Posted on 05/04/2026 4:49:27 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
When it comes to storing food, many of us follow the practices our parents and grandparents used. Who cares about reading the package instructions when Grandma left her butter in the butter bell all day, every day, right?
So, maybe your butter's home is on the counter in a dish. Or if not on the counter at all times, perhaps you leave your butter sitting out overnight to soften before baking.
But, should you leave butter sitting out, unrefrigerated? And, if so, how long can it be on the counter before it becomes unsafe to eat? We asked the experts at Land O'Lakes to put the debate to rest once and for all—and some of you might not like the answer......
Even though room-temperature butter likely won't make you sick, Land O'Lakes recommends storing butter in the fridge when you're not using it. But, if you're in the heat of baking and forget to put the last little knob back in the fridge right away, that's ok—just so long as you don't let it sit out for a few extra hours.
"Do not leave butter at room temperature for more than 4 hours," says Engen. "Always return any unused butter to the refrigerator and be aware that butter left outside refrigeration may become darker in color and have [its] flavor affected."
Keeping butter in the fridge is a good rule of thumb, as it helps ensure the tasty fat won’t pick up any undesirable odors or flavors from your kitchen. Plus, the cool fridge temps make butter last much longer because room-temperature butter can go rancid within a day or two, according to the USDA, while refrigerated or frozen butter can last months.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
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they all want you to throw it out and buy new, of course.
Same. At least one stick week or more.
Butter keeper.
Lasts for weeks at room temperature.
L
This thread is racist and it won’t be long before the fake Indian, granny Warren, comes along screeching like a harridan.
I haven’t used any Land o’ Lakes products since they took the Indian off the package.
That said, if you want soft butter on demand, use a butter bell.
Yep, the “Butter Bell” people disagree!
https://www.thespruceeats.com/best-butter-keepers-crocks-5180289
I think these started in Europe?....before fridges?
I leave mine out from the moment I get a new stick to the time it is gone. Could be weeks and never got sick. I think we take the Storage stuff to serious and really generations upon generations have been doing it a different way and survived.
Land o lakes is crap. Read the ingredients.
I haven’t used any Land o’ Lakes products since they took the Indian off the package.
This is a CYA response.
“they all want you to throw it out and buy new, of course.”
The opposite. Putting it in the fridge makes it last longer.
Yep, the liability insurance company required response.
LOL can KMA.
It’s good for days, and a lot of people are going to post that on this thread.
Ditto. Even in summer.
Salted or unsalted...No matter...just don’t take it or my bacon away.
My mother in law always left it out. My wife always left it out, covered of course. So, I guess my kids will probably always leave it out.
Never got sick from it. And it’s a lot easier to spread.
There is nothing so irritating as cold butter gouging out the middle of your toast.
Been watching TV since the 60’s. Everyone takes the milk out of the fridge, fills a glass, and leaves the milk on the counter. It’ll bug me until I assume room temperature.
Around here butter melts on the counter for most of the year. We always keep it in the fridge.
Butter will keep for years in the freezer, so we stock up if we find a decent sale.
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