How to store butter correctly and for how long in the refrigerator and freezer

Butter is a basic product that is used virtually everywhere in cooking; rarely can a dish be prepared without it. Moreover, such oil is a healthy product, a source of many minerals and some vitamins necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. Due to the high calorie content of the product, it is not recommended to consume it in large quantities or excessively. Since butter is an affordable and popular product, the issue of its proper storage is relevant for many. Read more about how to store butter correctly and under what conditions to prevent butter from spoiling.

GOST requirements

In GOST 32261-2013 “Butter. Technical Specifications" you can find information about what quality the product should be, under what conditions it should be stored and transported. As stated in the document, shelf life varies depending on the composition, type of packaging and temperature.

Standard portioned pieces in foil packaging according to GOST are stored for up to 15 days at a temperature of 2 to 5 degrees above zero - such conditions are maintained by refrigerators. The product is stored wrapped in parchment for the same amount of time. As for the freezer, when the temperature drops to minus 18 degrees, the shelf life increases to 120 days, provided there is packaging made of foil, parchment or polymer materials.

Shelf life of butter according to GOST

Like any product, butter has standards established by current GOSTs:

• Federal Law No. 90 “Technical Regulations for Oil and Fat Products”;
• GOST 32261 “Butter”;
• GOST 32188 “Margarines”;
• GOST 52100 “Refined spreads and mixtures”;
• GOST 1129 “Sunflower oil”;
• technical regulations of the Customs Union “For oil and fat products”.

You can find out the shelf life of butter according to GOST in this article

How to store it correctly

Most housewives will answer the question about the ideal place to store butter absolutely correctly - this tasty and healthy dairy product should be kept in the refrigerator. However, it is necessary to take into account a number of nuances:

• a shelf on the door is not the most suitable place, since the temperature will constantly change when opening and closing the refrigerator;
• the vegetable drawer at the bottom of the appliance will allow the product to remain soft enough to be conveniently spread on sandwiches;
• The coolest place in the refrigerator will maximize shelf life.

In manufacturer's packaging

Most often, the manufacturer uses foil as packaging for portioned bars. In this case, the purchase can be moved to the home refrigerator in the same form in which it was on the store shelf. This also applies to situations where the manufacturer has chosen parchment, a plastic box or other opaque container for packaging. Goods purchased in bulk, wrapped in plastic film, must be transferred to an oil can or wrapped in a suitable material.

See also

Rules for storing tools and placement systems, interesting ideas

In the oil can

When choosing an oiler, it is better to give preference to materials such as porcelain and stainless steel. If the container is made of plastic, then its walls will be permeable to the odors of surrounding products. In addition, it may be difficult to wash.

The basic requirements for a container for storing butter are as follows:

• opaque walls;
• tight-fitting lid.

In a properly selected butter dish or container suitable for its characteristics, butter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 weeks.

In foil

To prevent the delicate taste from spoiling, foil is a great packaging option. A product wrapped in this material will not lose its properties for up to 20 days.

In parchment paper

Paper is a breathable material, so the product will not suffocate. At the same time, the parchment will protect against weathering. For storage, the piece is wrapped in 2 layers. The quality will last up to 10 days.

Shelf life

Production technologies and shelf life, according to which the storage of butter lasts no more than a month, are strictly prescribed by GOSTs. A product of imported origin may have a longer shelf life due to the addition of appropriate, by no means useful, additives to its composition. Preservatives added to the product can extend the shelf life by up to a year, but you hardly want to add such oil to your baby’s porridge.

The optimal shelf life of butter, without fear for health: in parchment - 10 days, in foil - 20 days.

When choosing and buying butter in the store, focus on the date of manufacture. It is no secret that a “discount” product is almost always a product with an expiration date approaching the critical one. Please note that oil produced in summer has a shelf life longer than in winter.

Can it be stored in the freezer?

An excellent characteristic of the product is that it tolerates freezing remarkably well. It is advisable to cut a large piece into portions - this way there will be no need to defrost it completely in order to cut off the part required by volume. The butter is wrapped in several layers of parchment paper and then in cellophane. This will prevent aromas from being absorbed from nearby foods such as meat and fish.

The shelf life in the freezer is given in the table below.

If the oil sits for longer, it will negatively affect the taste characteristics.

How to store without refrigeration

At room temperature, butter will begin to deteriorate within two days. However, there are several ways to help maintain freshness a little longer.

