Can You Freeze Butter? Yes, and Here’s the Best Way to Keep It Fresh

Butter is essential in so many baking (and other) recipes! If you're an avid baker, it's helpful to always have butter stocked up. But can you freeze butter? The answer is yes—it's freezable and can be kept in the freezer for future recipes or in case you find yourself in need. Continue reading to discover how to freeze, thaw, and store different types of butter so you'll never run out again.

How Long Does Frozen Butter Stay Fresh?

Frozen butter remains good for six to twelve months when stored correctly in the freezer in an airtight container. Salted butter may stay fresh longer than unsalted butter because the salt aids in preservation. After a year, however, the quality and taste of the butter start to decline. If kept too long, it might also absorb odors or flavors from other items in the freezer.

To determine if your frozen butter has spoiled, check its appearance, smell it, and even taste a small amount. If you see any discoloration, spots, or mold growth, it’s no longer safe to use. If the butter has a strange or sour odor, or if it tastes rancid, discard it. In general, inspect it first, then smell it, and finally try a tiny bit to confirm whether the butter is still good or has gone bad.

Various Methods to Freeze Butter

The simplest way to freeze a stick of butter is by leaving it in its original packaging. However, if you plan on keeping it for a long period or have already removed the original packaging, wrap the butter in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. Always freeze butter before its "Best By" or "Use By" date.

Full Sticks

How to Freeze Whole Butter Sticks:

1. Keep the butter in its original packaging. Alternatively, wrap the stick tightly in plastic wrap or foil.
2. Place the wrapped butter inside an airtight food storage container, such as a tightly sealed bag for extra protection.
3. Put the butter in the freezer.

Butter Cubes

Freezing cubed butter works great as long as you wrap it securely to prevent freezer burn. Here’s how to do it:

1. Arrange the cubed butter on a piece of plastic wrap and wrap it up tightly. 
2. Store the wrapped butter in an airtight container, like a tightly sealed bag.
3. Place it in the freezer.

Thawing Frozen Butter

To thaw frozen butter, place it in the refrigerator overnight or let it sit at room temperature on the counter for a few hours. If you need to soften the butter faster, cut it into smaller pieces or grate it using the large holes of a box grater.

Using Frozen Butter

Frozen butter can be used directly from the freezer, thawed, melted, or anywhere in between. How you use it depends on the recipe or your specific needs.

Cold or Frozen Butter

Certain pastry recipes, like pie crust, require cold butter to create a tender, flaky texture. To use frozen butter for pie crust, grate it with the large holes of a box grater and follow the recipe instructions. You can also use frozen butter to make brown butter, although it will take a bit longer than usual to prepare.

Room Temperature or Melted Butter

For cakes and cookies, allow frozen butter to come to room temperature before mixing the batter or dough for the best results. If you need melted butter for a recipe (such as dill pickle relish cornbread muffins), you can melt the frozen butter directly from its frozen state, either in a saucepan or microwave.