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Top Tips: Can You Freeze Butter? Your Guide to Doing It Right

Have you ever wondered, can you freeze butter? This dairy delicacy might not immediately come to mind when you’re thinking of freezer essentials, but butter freezes surprisingly very well — meaning you can always have a stick or two on hand!

Just like freezing cheese or milk, freezing and thawing method is everything when it comes to freezing butter successfully. So keep reading to find out how to freeze butter, how long you can freeze butter for and which butters freeze best.

 

Is All Butter Freezable?

Before you toss your butter into the freezer, it’s important to understand how different types of butter react to freezing.

 

Salted Butter

Can you freeze salted butter? Salted butter is the best candidate for freezing as the salt acts as a preservative, helping to maintain flavour and texture. Salted butter can be kept in the freezer for up to a year without significant changes in quality. Leave the frozen salted butter in the fridge for a day to thaw, and it will be as good as new.

 

Unsalted Butter

Unsalted butter can also be frozen but won’t keep as well as salted butter. The absence of salt leaves the butter more prone to picking up other freezer odours, so it is best to use it within six months. For best results, wrap the unsalted butter in cling film and place it in an airtight container before freezing.

 

Dairy-Free Butter Alternatives

You can also freeze non-dairy butter alternatives such as spreadable margarine, coconut butter or plant-based spreads, however, the texture and taste of non-dairy butter is more likely to change slightly once the spread is thawed. Coconut butter, for instance, can become crumbly, whilst margarine is prone to separation. Use frozen dairy-free butter alternatives within 3-4 months.

 

Tips for Properly Freezing and Thawing Butter

Wondering how to freeze butter? Follow these steps to ensure you are freezing and thawing your butter using the best technique possible.

1. Decide whether you want to freeze and thaw the butter as a block or portion it out into smaller cubes for specific recipes, reducing waste.

2. Wrap the butter tightly in its foil packaging or cling film and place it in an airtight container or sealed freezer bag.

3. Write the date and what type of butter it is on a label and attach it to the container or bag so you can remember when to use the butter.

4. When you’re ready to use the butter, thaw it slowly in a fridge for 24 hours. (Take the frozen butter out of the freezer on Sunday night to ensure you’ve got buttery toast on hand for a stress-free school morning).

5. Tuck in!

 

Freezing Butter: What You Should Know About Texture and Taste

When you store butter in the freezer, its water and fat molecules can separate whilst freezing, leading to changes in texture. When thawed, the butter might be less creamy or even a little crumbly, but these changes are mostly superficial and shouldn’t affect how the butter works when cooking or baking. Avoid using the microwave to thaw butter as this can cause uneven melting and changes in texture.

 

How Long Can You Freeze Butter For?

The shelf life of frozen butter varies. Here’s our easy guide to how long you can freeze butter for:

Salted butter: up to 12 months
Unsalted butter: 6-9 months
Dairy Free butter alternatives: 3-4 months

 

Check Out Our Other Tips & Tricks…

For more tips on food storage, kitchen hacks and delicious recipes, head to our Beside the Pint blog. If you’re looking to add a little magic to your mornings and level up your breakfast, browse our full range of butter and spreads here.