How long butter and margarine last in the fridge and freezer
Quick answer
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Room temperature
Keeps for 1-2 days for butter
Butter may be left at room temperature for 1 to 2 days, according to USDA FoodKeeper.
Watch out FoodKeeper lists this time for butter only, not for margarine.
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Fridge
Keeps for 1-2 months for butter, 6 months for margarine
Keep them in the fridge in their original packaging or an airtight container, and count the time from the date of purchase.
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Freezer
Keeps for 6-9 months for butter, 12 months for margarine
Freezer times count from the date of purchase and are for quality, because food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe.
Watch out Cut away any grayish-brown, leathery freezer burn spots before or after cooking.
Butter lasts 1 to 2 months in the fridge and 6 to 9 months in the freezer, counted from the date of purchase. You can leave butter at room temperature for 1 to 2 days. Margarine lasts 6 months in the fridge and 12 months in the freezer.
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On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
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Butter lasts 1 to 2 months in the fridge, and margarine lasts 6 months. In the freezer, butter keeps 6 to 9 months and margarine keeps 12 months.
These times come from USDA FoodKeeper, the food storage data from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. The butter and margarine times count from the date of purchase, which means the day you bought them.
How long does butter last?
Butter lasts 1 to 2 months in the fridge, counted from the date of purchase. At room temperature it can stay out for 1 to 2 days, and in the freezer it keeps 6 to 9 months. The table shows the USDA FoodKeeper times for butter, margarine, and ghee. Not listed means FoodKeeper gives no time for that place.
| Food | Counter or pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butter | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 2 months | 6 to 9 months |
| Margarine | Not listed | 6 months | 12 months |
| Ghee | 6 to 8 months | 1 to 2 years | Not listed |
How long does ghee last?
Ghee lasts 6 to 8 months in the pantry and 1 to 2 years in the fridge, according to USDA FoodKeeper. That’s far longer than the 1 to 2 days butter may stay out.
Does butter go bad?
Yes, butter doesn’t last forever. In the fridge, USDA FoodKeeper gives it 1 to 2 months from the date of purchase, so start counting on the day you bought it.
Margarine gets 6 months in the fridge. If you won’t use butter in time, you can freeze it.
Does butter need to be refrigerated?
For anything longer than 1 to 2 days, yes. USDA FoodKeeper says butter may be left at room temperature for 1 to 2 days, and it gives butter 1 to 2 months in the fridge.
How long can butter sit out?
Butter can sit out at room temperature for 1 to 2 days, according to USDA FoodKeeper. So you can leave it on the counter for a day or two. After that, put it back in the fridge.
How long can you leave unsalted butter out?
Unsalted butter can sit out at room temperature for 1 to 2 days, the same time USDA FoodKeeper gives butter. FoodKeeper lists one room temperature time for butter and doesn’t split out unsalted butter. After 1 to 2 days, put it back in the fridge.
How should you store butter in the fridge?
Keep butter in the fridge, either in its original packaging or in an airtight container. Do the same with margarine.
How long does margarine last?
Margarine lasts 6 months in the fridge, counted from the date of purchase. That’s longer than the 1 to 2 months butter gets. USDA FoodKeeper lists margarine for the fridge and the freezer, and gives no room temperature time for it, so keep it in the fridge.
Can you freeze butter?
Yes. You can freeze butter for 6 to 9 months and margarine for 12 months, counted from the date of purchase.
Those freezer times are about quality, not safety. According to the USDA’s guidance on freezing and food safety, food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, and only quality suffers with long freezer storage.
Can you freeze margarine?
Yes. USDA FoodKeeper gives margarine 12 months in the freezer, counted from the date of purchase. That’s longer than the 6 to 9 months butter gets.
What is freezer burn?
Freezer burn doesn’t make food unsafe. It leaves the food dry in spots, which turn grayish-brown and leathery where air reached the surface. Cut those parts away before or after cooking.
Frequently asked questions
How long does butter last in the freezer?
Butter lasts 6 to 9 months in the freezer, and margarine lasts 12 months. USDA FoodKeeper counts both from the date of purchase.
How long does butter last in the fridge?
Butter lasts 1 to 2 months in the fridge, counted from the date of purchase, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Margarine lasts 6 months.
Is butter still safe after its freezer time is up?
Food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, and only quality suffers with long freezer storage. So the 6 to 9 months for butter is about quality.
Can you leave margarine out on the counter?
USDA FoodKeeper gives no room temperature time for margarine. It lists 6 months in the fridge and 12 months in the freezer.
When does the clock start on butter's fridge time?
It starts on the date of purchase, which means the day you bought the butter. USDA FoodKeeper counts the fridge and freezer times for butter and margarine that way.
