Can salted butter be left unrefrigerated (for days)?
My sister claims that leaving salted butter on her counter is perfectly safe, and normal. I'm guessing this is not such a good idea. What are the potential health concerns here....
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12 Comments:
My wife and I have this conversation often. I hold that it's not a problem at all, while she disagrees (natch). I had a friend when I was a kid who's mother left the butter in a covered dish on the kitchen table all the time. It was always fine. I suppose if you're using it often enough (and believe me, this would definitely promote the use of MORE butter), it wouldn't probably be sitting around long enough to go bad. And (best part), it's always soft!
I personally would love to have a butter bell (caution: site starts obnoxious video when you get there), as I've seen them at Sur la Table and think they look pretty cool. But maybe it's just the rudimentary gadget aspect of it...I don't know.
Not really answering your question here but, in a nutshell, I personally wouldn't worry about it.
Chaoss at 10:20AM on 12/27/06
Europeans never refrigerate their butter (or a lot of things, actually) as they believe it's like putting food in the morgue--food should live! And it's always soft and ready to go if you leave it out on the counter. If your house is a normal temperature, it should be fine. The only drawback is you tend to eat more butter because it's always ready for spreading.
homesicktexan at 3:11PM on 12/27/06
I've been doing it for years and I'm still upright and ambulatory. It definitely has not done wonders for my midsection, though, as it's way too easy to slather a nice thick layer on a crusty baguette whenever the mood strikes me.
EJ at 3:24PM on 12/27/06
My family has always left a covered dish of butter out, and while my grandmother has other unsanitary habits, this is one that I swear by. My roommate argues the same thing, but I see no problem with a stick of butter out. It certainly hasn't stopped her from smearing the stuff all over her carb addiction.
Linz at 3:35PM on 12/27/06
How about solve the argument by just switching over to olive oil? Better fats, always spreadable because it's liquid, and no refrigeration debates. Oh yes, and it tastes yummier too.
veggiesattva at 4:13PM on 12/27/06
I'm aware that leaving butter out is safe, but I never do it; I like my butter nice and cold (unless I'm having it with blue cheese on a baguette)!
Barbara Hanson at 5:23PM on 12/27/06
I refrigerate everything. Why? Because I have an expensive refrigerator and it needs to earn it's keep.
JerzeeTomato at 7:39PM on 12/27/06
In my household, it would not last because the dog would climb on the counter and help himself. Never had any problem with him stealing bread or the like. Just butter. I guess he has good taste.
nita at 11:31PM on 12/27/06
It won't go "bad" for a long time, but it will taste bad if you leave it unused, and uncovered in a warm kitchen for days.
peekpoke at 5:49AM on 12/28/06
Thanks for all the feedback. Love the "Butter Bell" suggestion (from Chaoss).
bmints at 8:20AM on 12/28/06
Yes, I second the Butter Bell. I reccomended it on another post and it keeps your butter spreadable and cool. And covered.
NYminknit at 1:04AM on 12/29/06
I have a butter bell and use it all the time. I will say that if it gets really warm in the kitchen the butter will be a little softer than most would like.
Oh, and veggiesattva, you have *GOT* to be kidding! You are definitely in the wrong place to be trying to convince people that olive oil tastes better than butter in most applications. Puh-leeze! This thread is *about* butter!
Calichef at 5:42AM on 12/29/06