The Truth Revealed: How Long Can Butter Stay at Room Temperature?
Land O'Lakes settles the debate on whether butter can be left out on the counter. While butter is safe to consume at room temperature, leaving it out for too long can cause it to go bad and become rancid, affecting its flavor. Land O'Lakes recommends following the "Keep Refrigerated" instructions on the label but suggests taking butter out of the fridge for 30 to 60 minutes before use to soften it. It is advised not to leave butter at room temperature for more than 4 hours. Storing butter in the fridge ensures it lasts longer and doesn't absorb unwanted odors or flavors. The fastest way to soften butter is to cut it into small chunks and let it stand at room temperature for about 15 minutes, or grate frozen butter using a cheese grater.