butter passed the date thats marked on it?

Question

is butter safe after its passed the date that they mark it with? should it be thrown away or can it still be used?

Answer 1

It depends on several things. Has it been stored in the fridge (then it's probably ok)? How long past the expiration date is it (a few days in the fridge is probably fine)? If it's salted it will last longer than unsalted butter. What happens to any oil is that it goes rancid when exposed to air. This happens quicker when it is warmer (a good reason to store extra butter long-term in the freezer or fridge). Give it a smell and a taste. Rancid butter shouldn't hurt you in the amounts most people use, but it will taste bitter if it's gone bad. So unless you've kept it exposed to air, on the counter, it's unsalted, and you want to eat the whole stick in one sitting, it should be ok.

Answer 2

Oddly enough I googled this out of curiosity and got a Yahoo Answers response that I really liked myself. Below is the link, I can't take credit for it, it was just random curiosity...lol But to answer your question, use it soon, but you can use it.

Answer 3

It's likely fine. Open it and smell it. If it smells like an armpit, ptich it. Being that old, however, it may have picked up other flavors in the fridge (garlic, onion). But it won't kill you.l

Answer 4

BUTTER CAN LAST A VERY LONG TIME. but IF YOU SEE WHERE U R NOT GONNA USE IT FREEZE IT.