How to store your butter properly

We all do it a little differently, but have you ever wondered what the correct way to store butter is? Learning how to properly store it for taste, freshness, and safety may surprise you. There are a few considerations to take into account to keep your delicious Gippsland Jersey butter in optimum shape! Here is our ultimate guide to storing your salted and unsalted butter to ensure it tastes as good as the day your brought it...

Not all butter is the same..

Our butter is pasteurised, which is a process that combats bacteria for safety. Because butter is predominantly fat, its natural properties keep bacteria at bay. Check to see what kind of butter you have. Most experts will agree that salted butter is fine to leave out at room temperature for up to two weeks, dependent on the climate you live in - if it’s very warm, you’ll end up with very soft butter! It can do this due to its high fat and salt content.

A non transparent and airtight container is recommended for optimum shelf life. Store your butter away from bright light. When butter is exposed to bright light and air it causes the fat molecules to break down and this can make the butter rancid. So the ideal location for storing butter is room temperature in a cool dark place. 

SALTED BUTTER

For storing salted butter we recommend the following as a guide; 

> May be left at room temperature for one to two days 

> One to two months when stored in refrigerator

> Six to nine months if stored frozen 

After these periods the taste of your can turn rancid or sour. The salt and fat in the butter does its part to help keep it fresh. Once the temperature of your room rises above 21 degrees, it’s time to store your butter in the refrigerator. Your butter should stay cool enough to hold its shape so keep it away from any heat sources like the stovetop, toaster, air fryer, air vent, window or, even coffee maker.

UNSALTED BUTTER 

When leaving salted butter out, be sure to store it in the right kind of container to preserve both the taste and your counters. A butter dish that is light and air tight will preserve the taste of your butter. Wrap your butter firmly and try to keep your butter away from other items in your fridge so it doesn’t absorb any of the odours. 

Unsalted butter should be stored in the back of the refrigerator to prevent it from going bad, although it's perfectly fine to take the butter out to soften an hour before using if needed.

A time saving hack we recommend is cubing up your Unsalted Gippsland Jersey butter and popping it in a container so you can easily use it for cooking. You can also do this prior to freezing.

If you are refrigerating your butter, it is best kept refrigerated at 4˚C, protected from light and sealed in its original container or wrapping until it is used as it readily absorbs odours from other foods. 

Butter will soften at 30°C and melt at 35°C

If you are defrosting your butter, allow approximately 6 hours for it to thaw in the refrigerator, overnight is best. If you need to use your butter straight away, grate the frozen butter block straight into recipes - a popular method for pie makers to get that extra crispy crust.