As with any type of butter, storing compound butters will keep it from going rancid. That is, if you’re not keeping it in a refrigerator or freezer.
Compound butter is an easy addition to your kitchen and one of the most useful items for the home chef. It’s also perfect for quick and easy meals when you need something on hand that’s quick to prepare, but also provides plenty of flavor and nutrition.
How long does compound butter last? Compound butter can easily be made at home using any sort of raw dairy product, such as cream, yogurt, or milk. However, commercial versions tend to be pasteurized after production to extend their shelf life which tends to keep them fresh for longer than homemade varieties do.
Regardless of whether they are homemade or commercial varieties, they all have similar storage guidelines.
What makes butter last?
Unlike most dairy products, butter doesn’t spoil easily. It’s a fatty, liquid substance produced by churning cream into a paste, then removing the cream via skimming.
This paste is then aged until it acquires a much less liquid consistency. There are many other variables that can affect butter’s shelf life but the most important is keeping it cool.
Butter will go rancid if it’s exposed to a warm environment which can cause butter to turn brown and become gritty. Similarly, if butter sits in a very cold setting, it could go soft and become grainy.
As a general rule, butter should be kept at temperatures between 32 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it remains fresh.
Keep it cool
Keeping butter as cold as possible will help it last longer, but not freezing it will not harm it. If you keep it in the fridge, however, make sure it stays under 40 degrees so it doesn’t become soft. Draining the liquid from the butter (see below) will help to keep it colder.
Be consistent
Aside from keeping a consistent temperature, the other thing that will help keep butter fresh is to store it consistently. That is, store it in a location where it’s likely to stay at a consistent temperature and make sure it’s not exposed to too much humidity.
Use up your BUTTER!
It may sound a bit morbid, but for best results, you should use up the butter in your fridge. That’s because butter doesn’t tend to last very long at all. It’s only in the fridge that it can last for months. During that time, it can be used in various ways, from spreading on bread or cereal to poaching eggs.
Summary
There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to butter preservation. First, make sure that you keep it as cold as possible.
Second, make sure the butter is constantly and consistently stored butters can last for months.
If you use the butter, do so in moderation and don’t let it spoil too quickly. When you need to replace a jar of butter, there are a few different ways you can go about this.
In this article, we covered the simple ways to preserve butter at home, but if you aren’t able to do these, you can also easily find butter replacement products at the grocery store.
Because the shelf life for butter is so short, it’s important to make sure that you’re storing it properly. Follow these tips to ensure that you can keep your butter from going rancid.