Is it safe to eat butter after it has crossed its expiration date? Does butter ever spoil in fridge?
I just came back from a long trip and I was cleaning out my fridge, and I noticed that there is an expiration date on the butter. It expired about two months from when I bought it. The butter doesn't look any different than normal butter.
How strictly should I follow the date on the box? Is there a way to test to see if the butter has actually gone bad?
Best Answer
Butter can go bad. The oils will go rancid if exposed to too much light and heat for too long. This accelerates the process of oxidation, which happens even if you keep the butter in the fridge. Even in the fridge your butter will eventually go bad.
Personally I follow the dates on all packages. I do so with an awareness that they usually tend to be conservative, which keeps me comfortable. Rancid butter in a taste test won't kill you, though. It'll just taste bad. So you should be able to taste this butter to see if it is bad.
While I recommend following the dates on packaging, here are signs that your butter has actually gone bad:
- discoloration
- melting (which will happen outside of the fridge, you probably wouldn't see it)
- sour smell
- sour and unusual taste
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Quick Answer about "Is it safe to eat butter after it has crossed its expiration date? Does butter ever spoil in fridge?"
The butter packets usually have the 'best before' dates on them but it's completely safe to use butter past the 'best before' date. You will be surprised to know that even if you store butter at room temperature, it's safe to consume it a week after the expiry date.How long is butter good for after expiration date in the fridge?
For long-term storage, put your butter in the freezer, and it'll last for 6 to 9 months. In the fridge, it should last a month past the printed date unopened and two weeks beyond the printed date after it's been opened.Can you use butter past expiration date?
How Long Is Butter Good Past the Expiration Date? If you store butter in the fridge properly, it will remain good for consumption 2-3 months past the expiration date if unopened. An opened package of butter stored in the fridge can be consumed within 1-2 months past the printed date.What happens if you accidentally eat expired butter?
"What's happening is oxygen is binding to the fat and changing the chemical components, which can lead to a terrible taste but it won't make you sick." So there you have it. Eating old butter isn't going to cut your life short after all. It's just going to taste gross.More answers regarding is it safe to eat butter after it has crossed its expiration date? Does butter ever spoil in fridge?
Answer 2
Yes, butter can go bad. Rancid, for instance.
This question has been treated before in this possible duplicate - does that help?
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