Is it okay to leave real butter out of the refrigerator?

Question

I keep it in a covered dish in my pantry (to keep it soft). I have done this forever (...just like grandma did!) and have never had any problems with illness, but my FIL insists that I refrigerate it because it is a dairy product. Who is right??? Grandma or my FIL?

Answer 1

During real hot weather I keep it refrigerated. Butter has a high concentration of salt, it will keep it from spoiling for a few days. I only leave out a quarter of a stick at a time. I find I used a lot less too when it is soft.

Answer 2

I keep a stick of it in a covered butter dish in the cupboard, just like my grandma, too. All the other sticks stay in the fridge. None of us ever got sick from her buttered toast. *shrug*

I think everyone has somehow become more sensitive to food issues over the years. I could easily go into a rant about people who insist on anti-bacterial everything and insist on even wiping down cart handles in the store with disinfectant...but I won't right now. :)

Answer 3

If you leave it covered and it is in a cool but not freezing place (all the time) then it will be ok. But if the room temperature becomes too warm the butter will start to melt. So I would leave it out during winter, but make sure to put it in the refrigerator during summer unless your house is cool all the time then go ahead and leave it out. It could become a health problem if left in heat then eaten but as long as it is cool and does not get too hot then you and your family will be just fine.

Answer 4

scent and flavor have been stepped forward to ward off eating risky foodstuff. I ruin eggs right into a cup and scent. then unload in the pan or the sink. comparable with meat. seem at each thing. scent it. flavor. cook dinner. flavor lower back. If this is not wide-spread at any step, unload it. different than liver and okra-they consistently scent poisonous ugh. Cats like somewhat spoiled milk and meat, yet whilst there is mold, slime, reliable smell or unusual colours, destroy it. and scrub the refrigerator and freezer speedy of something that leaked. And hit upon a generator which will run the refrigerator for next time.

Answer 5

I always thought it was necessary to keep butter refrigerated (that's what my family does).

But I've always wanted to have spreadable butter around at all times. You can't do that without leaving it at room temperature.

There's something called a "butter crock" or "butter bell" that keeps air out. A show on Food Network did a piece on them. I'll show you some pictures before I try to explain it.

http://fantes.com/images/9921-1butter.jpg
http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/images/butter_crock_diagram.jpg

When the inside lip of the lid submerges in the water, it makes an airtight seal around the butter. The butter stays stuck inside the lid, and it doesn't mix with the water. I've always wanted to try one of these.

Answer 6

My husband and I have this same arguement all the time...he is old school, leave it out so it will spread nicely....It is definitely a health risk, though...I refrigerate mine for health's sake...

Storage: Storing butter properly, lengthens the shelf life so it can be used over a longer period of time. To prevent a type of spoilage called rancidity, protect butter from heat, light and air by storing it covered in the refrigerator. Rancid butter has an unpleasant taste and smell.

Butter absorbs odors from other foods rapidly. To prevent flavor changes, keep butter wrapped in moisture- and vapor-proof material or in tightly covered containers. For refrigerator storage, leave butter in its original wrapper. Opened portions of butter should be refrigerated in a covered dish.

Butter can be stored for up to two weeks at refrigerator temperatures (below 40 °F). Higher temperatures cause off-flavors and unpleasant odors to develop. Butter should not be stored in the butter keeper (set at warmer temperatures) on the refrigerator door longer than two days. For ease in spreading, remove butter from the refrigerator 10 to 15 minutes before using it.

For holding longer than two weeks, butter should be frozen. To store butter in the freezer, wrap it in moisture- and vapor-proof freezer packaging material to keep the butter from absorbing odors from other foods and to prevent freezer burn. Butter in its original carton can be over-wrapped. Butter in one-pound blocks can be cut into smaller portions, repackaged and frozen for future use. If properly wrapped and held at 0 °F or lower, butter will keep well in the freezer for six to nine months. Thaw butter in the refrigerator.

Answer 7

Yes, especially since it's kept covered in a pantry.

Answer 8

yes, its ok as long as its in a covered dish. just put out enuff for a few days usage at a time. put it in the coolest part of your kitchen cupboards. away from the stove/oven and out of direct sunlight. i wouldnt keep it out longer than a week tho.

Answer 9

If it's Covered and the room is Cool enough to stop it melting-then YES!!

Answer 10

yes it is okay it just becomes soft like it would if you left it out to bake cookies