Can Butter Go Bad?: Most of us consume Butter on a Daily Basis and it is a Kitchen Staple. However, the quantity of Butter we use varies from person to person and the type of dishes we prepare. Have you bought butter in bulk and put it back in the fridge and didn’t open it for a long time? Your quest to the questions like Can Butter Go Bad, How Long Butter Lasts, and How to Store Butter will be answered here.
Butter is unlikely to get moldy or rotten but becomes rancid after a certain period of time if not stored properly. We have even covered details like Signs to Tell if Butter is Bad, Can You Freeze Butter, Will you get Sick Eating Expired Butter, etc. Continue reading further to know about the Shelf Life, Expiration Date of Butter, etc.
- Can Butter Go Bad?
- How to Store Butter?
- How Long Does Butter Last: Shelf Life & Expiration Date
- How to Tell if Butter has Gone Bad?
- Can You Substitute Butter for Shortening?
- Can You Freeze Butter?
- What Happens if you Eat Expired Butter?
- Interesting Facts about Butter
- What happens if you eat old butter?
- What does rancid butter taste like?
- Should butter be kept in the Refrigerator?
- How long does butter last in the fridge once opened?
Can Butter Go Bad?
Yes, Butter can surely go bad if not stored properly but will not go bad as fast as you think. Butter Packets usually come with the best by date and it is advised to consume within that date. However, you can consume a week or two after the best date and it will not make you fall sick. To increase the shelf life of butter store it in a refrigerator and use the inner shelves than the shelves in the door to overcome temperature fluctuations.
How to Store Butter?
Butter should be stored in a proper way to prevent it from becoming rancid. Heat and Sunlight present will accelerate the oxidation process. So, we advise you to store the butter in the Fridge. However, placing it in the Refrigerator will not stop the butter from oxidizing but will slow down the process.
Storing the butter at room temperature will retain the quality of butter for only a couple of days. Remember to wrap it tightly so that the surface doesn’t have access to air thus limiting the process of oxidization. To even store it further we can freeze it. Cut butter into smaller portions and then pack each portion separately. Thaw when needed and this will extend the shelf life for bout 6 – 8 months.
How Long Does Butter Last: Shelf Life & Expiration Date
Go by the date on the package to get to know the Shelf Life of Butter. All the dates are for letting you know the product has its freshness intact by that time. If you eat the product a week or two after that date will not affect you. Butter can be stored in open or unopen conditions and it doesn’t have any impact on how long does butter last.
Keep in mind that salted butter stays fine compared to unsalted butter. As Salt is a preservative salted butter stays for a long time.
| Condition | Kitchen counter | Fridge |
|---|---|---|
| Butter (unopened or opened) | 2 – 4 days | Sell-by + 1 month |
How to Tell if Butter has Gone Bad?
You can see if Butter has Gone Bad or not by following the being conditions. They are as follows
- Mold Formation: If you witness any mold formation in the Butter it’s a sign that butter has gone wrong.
- Discoloration: If you find any other color than the regular pale yellow color butter has become rancid.
- Smell: When you sense any off or sour smell butter turned rancid.
- Taste: Taste your butter and if it is accompanied by any sour smell and the taste is different from the regular one then butter has gone bad. If it is spoiled throw it away.
Can You Freeze Butter?
If you bought butter than the regular size you better freeze it. If you keep butter in the freezer for about 1 to 2 weeks you will have extra protection against freezer burn. You can use airtight containers to store. You can use resealable freezer bags and make sure to squeeze the air from them before sealing.
What Happens if you Eat Expired Butter?
You need not panic about eating expired butter. It won’t harm you or cause food poisoning. The worst that can happen is you will get a stomach ache. Eating Expired Butter will lower your Vitamin E & Vitamin B Levels. You can witness the change in color and slight difference in taste if butter expires.
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Ingredients:
Milk fat Min: 80%
Allergen Advice: Contains Milk
| No. of servings per pack: 16.66 | |||
| Serving size: 30g | |||
| Nutritional facts (approx.) | UOM | Per 100g | %RDA* |
| Energy | Kcal | 723.6 | 10.9 |
| Protein | g | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Carbohydrates | g | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| Added Sugar | g | 0 | 0 |
| Total Fat | g | 80 | 35.8 |
| Saturated Fat | g | 54.3 | 74 |
| Trans Fatty Acids | g | 0 | – |
| Cholesterol | mg | 330 | – |
* Per serve percentage (%) contribution to Recommended Dietary Allowance calculated based on 2000 kcal energy.
Interesting Facts about Butter
Butter is quite popular among people for the health & nutritional benefits it has. They are explained below
- Butter is pretty popular among individuals who follow low-carb or high-fat diets.
- You can use it in your weight loss journey as it breaks down the fat effectively.
- Butter regulates inflammatory and immunological responses ad even improves bone mass.
- Butter has no bad cholesterol fats as most of you assume.
- Although butter is rich in healthy nutrients it can harm those who are allergic to Milk.
- High-fat dairy products will not increase your risk of heart diseases but in turn, benefits the heart in numerous ways.
FAQs on Does Butter Expire
1. What happens if you eat old butter?
Oxygen binding to the fat will change the chemical components thus leading to a horrible taste. However, consuming it will not make you fall sick.
2. What does rancid butter taste like?
Rancid butter will have a sour-bitter taste.
3. Should butter be kept in the Refrigerator?
Yes, you should keep the Butter in the Refrigerator to use it for a considerable amount of time.
4. How long does butter last in the fridge once opened?
Butter lasts about 1 month in the fridge once opened.
Key Takeaways
We wish the knowledge shed with regards to Can Butter Go Bad has been useful to you. Store the butter in the fridge or at room temperature in an air-tight container to prevent it from spoilage. If you need or still have any questions left unanswered do write us in the comment section and we will answer you. Bookmark our site to check if similar dairy products have a shelf life, expiration date, tips for storage, etc.