Can I Freeze Butter

Can I freeze butter

In this brief guide, we will address the query, “can I freeze butter?” We will also discuss how you can store your butter to last longer, its nutritional information, and the best way to store this product.

Can I freeze butter?

Yes, you can freeze butter. Butter is a staple in most kitchens, as it is used to perform diverse cooking methods. It has a high-fat content and a creamy texture. However, its shelf life can be enlarged when stored in the freezer.

Butter cannot be left at room temperature, within a few hours it will be spoiled. That is why the refrigerator or the freezer is the best option to store it.

It has been reported that it can be refrigerated for up to six months, while frozen butter can last for up to eight to twelve months.

What is butter and how is it made?

Butter is a dairy product made of fermented cream or milk. It can be consumed by itself or can be applied to some cooking methods, such as

Baking

Frying

Sauteing

Roasting

Butter has a solid form when stored in the refrigerator, when kept at room temperature, it can be easily spread. Also, the butter melts when it reaches a temperature of 32 to 35°C. Commercial butter has about 80% of butterfat and 15% of water.

Butter is produced by agitating cream or milk, which will damage the membranes of the butterfat globules and will permit the milk fats to come together, which will separate them from the remaining cream.

We can divide the fat contained in butter into three forms, which are

Free butterfat.

Butterfat crystals.

Undamaged fat globules.

The different combinations and contents of these fats will create the different types of butter. The ones with higher content of butterfat crystals tend to have a firmer consistency.

How long can butter last?

Butter has a high-fat content and a lower water content, which makes it less likely to spoil quickly. Thanks to the lack of humidity, bacterial growth does not occur as soon as with any other dairy products.

If the butter is added with salt, it is even less possible that spoilage occurs quickly as the low water content and the saltiness will create a deadly environment for bacteria. However, this does not mean that butter does not go bad.

According to the USDA, butter can be stored in the fridge for one to three months, after this time its taste and texture can suffer some alterations. Similarly, when kept in the freezer the best quality is maintained for up to a whole year!

What signs can indicate that butter has gone bad?

Even when butter is one of the dairy products less likely to spoil, it surely can go rancid after some time or when not stored or handled properly.

Butter is mainly compounded by fat, which when spoiled, can suffer some alterations in its smell and color.

The process that causes fat to go rancid, is called oxidation, and it can even produce several harmful chemicals. If you want further guidance on this subject, please click here.

Oxidation can be accelerated when butter is exposed to heat, light, and oxygen. Depending on the effort you have put into storing your butter, the negative effect of oxidation can affect butter from several weeks to over a year.

What is the proper storage for butter?

Butter can be kept in the fridge or in the freezer and exhibit a large shelf life. In both options, you will require a container that does not allow the exposure of butter to the factors previously mentioned.

Freezing butter is ideal when you have extra butter, and you can not use it quickly, so to avoid spoilage (and wasting your money), freezing is the way to go. Thanks to its low water content, and high-fat content, the butter will not suffer any alterations when frozen.

How can you freeze butter?

Frozen butter can last for up to twelve months in the best conditions. However, this can depend on the type of butter you have purchased, its packaging, size, and salt content.

As we have discussed above, salt can help to avoid spoilage and also keeps the flavor when frozen.

There are certain tips that need to be attended to, such as