attention to several issues related to storing butter outside the refrigerator. It is crucial to avoid the multiplication of harmful bacteria and to maintain the taste and consistency of the product. Butter is not a product with eternal freshness—if you use it occasionally, it is better to store it in the refrigerator. However, if you can use it within a maximum of one week, you can leave it outside the refrigerator.

If you decide to keep butter at room temperature, store it tightly closed in an opaque container (e.g., a butter dish) and keep it in a shaded place, away from sunlight. These factors, such as access to light, oxygen, and moisture, impact the rancidity process. The temperature should not exceed 20°C, so in the summer, it is recommended to store butter in the refrigerator.

Another method of storing butter is to place it in water, a practice used before refrigerators became common. This traditional technique allows the butter to maintain its freshness and soft consistency. Modern butter dishes for storing butter in water are available on the market, but you can also do it without special tools. Simply put the butter in a small container and cover it with boiled, salted water (salt acts as a natural preservative) to completely submerge it. In this case, it is also important that the butter is tightly closed and stored in a shaded place.