do you leave butter on the counter?

[ez]

This is an ongoing dispute between me and DH. I was brought up in the suburbs and you would never even think of leaving a stick of butter on the counter all the time, and never refrigerating it. Hubby was brought up and a farm town, and where he was brought up you leave butter on the counter. It always seems to leave an oily melty mess that drips onto the counter...I think its gross, not to mention I think it must be harboring bacteria or something....I think butter is meant to be refrigerated...what are your thoughts?

 

[KristiMc]

We leave ours on the counter in a covered butter dish.

 

[Rumpus]

Yes. We have for years and we are still alive.

 

[J3nn78]

Makes it easier to spread. I don't always leave it out because I don't use it much, but when I know I am going to, I leave it out.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Only if we plan on baking cookies that require butter in the next few days.

Although the kind of butter we use for spreading on bread or pancakes is spreadable butter, anyway.

 

[Jennasis]

WE refridgerate it on our farm and take it out to soften for using, then put it back in the fridge after.

 

[blanq]

I am a Wisconsinite at heart (born and raised there) and our butter lives on the counter in a covered butter dish. I have never had my butter end up in an oily melted mess; it retains its shape fairly well even in heat and humidity. There is nothing I hate more than having hard, unyielding butter ruin my toast. Maddening, I tell you.

 

[TimeforMe]

We leave ours on the counter in a covered butter dish.

same. Sometimes in the summer if we don't have the ac on, I refrigerate it because then it does get gross.

 

[vicb]

I don't leave it out in the summer months but do in the winter usually. A stick gets used up pretty quickly between cooking dinner, baking or breakfast use.

 

[golfgal]

Covered dish in a cupboard, not in the fridge. I can't stand trying to butter bread with cold butter. The only exception would be on some of the hottest days in the summer where it melts in the cupboard, then we leave it on the counter.

 

[Art 1]

No. Not for health concerns but because it does't look good sitting out on the counter.

 

[Micca]

It stays in the cupboard, nice & soft.

 

[bdcp]

Never, ever and my mom's family all live in the country on farms. I keep mine in the fridge. But, butter can be kept out several days with no problem. After that, it can go rancid. It is fresher and fresher tasting if kept wrapped and store in the refrigerator. It won't kill anyone to eat rancid butter, but it doesn't taste the same. Salted butter lasts because salt acts as a preservative. But, this is REAL butter, not margarine or butter that has oil or something added to it.

 

[MidgeD79]

covered on the counter

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If I get fresh bread then I leave it on the counter because we will eat the bread and butter....yum.

 

[Danemom]

This is an eyeopener for me - I've never heard of anyone not refrigerating butter!
I've often wondered about the tubs of butter at restaurants that aren't refrigerated. Guess they're safe to eat.

 

[wdwmom2]

I always leave in on the counter in a covered butter dish. I hate having toast or rolls torn up by me trying to spread hard butter over them!

 

[Carly_Roach]

Another counter person. No one in my family's gotten sick by using counter butter for 100 years.

I think this is similar to the "Do you lick the batter?" debate. There are those who are vehemently against it and those who've done it all their lives with no repercussions.

It's all a matter of taste.

 

[Mermaid02]

Leave it on the counter! Nothing worse than realizing someone used the last of it and didn't take anymore out- cold butter rips up your toast!

 

[indimom]

We've always refridgerated, but I have family/friends who leave it out. I don't think either way is right and I'm pretty confident that leaving it out won't make anyone sick. Just a personal preference.