Does butter go bad by letting it sit out of the fridge, and if it does, how can you tell?? smell?? Thanks?

Answer 1

pure butter does not go bad when out of the fridge. it gets soft, perfect for toast, and if it gets too warm it will seperate a bit and look a little waxy or sweaty. it won't smell any different. keep it on a cool counter with a cover to keep air away and dust/bugs/etc out.

Answer 2

Butter or Margarine? There is a difference. If you have some margarine sitting in th door of your fridge it should be good for 4-6 weeks from time of purchase. Almost all of butter or margarine has a high content of salt which acts as a preservative. Most "margarines" will last up to 5-6 weeks because they are mainly oil and salt based. "Butter" is mainly Dairy based , so it has less of a shelf life. I assume that you are talking about your basic tub of "butter" / "margarine". If so, 4-6 weeks minimum unless you see mold. If your refrigerator is at 42 degrees or lower your good on pretty much all your food. As a gereral rule: WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!!

Answer 3

Our real butter, I don't think, has ever been affected by leaving it out of the fridge. It's always been left out & nothing seems to happen to it that's a big concern.

I wouldn't know about the smell really, I never smell my butter!

Answer 4

yes butter can go bad out of the fridge. in the summer it melts and if there is what looks like water in it it is bad. in the winter and summer it can also get mold on it. of course in the summer if left uncovered look for flies in it too. yuk.

Answer 5

you can leave it on the counter for 1 week acording to my mother. keep it covered they also have something called a butter bell that lets it sit out for a month.

Answer 6

butter goes rancid (even in the fridge) they salt butter to preserve it so unsalted butter goes bad faster than salted butter.

If your butter goes off, believe me, you will be able to tell.

You can successfully freeze butter; I do it all the time when it's on sale or the price is low.

Answer 7

if it's natural butter, it eventually goes bad, it smells different, (if you cook it, it tastes different too) and later on it gets covered with green.

Answer 8

it wont have a smell it will jus taste different if it is left out to long

Answer 9

NO, I LEAVE MINE OUT BUT NOT 4 A LONG TIME. DONT KNO ABOUT A SMELL.

Answer 10

there will be slow separation of ingredients, such as oils and stuff.
you can remix if not over 5 hrs. rancidity occurs faster if exposed to the atmosphere