Olde Hornet
Well-Known Member
How Long You Can Safely Leave Butter on the Counter
The answer is pretty simple. According to Engen, butter should not be left out for more than four hours. While those few hours give it a little more wiggle room than other dairy products, which “the USDA and FDA require to be stored in refrigerated conditions,” Engen says to “always return any unused butter to the refrigerator. Leaving butter unrefrigerated can affect its color and flavor.I asked if there was any difference between salted, unsalted, or whipped butter when it comes to leaving it unrefrigerated and, to my disappointment, Engen came back with a pretty straightforward nope!
It turns out, she says “the storage of butter at room temperature, no matter what type it is, is not recommended.” Good thing I didn’t wind up making cookies the other day. Those sticks had been out for almost eight hours!