How long can butter be kept in the refrigerator? What about in the freezer?
You can store butter (opened or unopened) up to one month in a refrigerator set at 40° F or colder. Opened butter cartons or unwrapped sticks should always be put in a separate refrigerator compartment or in a covered butter dish to prevent them from absorbing other food odors. For long term storage, butter (in any form) can be frozen for up to four months at 20° to 30° F, or up to one year at -10°F. Keep in mind that freezing for longer periods of time may affect the quality of flavor and texture. To freeze, place butter carton or sticks in a plastic freezer bag or wrap tightly with heavy-duty foil. If you re unsure about whether to use butter that s been stored, check the coding date marked on each butter container. This represents four months after production, so for best quality, butter should be used by that date.
