how long can you keep margarine or butter after you open it?

On 05 Nov 2003 06:40:52 GMT, (TND2075) wrote:

>how long can you keep margarine or butter after you open it?

Same amount of time as before you opened it. It does absorb odors and
flavors from surrounding items in the fridge, though. That happens
when it's not open, too, but more if you don't wrap it back up
tightly.

-sw

"TND2075" > wrote in message
...
> how long can you keep margarine or butter after you open it?

I don't use a whole lot of butter; I put what I buy in the freezer and
transfer it a couple of sticks at a time to the fridge where it stays
wrapped in a closed compartment. I don't know how long it would take to go
rancid, but I bet it'd be some months.
Margarine should, IMO, be thrown away immediately.

"TND2075" > wrote in message
...
> how long can you keep margarine or butter after you open it?

Where are you keeping it? In the fridge? On the counter?


http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/...uct_butter.pdf

The national dairy council says:

To preserve butter's flavor and freshness, refrigerate opened butter in a
covered dish in the butter compartment. Unopened, wrapped salted butter may
be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Butter can be frozen in
its original wrapper for several months. Unsalted butter is best kept frozen
until ready to use. For longer freezer storage, wrap in foil or plastic.
Unsalted butter can be kept frozen for about 5 months at 0' F. Salted butter
can be frozen for about 6 to 9 months.

Margarine however is/can be made from a variety of different fats all of
which mat oxidize (go rancid) at different rates.

Use the guide above for both and you should be OK.

Dimitri

On Wed, 05 Nov 2003 03:01:17 -0600, Steve Wertz wrote:

> On 05 Nov 2003 06:40:52 GMT, (TND2075) wrote:
>
>>how long can you keep margarine or butter after you open it?
>
> Same amount of time as before you opened it. It does absorb odors and
> flavors from surrounding items in the fridge, though. That happens
> when it's not open, too, but more if you don't wrap it back up
> tightly.
>
> -sw

I never have used margarine, but butter can be kept 6 months or so frozen,
probably 2 or 3 weeks in the refrigerator. My pantry is 55 to 65 degrees
and I can keep it in there for about a week. It will let you know when
you have kept it too long, just taste it.

JakeInHartsel

On Wed, 05 Nov 2003 15:53:37 GMT, Glenn Jacobs >
wrote:

>On Wed, 05 Nov 2003 03:01:17 -0600, Steve Wertz wrote:
>
>> On 05 Nov 2003 06:40:52 GMT, (TND2075) wrote:
>>
>>>how long can you keep margarine or butter after you open it?
>>
>> Same amount of time as before you opened it. It does absorb odors and
>> flavors from surrounding items in the fridge, though. That happens
>> when it's not open, too, but more if you don't wrap it back up
>> tightly.
>>
>> -sw
>
>I never have used margarine, but butter can be kept 6 months or so frozen,
>probably 2 or 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

The butter I buy from the store in the refridgerator section has a
three month expiration date.

-sw