We use a lot of butter and margarine in our home. Depending on what I’m making or eating…will depend on which one that I use, so I keep both on hand. To save money, I buy it in bulk or when our local grocery store is running a good sale. With that said, I don’t store a slew of boxes or containers of it inside the refrigerator. Just like anything else…you have to use up the product before the USE BY date. You can freeze cheese and milk too!
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You can safely freeze packages of butter and margarine for 3-6 months depending on the type of product you’re freezing and how you’re freezing it. Here’s some tips to help guide you.
Packaging: You can break down bulk packages into smaller packages. I will often place “sticks” into zipper closure freezer bags. You can also leave it in unopened, still sealed original packaging. If the product has softened-up on the ride home…place it into your refrigerator for 2-3 hours before placing it into the freezer. This will help it to hold it’s shape. If you have a lot of “odorous things” in your freezer…place the boxes, tubs and sticks in a freezer zipper closure bag (purge out the air and zip close). You can pack wrapped sticks into a freezer safe container too! This will ensure that odors stay out.
Things to Avoid: It’s recommended that you avoid spreads and soft-consistency butters and margarines. They don’t maintain their texture well after being frozen. Don’t try to extend the life of a product by tossing it into the freezer when it’s past its USE BY DATE! There’s a difference between a SELL BY and a USE BY date! Don’t store them near odorous foods (like fish and seafood) and store in a different area than your raw meats.
Thawing: You need to thaw butter and margarine in your refrigerator. This is best done overnight.
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