Water

The simplest and yet most effective method is to place a piece of butter in a bowl of cold water and place it in the coolest place in the house. The method works even in the warm season. There is another storage option using liquid. The product is placed in a glass jar. Place it in a pan of water so that the liquid reaches the middle of the container. A cotton cloth, previously moistened and well wrung out, is placed on top of the jar. The ends of the flap should fall into the water.

See also

How to properly store sun-dried tomatoes at home

Salt

To keep butter fresh you will need:

• salt - 20 g;
• water - 1 liter;
• parchment paper;
• deep dishes (it is best to take enamel or glass).

The piece is pre-cut into portions weighing 150-200 g, and each part is wrapped in parchment. For these purposes, baking paper is suitable, which every housewife can find. The cubes are placed in a pan or jar and filled with cool water with salt dissolved in it. The fluid must be changed daily. The method works better if you use oppression. This way the product will last up to three weeks.

Vinegar

Vinegar is an excellent preservative and will help extend shelf life at room temperature. To do this, you need to prepare a vinegar solution and pour it into a glass jar. Oil placed in such a liquid will last longer. For another method of storing a product using vinegar, you will need a cotton cloth. The flap is moistened in a solution prepared from water and table vinegar, after which it is wrapped in butter. The prepared product is placed in a pan or other container, sprinkled with sugar and covered with a lid.

When the fabric dries, it is necessary to re-moisten it with a vinegar solution.

Selection of butter in the store

Be sure to read the information on the packaging - composition, shelf life, production date and nutritional value. Real butter contains only cream and milk. You may read that it contains salt, but real oil does not contain any other ingredients.

The vegetable fats indicated in the composition indicate that you have not chosen natural oil. They say the same thing: low price, non-compliance with oil GOSTs, transparent packaging.

You should pay attention to the color of the oil. Too saturated yellow color indicates tinting. When choosing between sweet cream (based on pasteurized cream) and sour cream (based on fermented cream), keep in mind that fermented cream has a longer shelf life.

There are standards for storing oil at points of sale. An important condition is air humidity. It should not exceed 80% to prevent molding.

Also, you need to know that storing butter in stores for more than 5 days is not recommended; ghee can be stored for 15 days.

Signs of a spoiled product

If the butter begins to spoil, it is easy to notice. First of all, the color will change: the product will acquire a yellowish tint. Smell is another indicator of freshness. Spoiled oil smells damp. A stale product tastes bitter.

Substandard oil is dangerous for consumption because pathogenic microorganisms develop in it as a result of oxidation processes. If a spoiled product enters the human gastrointestinal tract, it can cause severe poisoning.

Resuscitation of spoiled oil

It is better to throw away rancid oil. However, there are situations when it becomes necessary to revive the product. There are several ways to help give spoiled oil a second life:

• If the outer surface turns yellow during storage, the discolored layer should be removed. This advice can be used when a change in color is the only sign of damage. After cutting off the top layer, you need to change the storage conditions for the remaining part.
• Spoiled butter can be melted. Subsequently, the product is used for cooking.
• The simplest way is to rinse with plain water. Afterwards, you need to salt the product and mix it with a small amount of carrot juice.
• A soda solution will help revive spoiled butter. The product is first treated with a liquid prepared from a teaspoon of soda dissolved in a glass of water, then washed and a pinch of salt is added.
• Stale butter can be mashed in milk. Then the product must be washed under running water.

See also

How to store mint fresh in winter at home, rules and best methods

Helpful or Harmful?

This product contains 150 fatty acids. Most of them are saturated, which is what increases cholesterol levels in the blood, but along with them there are also unsaturated acids that remove cholesterol from the body.

As you can see, everything is balanced in nature, and if you follow a proper diet and take a sensible approach to including certain foods in your diet, including oil, you don’t have to worry about the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Really, how many kilograms of butter do you have to eat to give yourself a heart attack?

The issue of maintaining health is complex and its solution does not depend only on the consumption or exclusion of butter from the menu. One should not lose sight of the fact that cholesterol is necessary to maintain normal digestion and the production of sex hormones. Moreover, it should be noted that butter holds the record for the content of fat-soluble vitamins - A, D, E, K.

Cow butter is indicated for children. The vitamins and minerals contained in it are the building blocks for their hormonal system.

Until the age of forty, oil is only beneficial in moderation. Without the fats contained in butter, cells are not renewed and skin elasticity is not maintained.

Observe the consumption measure and storage conditions, if you are creating food reserves for future use, choose and use quality products, and they will benefit your health, and this is the main thing why we eat! Familiarize yourself with the storage conditions of other foods that are common on your table; for example, it would be a good idea to learn how to store cheese.