Butter is a kitchen superstar—perfect for baking, cooking, or just spreading on warm toast. While the fridge keeps it fresh for weeks, what happens when you buy in bulk or just can’t use it fast enough? Freezing butter is a smart, simple way to lock in freshness, flavor, and texture.
Why Freeze Butter?
Butter is naturally high in milkfat and low in moisture, which slows spoilage. But even in the fridge, it can:
- Absorb strong odors from other foods
- Slowly oxidize, altering taste and appearance
Freezing puts these processes on pause. This is ideal if:
- You bought butter on sale or in bulk
- You want to prevent waste
- You want to keep butter ready for baking or cooking at a moment’s notice
How Long Can Butter Stay Frozen?
Stored at 0 °F (−18 °C) or lower, butter can last far longer than in the fridge:
- Salted butter: Up to 12 months
- Unsalted butter: 6–9 months
Salt acts as a natural preservative, which is why salted butter tends to handle freezing slightly better. Pro tip: freeze butter before it reaches its “use by” date. Freezing stops spoilage but doesn’t sterilize it, so quality matters.
Continue reading on next page…