Does butter need to stay in the fridge?

Question

Growing up my grandmother and mom always kept a dish of butter out on the counter. My b/f is telling me butter need to stay ice cold or it will go bad like milk. How true is this?

how long does it take to go rancid?

and yes REAL butter

Answer 1

I always leave butter out (in a covered dish, of course) on the counter. For Christmas, I bought myself a beurrier from Williams Sonoma, and it's great! It's sealed with water, and guarantees your butter will stay fresh for up to a month. Who takes a month to go through butter though? :D

Leaving butter out on the counter won't harm you. Neither will leaving eggs unrefrigerated.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sku8401739/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C15%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cemile%20henry&cm%5Fsrc=SCH

Answer 2

If you use butter quickly - say a stick every week to ten days, it can stay out - unless it's VERY warm in the kitchen.

If it takes you longer than a week or so to use it, keep it in the fridge and take it out to warm up 30 minutes before you use it.

Butter doesn't go bad as fast as milk, but it can go bad and rancid butter is NASTY.

Answer 3

This is actually an interesting question. First off, I would like to say from my experience that butter tastes better when refrigerated. I do believe that it would be wiser to refrigerate butter because it does contain milk fat, and I would think that it would spoil (perhaps not as quickly as other diary products). Also, if you notice, at any super market you go to, the will refrigerate the butter, a definite clue that you should follow their lead. A tip for when you are refrigerating butter is that you always want to keep it covered, whether that be with the original wrapping that it came in, or with plastic wrap, this is to ensure that the smell of the fridge does not seep into the butter and alter its one of a kind flavor! Additionally you never want to microwave butter (I know it sounds foolish but its a mistake that I have made!)

Answer 4

I assume you are talking about real butter.

Since butter is a natural product it will turn rancid after a period of time. Many butters have at least some preservatives in them so it may take a little while. I tasted butter one time that had turned, and there will be no doubt in your mind once it happens.

If you were askign about margarine, it take a looooong time for it to go bad if left out because it is loaded with preservatives.

Answer 5

I keep my butter on the counter too, have for years. It doesn't go bad. It's usually out for about 4 days at the most b4 it's used up. I wouldn't use it after about 5-7 days cuz it may develop a stale taste. Still edible but tastes like sh*t!!!>>>ZETA

Answer 6

It really depends on the weather. If it's hot, you should put it in the frig. I know there are butter containers where you can leave the butter on the counter. However, I prefer leaving it in the frig.

Answer 7

I keep real butter out on the counter, and margerine in the refrigerator

Answer 8

butter needs to stay in the fridge when it doesn't taste right u will find out

Answer 9

not really, it'll just go really soft. some cooks do that just so it's easier to spread on bread, hard butter tends to rip the bread.

Answer 10

I leave mine out in the winter and put it in the fridge in the summer.