[Explanation with photos! ] How to freeze butter, storage period, and 5 recipes

``I bought a pound of butter for baking, but how should I store it?'' Many people seem to have this problem.

By using frozen storage, you can, for example, buy butter for Christmas in December and use it for Valentine's Day in February.

In addition to how to freeze butter, this article also explains important points to remember when freezing butter, as well as the proper thawing method. In the second half of the article, we also introduce easy recipes using frozen butter, so please take a look.

Advantages of freezing butter

Allows long-term storage

The first advantage is that it can be stored for a long time.

If unopened, it can be stored in the refrigerator for about 3 months. However, once opened, it is recommended to use it within 1 to 2 weeks.

For example, when you buy butter by the pound for baking, you may not be able to use it all. Also, even if you want to keep it for the next time you make sweets, some people may find that just 1-2 weeks is too short.

If you use freezing techniques, you can store food for 3 to 4 weeks even after opening, or up to a year depending on the storage method.

Prevents odor transfer during storage

The second benefit is that it prevents odors from being transferred from other foods.

Have you ever noticed a strange smell coming from butter you took out of the refrigerator? Butter is a food that easily absorbs odors, and if stored improperly, the odors can easily transfer.

These problems can be solved by freezing.

In the first place, bacteria and enzymes cannot be active in a frozen environment, so odors are less likely to occur.

Also, when storing in the freezer, keep it tightly sealed in plastic wrap or a freezer bag. Since it is stored tightly so that it does not come into contact with the surrounding air, it is almost unaffected by other foods.

How to freeze butter

When freezing in small portions

1. Cut into pieces that can be used at once and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.

2. Place in a freezer bag and freeze.

★Recommended method for daily use.
★It is convenient to divide it into portions such as 5g, 10g, 15g, etc.

When freezing in large chunks

1. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap over the original silver paper (or aluminum foil if you don't have it).

2. Place in a freezer bag and freeze.

★Recommended method for storing large pieces of butter for making sweets, etc.
★Please store it in the back of the freezer where there are few temperature changes.

How to thaw butter and how long it can be stored

How to defrost butter

[If frozen in small portions]

It can be refrigerated, thawed, or frozen for use in cooking.

Refreezing after thawing may cause the flavor to deteriorate. Please thaw only the amount you will use at one time.

[When frozen in large chunks]

Refrigerate and thaw.

In this case as well, refreezing after thawing will cause the flavor to deteriorate. If you want to use a portion of it, use a knife to cut only the amount you need and thaw it.

Butter shelf life

[If frozen in small portions]
The recommended period is 3 to 4 weeks.

Breaking it down into smaller pieces makes it more susceptible to oxidation and temperature changes. Therefore, it has a shorter shelf life than if frozen in large chunks.

[When frozen in large chunks]
The recommended period is one year.

Wrapping it in silver paper (or aluminum foil) protects it from light, and wrapping it to prevent exposure to air allows it to be stored for a long time.

To avoid temperature changes, try to store it in the back of the freezer as much as possible.

Reference: http://www.j-milk.jp/anzen/shoku/8d863s000000qogq.html

butter nutrition

Nutritional value and calories of butter

The calorie content is approximately 750kcal per 100g (varies slightly depending on the type, such as salted, unsalted, and fermented).

Butter is made by kneading the fat in milk fat. It is high in calories because 80% of its mass is fat.

You may have the impression that "fat = fattening = bad," but that is not necessarily the case.

For example, fats are more easily converted into energy than carbohydrates. In addition, the cell membranes that make up the body and the hormones that regulate the body's health are based on lipids.

Of course, overconsumption is not good for the body, but as long as we maintain moderation, they can have very important functions for us.

In addition, butter contains the following nutrients:

【mineral】
Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, manganese

【vitamin】
Vitamins A, D, E, K, B1, B2, pantothenic acid

*Depending on the type of salted or unsalted food, some nutrients may not be included.

Effects of butter

Benefit #1: Consume the required amount of fat per day without wasting it.

Butter is rich in high-quality fat, so you can consume fat efficiently.

I mentioned earlier that butter is made from milk fat. Among the many edible fats and oils, milk fat is particularly easy to digest.

The digestibility of milk fat is 97-99% (*). ``High digestibility = less burden on the digestive system,'' so many people, regardless of age or gender, can eat it with peace of mind.

*Reference: http://www.meiji.co.jp/meiji-shokuiku/know/dairiesworld/butter/03.html

Benefit #2: Supports beauty and health

Butter contains nutrients such as vitamin A that are important for beauty and health.

