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Main Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: Ben on February 10, 2020, 08:28:23 AM

Title: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: Ben on February 10, 2020, 08:28:23 AM
How do you store your butter - refrigerated or in a container at room temp?

I don't use a ton of butter for "daily" stuff, so it has always been in the fridge and if I need some for baking or other cooking, I try to remember to put what I need on the counter the night before.

However, for those instance where I use butter for daily stuff, like on toast, even if it might only be once or twice a week, I get very frustrated with hard butter. After some reading on food safety, I'm looking at just keeping some small quantity on the counter at all times in a closed butter dish. Other than keeping track that it doesn't sit out more than a couple of weeks, I think I'm fine throwing a bit of unused butter away for the convenience of immediately spreadable butter.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: MillCreek on February 10, 2020, 08:51:18 AM
I used to keep my butter in the fridge until my wife convinced me to see the light.  We now keep a single stick on the counter in a covered glass butter dish.  We finish it up within a week or so.  It has never gone rancid, even in the summer.  I had earlier tried those containers in which you pack the butter inside of a bell, and store it upside down in a water seal or the like.  A big pain in the tuchis to soften the butter, pack it in the bell, and then when it gets warm, the butter falls out into the water.  It did not seem to extend the shelf life of the butter, so off to Goodwill it went.  We are happy with our covered glass stick holder on the counter.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: Ron on February 10, 2020, 09:06:02 AM
I've done both over the years.

Never had a problem with leaving it out.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: Ben on February 10, 2020, 09:06:56 AM
Thanks for that info Millcreek - I was looking at those "water containers" but yeah, they seemed like more of a pain than rock hard butter. I just ordered a small crockery container to try.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: K Frame on February 10, 2020, 09:22:45 AM
I keep mine in the fridge.

If you want to solve the "rock hard butter" problem, it's pretty easy.

Take a pound of butter at chill room temperature and put it a mixing bowl (stand mixer with the whisk is better) then mix it on high for a few minutes. If it starts getting too loose and melty, throw it in the fridge for a few minutes and continue.

What you're trying to do is whip air into the butter. When it's lightened in color and looks "fluffy," gently scoop it into a container and put back in the fridge.

All the air that's whipped in makes it easier to get out of the container and spread even when it's cold.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: makattak on February 10, 2020, 10:17:10 AM
I just buy spreadable butter and keep it in the fridge. It's not 100% butter, but it tastes good enough for me. (My wife disagrees, but the children, like me, think it's great.)

Sticks of butter stay in the fridge.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: charby on February 10, 2020, 10:19:46 AM
One stick on the counter, rest is in the fridge.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: K Frame on February 10, 2020, 10:25:42 AM
Here's a recipe for spreadable butter using a light, non-flavored oil like avocado or grape seed.

https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/homemade-spreadable-butter/
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: BobR on February 10, 2020, 11:38:22 AM
One stick on the counter in a butter dish, the rest in the fridge. Used to use a butter bell but for some reason stopped and just went to the butter dish. If I am going to need some I try to remember to put it out to soften.

bob
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: p12 on February 10, 2020, 12:36:37 PM
One stick on the counter, rest is in the fridge.


This for years. Living in central Texas heat never a problem
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: Kingcreek on February 10, 2020, 03:11:44 PM
One stick in a covered butter dish on the counter, the rest in the freezer or fridge.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: sumpnz on February 10, 2020, 10:25:44 PM
Same as the last few.  Make to keep the counter butter covered.  It will go 'stale', for lack of a better word, if you don't.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: 230RN on February 10, 2020, 11:39:10 PM
I always operated as in my family: in the icebox and later, in the new-fangled refrigerator.  Spreading it never seemed to be a problem --maybe we just didn't know any better.

It wasn't until about 1987 when I dated a lady who kept it out all the time that I came across that idea.  I expressed my wonderment about that but didn't let it bother me.

I've said this before, might as well again.  I haven't had butter in the house for decades.  I substitute olive oil now, and lately even olive oil in a spray can, which works pretty good, but is not ideal.

My typical before bed snack is a slice of dark toast with olive oil sprayed on it, then some ginger and cinnamon sprinkled over it, and usually a bit of honey dribbled atop all that, finished off with a short glass of milk.

Terry, 230RN

Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: sumpnz on February 11, 2020, 12:50:06 AM
If I couldn't eat butter anymore (shudder) I'd probably use schmaltz rather than a plant based oil.  Bacon drippings are great, but oftentimes you want a much more subtle flavor and the amount of solids from bacon is more of a bother that the little amount from rendering schmaltz.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: Fly320s on February 11, 2020, 09:29:20 AM
One stick on the counter, rest is in the fridge.

Same here.

I use salted butter for my toast, so I have no qualms about leaving it on the counter for extended periods.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: zxcvbob on February 11, 2020, 10:23:25 AM
Here's a recipe for spreadable butter using a light, non-flavored oil like avocado or grape seed.

https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/homemade-spreadable-butter/

Will kerosene work?
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: brimic on February 14, 2020, 09:34:26 AM
Whatever is in use is in a butter container on the counter, bulk butter goes in the fridge- though not necessary, we go through butter so fast that it would never go bad.
Also condiments- ketchup, mustard stay out of the fridge.
Title: Re: Butter - Refrigerated or on the Counter?
Post by: Ben on February 14, 2020, 09:37:59 PM
Yeah, I like this "keeping some out" much better. I use the salted Kerrygold, which is too big for my butter dish, but cutting one in half works perfectly and keeps my bread in one piece.  :laugh: