How does butter remain edible for so long without refrigeration?
My wife and I keep a stick of butter in the cupboard rather than the refrigerator. Even with just the two of us, it rarely lasts very long, but I'd say it may go as long as a week without refrigeration before it's all gone. There have been times when I have told friends about this and they express concern due to the fact that butter is a dairy product. They cannot comprehend not refrigerating it at all times.
What allows butter to stay perfectly tasty and edible, even after a week outside of the refrigerator, where milk, sour cream, or cheese would be foul in a day or less?
Best Answer
Actually, the question should be "why do other dairy products spoil so fast?"
If I remember correctly, the spoilage of milk is caused primarily by lactose, which breaks down into lactic acid over time due to the presence of Lactobacillus bacteria, which thrive in that environment.
Butter is mostly fat, and fat does not go bad (it does eventually, but not in the same way or at the same rate - see below) - lactose and sugars together, on the other hand, go bad quite fast. That is also why cream lasts longer than whole milk, and whole milk lasts longer than skim milk. It is also the reason why lactose-free milk seems to last forever - there's nothing to break down, nothing for the bacteria to feed on.
When butter does go bad, it's generally not even for the same reason - it's simply due to oxidation which causes rancidity, similar to a typical vegetable oil.
In short, butter lasts so long with or without refrigeration because proportionally speaking, it doesn't have as much of the lactose that causes other dairy products to go bad.
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Quick Answer about "How does butter remain edible for so long without refrigeration?"
Because butter has a high fat content and relatively low water content, it is less likely to support bacterial growth than other types of dairy products. This is especially true if the butter is salted, which lowers the water content further and makes the environment inhospitable to bacteria.How long can butter last without being refrigerated?
According to the USDA, butter is safe at room temperature. But if it's left out for several days at room temperature, it can turn rancid causing off flavors. The USDA does not recommend leaving it out more than one to two days.Can non refrigerated butter make you sick?
Food safety: Leaving butter unrefrigerated Long before it reaches the point of growing mold, butter will go rancid and develop an off-putting taste and smell. Even at this stage it won't make you sick (though in extreme cases the smell might).How do you store butter without refrigeration?
Using a French crock or a butter bell is an almost foolproof way to keep your unrefrigerated supply fresh, yet soft and spreadable. These \u201cbells\u201d work by immersing a small pot in cold water, creating an airtight seal.Does butter in a butter dish need to be refrigerated?
If you prefer unsalted butter, refrigerate it. Same goes for whipped butter. If it creeps above 70 degrees Fahrenheit in your kitchen, all butter should go into the fridge to avoid going bad \u2014 even into the freezer if you want to store it for a few months.More answers regarding how does butter remain edible for so long without refrigeration?
Answer 2
The reason the fat goes rancid slowly is that it is mostly saturated. Saturated fats are much less susceptible to oxidation (and therefore rancidity) than polyunsaturated ones. Same reason that pure lard is shelf stable.
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