i risk sounding like a complete idiot, but i'm asking anyways...do you need to refrigerate butter??

Answer 1

My mother always had a butter dish on the counter when I was growing up, since she didn't like trying to spread cold, hard butter on toast. Butter does spoil, but it never lasted long enough in my house to do so. If you don't like hard butter, but worry about it spoiling, try using a British butter dish. It's a crock that you pack with butter, then place in a dish of water. It's made of ceramic, so it keeps the butter soft, but doesn't allow for spoilage. It's also called a butter bell.

Answer 2

Well it depends on how long you plan to keep it out! A stick of butter will be fine for a few hours sometimes even for a few days if your house is cool. Clarified butter can last longer since all the milk solids have been removed and it's just the pure fat. I always refridgerate mine though and keep the 1 lb package in the freezer. It keeps a nice fresh taste. If I'm having a dinner or something I do take the table butter out of the fridge atleast an hour in advance so it is spreadable.

Answer 3

Well.....yes and no. Butter will lose it's flavor and become rancid and transparent-y after a couple days. I used to do it anyway, because I hate torn toast!

But I have recently discovered a new favorite toy. You can find them listed as a "butter bell" or a "butter keeper" if you do a google search.

They usually hold 1 stick of softened butter. It keeps an airtight seal with just 2 TBS cold water. It will actually keep a stick of butter at room temperature without losing flavor for 30 days. I love this thing. It's a dream! Check it out...

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=12805802

Answer 4

Not if it is going to be eaten fairly quickly. It is fine for up to a week maybe more as long as you have a butter dish or keep it well covered in some way. Just dont let it get hot...you will have a mess!

Answer 5

Well i dont in the winter but i do in the summer my butter stays out because i dont like it hard and i use it to often if i didnt use it alot i would keep it in the fridge and in the winter bacteria isnt gonna grow as much when its cold but in the summer bacteria grows to much and the edges of my butter container turn green so i put it in the fridge but my butter has been out now 2 days and its been just fine so i would say if you use it alot keep it out in a covered container if you dont use it often then put it in the fridge if you dont like cold butter put it in the microwave for like 10 second intervals till its soft enough to use and then put in the fridge again

Answer 6

I do both. One stick is always in the cupboard in a covered butter dish, the rest are in the fridge. We're like Paula Deen though and go through so much butter that it never stays around that long to go bad. :)

Answer 7

If it's real butter, you don't have to refrigerate it if you don't want to. British people usually keep it in the pantry. However, if it's a margerine spread you do need to keep it refrigerated.

Answer 8

:Yes you are supposed to but if you are thinking in terms of leaving a cube out for buttering toast etc.. that is fine.I do it all the time.The rest should be stored in the fridge until you are ready to use it.And by the way the are no stupid questions!!

Answer 9

Whole butter does need the fridge, clarified butter (ghee) can stay out

Answer 10

I don't think so...I keep my butter in my desk at work because the people here steal food, it hasn't melted or molded on me yet...just make sure it's not to hot where you are storing it at!!!