Does Butter Go Bad If You Don’t Refrigerate It?

There is a debate on whether butter can last without refrigeration. Despite it being made from milk, the substance has high fat content where storing it at room temperature sustains it texture and consistency. Fortunately, this spread also has low water content making it an unsuitable environment for bacteria growth. Even the inclusion of salt in many salted butters reduces the bacteria growth even more, making it a strong contender against refrigeration, unlike unsalted and whipped butters.

Key Takeaways:

Butter is unique among dairy products because of its very high fat content.
Although butter has a low risk of bacterial growth, its high fat content means it is vulnerable to going rancid.
If you prefer to keep your butter on the counter, but don’t expect to use the whole package soon, keep a small amount on the counter and the rest in the fridge.

“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.”