Published on
Updated
Reading 1 min.
It is one of the French’s favorite ingredients. Butter, this fatty substance excellent for health, sits on all breakfast tables. But how long can you keep it out of the fridge without risk? The answer from our nutritionists.
On toast, poultry or in a cake: butter remains the most used fat, both in cooking and in baking. A must-have, which we tend to leave lying around on the breakfast table. But does butter risk going stale outside the fridge, or even going rancid? Answer.
Butter out of the fridge: opinions differ
If Dr Arnaud Cocaul, nutritionist, believes “that there is no risk in leaving the butter out at room temperature for a few hours“, and “only the taste can be altered“, Alexandra Murcier, nutritionist, wants to be more careful”Due to its organoleptic composition, butter is a dairy product which tends to go rancid and melt. You should therefore not leave it outside for too long, as it is sensitive to bacteria and the cold chain. In my opinion, it is better not to leave it out of the refrigerator for more than a quarter of an hour. Then, because there are also bacteria in the refrigerator, it must be stored in an airtight place“.
Despite these precautions, if the butter turns, it is easy to notice: its smell and taste then become unpleasant.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
Optimal storage of 12 weeks
Notice to those who like to stock up on butter: it doesn’t last forever. When its packaging is untouched, salted butter will keep for a maximum of three months in the refrigerator. Unsalted butter, which is more fragile, can be kept for two months.
After opening, the ideal is to consume it quickly, within three weeks, to benefit from all its flavor. After this time, it is less tasty.
Slide: 8 tips for replacing butter