Is it possible to store butter in the freezer and for how long?
Butter has a relatively short shelf life.
If it needs to be significantly extended, freezing will come to the rescue. This is a practical storage method, but requires compliance with a number of rules.
We will tell you in this article how to store butter in the freezer correctly and for how long.
Content
Is it worth freezing?
Butter contains a high percentage of fat in its composition. This allows the product to withstand freezing well.
Once defrosted it can be used both for sandwiches and for preparing complex dishes.
Shelf life in the freezer
A pack of butter bought in a store can stay in the freezer for 4 months. In this case, the air temperature should be maintained stable and be in the region from -14 to -18°C. For very small packaging of 10-50 grams, the storage time is shorter, only 2 months.
If the freezer temperature is higher, the oil will not stay in it as long. It will need to be used within 75 days. If possible, it is best to use quick blast freezing.
The exact timing of inventory holding depends on a number of factors:
- product freshness;
- type of packaging;
- composition, etc.
To ensure maximum shelf life, it is recommended to place only fresh product in the freezer.
Conditions
Like other products that are sent to the freezer for long-term storage, butter requires compliance with a number of conditions.
The main points include the following:
- Maintaining a stable temperature in the freezer.
- No contact with other products - meat, fish, etc.
- Elimination of the possibility of intermediate defrosting.
Too small pieces (up to 50 grams) are stored worse than large ones. Based on this, it is not recommended to cut a large volume of butter too finely in advance so as not to shorten the storage time.
Preparation
When planning the content of oil in the freezer, you should ensure that there is no close contact with other products.
This is necessary in order to when you need to defrost the product, you don’t have to take the whole large piece out of the freezer.
Package
In order for the product to be maximally protected while in the freezer for a long time, it must be securely packaged. Several options are possible. A piece that is in its original packaging can be frozen in it.
Additionally, it is recommended to wrap the top of the pack in:
- foil,
- parchment,
- tight bag or food container.
This will allow the contents of the package to be well isolated from external influences - contact with air, other products, etc.
If for some reason parchment was chosen, and additional packaging in a bag or foil is not provided, the shelf life of the oil in the freezer is reduced to 1 month. When freezing several pieces, each of them should be separately packaged.
How to defrost correctly?
Butter is very sensitive to defrosting conditions.
The best option is to transfer the packaging from the freezer to the refrigerator shelf and leave there until completely thawed.
It’s convenient to take out a pack in the evening so that you can prepare sandwiches in the morning.
There is no point in trying to speed up defrosting in various radical ways.. This product does not tolerate high temperatures and immediately begins to lose its shape and consistency.
If the oil is exposed to high temperatures, it may also lose its aroma and the taste will deteriorate. Once defrosted, the oil can no longer be stored for a long time, and it is recommended to use it first.
Conclusion
When storing butter, only one-time freezing is allowed. This allows you to significantly increase shelf life.
This storage method is significantly influenced by the conditions in the freezer, the primary condition and quality of the product, as well as the reliability of the packaging. Subject to all rules, oil can lie for several months without losing its unique qualities, taste and aroma.
