Can You Freeze Butter?
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Have you ever found butter on sale and wondered if you could stock up and freeze it for later? The good news is, yes, you can freeze butter! As cookbook authors and freezer cooking experts, we have found that freezing butter is a simple way to extend its shelf life, save money, and always have it on hand for your cooking and baking needs.
In this post, we’ll explore the best ways to freeze butter, how to properly thaw it, and whether there are any changes to its taste or texture after freezing.
Why Freeze Butter
- Extend Shelf Life: Similar to freezing avocados or freezing tortillas, freezing butter helps extend its shelf life by several months.
- Save Money: Buying butter in bulk when it’s on sale and freezing it can save you money over time, especially if you use it frequently for cooking or baking.
- Maintain Quality: Freezing helps preserve the flavor, texture, and nutritional quality of butter.
- Convenience: Having a stock of butter in the freezer means you’ll never run out when you need it most, whether for baking a last-minute dessert like our Easy Peach Cobbler with Cake Mix or preparing a family dinner like Butter Noodles.
How to Freeze Butter
The simplest way to freeze butter is to keep it in the original packaging and place that inside a gallon-size freezer bag. However, the form of butter you buy and how you plan to use it can influence how it should be frozen:
- Butter sticks – Butter sticks can be kept in the wrapper and frozen in a gallon-size freezer bag or a freezer-safe container.
- Butter blocks – We recommend cutting butter blocks into portions that you would use in a recipe. Cut the butter into smaller blocks, wrap each block in plastic, then place in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for freezing.
- Tub butter – Since tub butters are not packaged in freezer-grade materials, the best way to freeze them is to transfer them into an airtight, freezer-safe container. Divide into smaller containers as needed so you can use a little bit at a time.
How long can it stay frozen?
According to the USDA, as long as frozen food is kept at 0°F in the freezer, it is safe to consume for an indefinite amount of time. However, after a year or so, you will likely notice signs of freezer burn on butter.
During our research and recipe testing for our cookbooks, From Freezer to Table and From Freezer to Cooker, we learned that most frozen foods, including butter, should be consumed within 3-6 months for optimal taste and texture. Be sure to freeze your butter well before the USE BY date for safety purposes. That way you’ll have plenty of time left to use your butter after it thaws out.
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How to Defrost Frozen Butter
We have found that the way you defrost frozen butter depends on how you plan to use it. Thaw butter according to these different uses:
- For softening and spreading – If a recipe calls for softened butter or you’d like to spread it on toast, thaw the butter slowly in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours. You can then let it sit at room temperature for an hour or so to soften it evenly throughout.
- For melted butter – You can defrost butter in the microwave if you need to melt it for a recipe. Place the frozen butter in a covered microwave-safe container and heat in 30-second increments at 70% power, stirring in between heatings until melted.
- For cold butter – In pie crusts, scones, and pastry doughs, butter can be grated directly from the freezer with large holes of a box grater. Or thaw in the refrigerator.
Once frozen butter is thawed, you should plan to use it within 30 days for the best flavor.
FAQs
No! Either freezes well. Some sources say that salted butter will last longer in the freezer.
No. You can put frozen butter directly into a pan on the stovetop. Or you can grate it and immediately use it in baked goods.
Generally about three months. If you aren’t going to use it in that time frame, we’d recommend freezing it.
Recipes to Use Up Your Frozen Butter
Boiled Baby Potatoes
Our delicious boiled baby potatoes recipe is a simple side dish for a weeknight meal or a special occasion.
Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
Our make-ahead, gluten-free Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole is SO easy! It makes this traditional holiday or BBQ side dish a little bit healthier by making it from scratch and leaving out the canned cream soup. This cheesy potato casserole comes together quickly but is creamy and comforting as always.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
These Ham and Cheese Sliders are a family staple. They are super easy to make, budget-friendly, great for a group of people, and even freezer friendly. I’ve been making these for YEARS and constantly have people ask for the recipe.
Bottom Line
Butter is one of the best kitchen staples to stock up on and freeze! Freeze butter for up to 6 months and thaw according to how you would like to use it.
If you love butter like we do, try this!
Garlic Herb ButterWhat Else Can You Freeze?
Wondering what else you can stock up on and freeze? Here are more well-researched and well-tested articles we wrote from our experience.
- How to Freeze Tortillas
- How to Freeze Butter
- How to Freeze Muffins
- How to Freeze Bananas
- How to Freeze Zucchini
- How to Freeze Rice
- How to Freeze Avocados
- How to Freeze Cheese
- How to Freeze Pesto
- How to Freeze Quiche
- How to Freeze Chicken Pot Pie
- How to Freeze Chicken and Dumplings
- How to Freeze White Chicken Chili
- How Long Steak Is Good in the Freezer
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