Vitamin A, which contains 13 times more than milk, helps maintain the health of the skin and mucous membranes. It is a reliable service for people who are troubled by acne and pimples and want to keep their skin in good condition.

It also contains vitamin D, which promotes absorption of calcium and phosphorus. It is an essential nutrient for the formation of bones in infants, and pregnant women and breastfeeding women must actively consume it.

In addition, vitamin E, which has strong antioxidant power, has the effect of delaying cell aging.

These vitamins are called fat-soluble vitamins because their absorption rate is greatly increased when they are cooked with oil. Therefore, by combining it with fats and oils, it can be efficiently ingested by the body.

>> [What is the expiry date of frozen foods? ] Ready-to-use frozen bean knowledge

5 easy recipes using butter

Sauteed spinach

☑材料（2人分）
・ほうれん草　1わ
・ベーコン　4枚
・コーンの缶詰　100g
・バター　20g
・塩こしょう　少々

<How to make>
1) Cut the bacon into 1cm wide pieces and drain the corn.
2) Wash the spinach well and cut it into 5cm lengths.
3) Heat the frozen butter in a frying pan without thawing it and fry the bacon, corn, and spinach.
4) Season with salt and pepper and it's done.

★You can also add soy sauce if you like.

potato butter

☑材料（2人分）
・じゃがいも　2個
・バター　好きなだけ

<How to make>
1) Thaw the butter in the refrigerator or at room temperature in advance.
2) Wrap the potatoes in damp kitchen paper.
3) Heat in the microwave (500W) for 4 minutes, then turn over and heat for another minute.
4) Make a cross-shaped slit on the potato, top with butter, and it's done.

★Wrapping it in plastic wrap may cause it to overcook, so use kitchen paper to steam it.

Grilled king king scallop style

☑材料（2人分）
・エリンギ　2本
・みりん　小さじ1
・にんにく　1片
・醤油　大さじ1
・オリーブオイル　適量
・バター　適量

<How to make>
1) Slice the King Kingfish into 1.5cm wide rounds and make grid-like cuts on both sides of the cross-section.
2) Finely chop the garlic.
3) Add olive oil and garlic to a frying pan and heat.
4) Once fragrant, add the king king mushrooms and fry on both sides.
5) Add the frozen butter without thawing it and melt it until it is completely incorporated.
6) Season with soy sauce and mirin, and bake until golden brown.

Stir-fried corn with soy sauce and butter

☑材料（1~2人分）
・コーン缶　1缶
・バター　15gほど
・醤油　小さじ1
・パセリ　適量
・塩こしょう　適量

<How to make>
1) Drain the water from the corn.
2) Heat the butter in a frying pan over medium heat, and once it melts, fry the corn.
3) Stir-fry for a little less than 2 minutes, then add soy sauce and when lightly browned, transfer to a plate.
4) Add parsley, salt and pepper, and butter to your liking and it's done.

French toast

☑材料（2人分）
・食パン（4枚切り）　2枚
・卵　3個
・牛乳　180cc
・砂糖　大さじ3
・バニラエッセンス　適量
・バター　適量

<How to make>
1) Add eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla essence to a bowl and mix.
2) Remove the crust from the bread and cut it in half.
3) Pour the egg mixture from (1) onto a plate and dip the bread from (2) into it.
4) Heat in the microwave (500W) for 1 minute on one side, then turn over and heat for another minute.
5) Place the frozen butter on a frying pan and warm it over very low heat.
6) Add the bread, cover and steam for 5 minutes.
7) Once browned, turn over, cover, and heat for another 5 minutes.
8) Once baked, sprinkle with powdered sugar or maple syrup.

★In step (3), you can make effective use of the extra space on the plate by soaking the bread crusts in it.
★The trick to making it fluffy is to heat it slowly over very low heat.

Conclusion

How do you freeze butter?

There are two main ways to store it: dividing it into small pieces and storing it in large chunks.

If you use butter in your daily life, and you use it frequently, it's a good idea to freeze it in small portions, or if you want to store something you don't use often, such as unsalted butter, freeze it in large chunks.

If you are dividing it into small pieces, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and if you have a large lump, wrap it in silver paper (or aluminum foil) and then wrap it in plastic wrap.

Wrapping it in plastic wrap may seem like a hassle, but keeping it out of the air is essential to keeping it fresh. It's surprisingly easy to do once you try it, so please give it a try.

>> Click here for how to freeze meat

>> Click here for how to freeze fish

>> Click here for other ways to freeze vegetables