In this brief guide, we will discuss the following question, “can butter be frozen?” and other queries related to this topic.
Can butter be frozen?
Yes, butter can be frozen. The shelf life of the butter depends if it is salted or not. The unsalted butter can last for about five to six months and the salted butter can stay in the freezer for nine months and up to one year. After one year the butter is safe but its quality might not be the best.
Moreover, to preserve its freshness, the butter should be stored in its original packaging, or you can wrap it in plastic or foil paper.
Also, the butter can be placed in a well-sealed and air-tight container so that the butter will not absorb the odor of the other products present in the freezer.
In the refrigerator, it can last for three to four months. However, at room temperature butter can last for a few days before starting to lose its quality. Also, butter should be well covered if you are willing to put it on the counter.
Furthermore, the shelf life of the butter depends on its size, its packaging, its salt content, its fat percentage, and its water content. So, butter in blocks can last longer than a stick or sliced butter. In addition, the higher the salt content in the butter the longer it will last in the freezer.
Besides, spreadable butter can not last for a very long time in the freezer because they are high in oil and water which makes them more prone to deterioration. Additionally, reduced-fat butter is not advised to be frozen; instead , you should freeze any butter that contains at least 80 percent of fat.
Finally, before freezing your butter make sure that it has not passed its “best by” date. So, any butter that has passed its “best-before” date should be used as soon as possible, because the fat within the butter starts to rancid and might start developing mold or bacteria.
How to freeze butter?
First of all, before freezing your butter, and as mentioned earlier, check the “best before” date. If its date is fine, freeze it but if it has passed the date mentioned use it immediately. Additionally, to freeze your butter you should put it in its original container or keep it in its packaging.
However, if you purchased a butter block and you do not want to use it all for your recipe, consider wrapping it in foil or plastic paper and then placing it in the freezer. Additionally, before putting your butter in the freezer, cut it into small pieces and wrap them with aluminum foil.
These small butter pieces will facilitate their usage once you need them for your recipe. However, in this case, the butter will not last for a very long time in the freezer. Also, butter can be wrapped in parchment paper in case you do not have plastic or foil paper.
Although, do not wrap your butter in wax paper, because this paper will reduce the quality and the flavor of your butter. Moreover, to keep your butter fresh, store it away from any odiferous food such as onions and garlic. Odiferous food might affect the smell and the taste of the butter.
Furthermore, if you decide to store your butter in the freezer make sure that it does not have been exposed to air or light for a long time. Since the fat will rancid if it is exposed to the light and the air.
Finally, both salted and unsalted butter can be frozen in the same way. Hence, their shelf life might differ due to the presence or the absence of salt.
How to thaw butter?
The best way to thaw butter is by placing it overnight in the refrigerator. However, it all depends on your recipe. Some recipes call for frozen butter and others call for room temperature butter. Additionally, if you want to get your butter it is preferred to do it when it is still frozen.
Moreover, you can thaw butter in the microwave. The time needed depends on the recipe if it calls for melted or softened butter. Also, it can be thawed at room temperature if kept for three to four hours.
How to use frozen butter?
You can use frozen butter in many different recipes. And the texture of the butter depends also on the recipe requirements. For example, to make cookies or a pie you need your butter to be at room temperature. However, to make a cake you need your butter to be melted.
Furthermore, you can take out the frozen butter directly from the freezer and use it in your recipe like when making pureed potato, or making a vegetable saute.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we discussed the following question, “can butter be frozen?” and other queries related to this topic.
