Butter is such a popular spread and baking ingredient that you cannot miss it in any kitchen. This dairy product has a way of making virtually anything taste better.
It has a high-fat content of over 80% which gives it a longer shelf life.
Butter is made by churning gallons of milk until to separate it from the buttermilk. The creamy, smooth, and flavorful attributes of butter make it perfect for baking, cooking, and spreading.
But fats tend to go rancid, and you have to store butter properly to avoid this. Spoiled butter will get moldy and may develop a sour taste which may cause stomach aches.
Butter does not have to stay in the fridge or freezer to its quality. It can retain its quality even at room temperature. You don’t even need a special container for your butter.
Here is a brief overview of how to store butter at room temperature
Consider the temperature in your kitchen
The ideal temperature for butter is 67-72 degrees. Changes in the temperature in your kitchen will require that you take extra precautions to avoid spoiling the butter.
A/C comes in handy in case temperatures go too high. If you are not in a position to regulate temperature, you might want to consider relocating it to the fridge.
Not all Butters are the Same
Butter comes in two varieties: salted and unsalted.
Salted butter lasts longer on your kitchen counter compared to unsalted butter. This is because salt is a preservative which gives salted butter a longer shelf life at room temperature and keep destructive bacteria at bay.
If you have unsalted butter, you are better off leaving it inside a fridge or freezer.
Know how much Butter you are Going to Use
When you know just how much butter you are going to use in a day or meal, you can scoop out only that amount and return the rest to the safety of the fridge. Anticipate how often you are going to use butter, and how much you will use for spreading, or baking. This way you keep your butter safe from spoiling.
Consider the type of container for storage
Use an opaque and airtight container to store butter at room temperature. Light and air accelerate oxidation.
When the oils in the butter oxidize, they become rancid. This process alters the molecular structure of butter; producing harmful compounds which may cause food poisoning. A good butter dish will make the butter spreadable for a longer duration. Avoid using metallic storage containers because they are good conductors of heat and make it easier for butter to spoil.
Confirm Pasteurization
Pasteurization destroys pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria in dairy products. The high-fat content in butter makes it vulnerable to spoiling. That is why pasteurization is so good.
According to the United States Foods and Drugs Administration (FDA), bacteria cannot survive in pasteurized butter. The pasteurization process separates fat molecules from water molecules and makes it harder for bacteria to breakthrough. Pasteurization kills bacteria so that the butter won’t spoil. Pasteurized butter takes a lot longer to spoil.
Store the Butter in the Optimum Location
Place your container of butter away from any sources of heat. Choose a cool place in the kitchen. Heat makes butter melt and sometimes spoil. Spoiled butter will give food bad flavors.
This is why you have to be careful about where you store the dish. You can store it in a closed cabinet away from the stove or any source of heat.
Wrapping up
In conclusion, it is possible for butter to retain its quality at room temperature. You just have to pay attention to the room temperature, the container, location, as well as the type of butter you are dealing with.
Storing butter at room temperature instead of freezing it has some advantages. It stays thick and easy to spread. You don’t have to soften or melt the butter. If butter is your bliss, you definitely want to store it properly.
Butter has a surprising ability to stay fresh at room temperature, under the right conditions.
