It seems really odd to put butter anywhere other than the refrigerator—after all, fridges literally have storage space designed especially for butter! (Though you can keep butter on the counter, too.) Turns out, if you don’t use butter quickly, it might make more sense to keep it in the freezer. Here’s the scoop.
Can You Freeze Butter?
Yes! Butter is one of many surprising foods that freeze well.
Does Freezing Butter Ruin It?
Nope. Butter freezes without losing flavor or texture. In fact, since butter can go bad after a few months in the fridge, it may make sense to store it in the freezer if you don’t normally go through it quickly.
Butter defrosted in the refrigerator can be used just like fresh butter: spread on toast, baked into cookies and even in finicky baked goods like pastry.
Is It Safe to Freeze Butter?
Yes, butter will keep a long time in the freezer. For best results, freeze the butter while it’s still fresh, rather than as it’s approaching its expiration date.
How to Freeze Butter
You can freeze sticks of butter directly in their packaging. Add a second layer of aluminum foil or an airtight plastic bag to add extra protection. Defrost in the refrigerator.
How Long Can You Freeze Butter?
Salted butter will keep in the freezer for up to 12 months. Unsalted butter will keep up to six months. Make sure you know the benefits of salted vs. unsalted butter.
Why Do People Freeze Butter?
Butter, especially higher-quality butter, can be quite pricey. When butter goes on sale, some shoppers stock up and stash entire packages in the freezer. I keep an eye out for sales during the fall, so I can stock up for holiday baking.
100 Recipes That Celebrate Butter
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Blue-Ribbon Butter Cake
I found this buttercake recipe in an old cookbook I bought at a garage sale and couldn’t wait to try it. I knew it had been someone’s favorite because of the well-worn page. —Joan Gertz, Palmetto, Florida
Sage & Browned Butter Ravioli
After enjoying a similar dish in Italy, we came home and planted sage in our garden to be sure we could recreate it. This quick and easy dinner always brings back fond memories of our trip. —Rhonda Hamilton, Portsmouth, Ohio
Grilled Veggies with Caper Butter
We enjoy the tart, peppery taste of capers. No one likes a bland veggie, and caper butter helps peppers, squash and zucchini shine. —Danyelle Crum, Indian Trail, North Carolina
Aunt Rose's Fantastic Butter Toffee
I don't live in the country, but I love everything about it—especially good old-fashioned home cooking! Every year, you'll find me at our county fair, entering a different contest. This easy toffee recipe is a family favorite. —Kathy Dorman, Snover, Michigan
Chive Garlic Bread
A purchased loaf of French bread gets a real boost with a few simple ingredients. Garlic and chives make the savory slices irresistible. Along with lasagna or other Italian meal, we munch them until the last crumbs have vanished! —Kim Orr, West Grove, Pennsylvania
Lemon-Butter Tilapia with Almonds
Sometimes I want a nice meal without a ton of effort or wait time. Thankfully, I've got this lemony, buttery fish that's super fast and totally tasty. —Ramona Parris, Canton, Georgia
Buttery Whiskey-Glazed Pearl Onions
I always have pearl onions on hand to add to stews and vegetable dishes—they're great pickled, too. Every Thanksgiving, I make this glazed onion dish. It can easily be made ahead and reheated. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts
Holiday Hot Buttered Rum Mix
My family loves serving this rich and delicious beverage around the holidays. It can be made with or without alcohol, so everyone enjoys it! —Alisa Pirtle, Browns Valley, California
Vanilla-Butter Sugar Cookies
These are one of my favorite cookies to bake for Christmas. The dough recipe is versatile and you can use it for other holidays, too. Children like to help with decorating. —Cynthia Ettel, Glencoe, Minnesota
Grilled Pork Chops with Maple Butter
This recipe takes some time to prepare. But after one taste, you'll agree it's worth the extra effort. These chips get rave reviews.
Buttery Onion Soup
Several years back, I needed ways to use up 25 lbs. of sweet onions—and this recipe's one I came up with. I like making it for guests. Sometimes, however, I'll fix a half recipe just for me! — Sharon Berthelote, Sunburst, Montana
Butter Cookies
This great butter cookie recipe is a favorite of my nephews, who love the creamy frosting. —Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia
Wisconsin Butter-Basted Burgers
It’s no secret that Wisconsinites love their dairy—so much that they sometimes top their burgers with a generous pat of butter.
My recipe is a lot like the butter burgers you’ll find in popular restaurants all over the state. —Becky Carver, North Royalton, Ohio —Becky Carver, North Royalton, Ohio
Flaky Butterhorn Rolls
This dinner roll, slightly sweet and so very flaky, was my mother’s recipe. It’s simple to prepare because you don’t need to have any kneading skills, and the dough is easy to handle. My grandchildren have renamed them Grandma’s Croissants! —Bernice Smith, Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota
Pumpkin Bars with Browned Butter Frosting
It wouldn't be fall without pumpkin bars, and I think everyone has a favorite version. I based this recipe on one of my grandmother's, so sweet memories are baked into every batch. —Mary Wilhelm, Sparta, Wisconsin
Tender Pecan Logs
Folks always ask me to make these tender nutty logs. They're not overly sweet and pair perfectly with a steaming cup of coffee or tea. —Joyce Beck, Gadsden, Alabama
Cheddar and Chive Mashed Potatoes
My husband swears my cheddar mashed potatoes are the world's best. We always have some in the freezer. Sometimes I dollop individual servings in muffin cups and reheat them that way instead. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida
Pecan Cake with Cookie Butter Frosting
My mom and I bought a jar of cookie butter to try it out, and we fell in love with it. I knew the flavor would go well with maple syrup and pecans, so I came up with this cake. If you like, make a pretty design on top of the cake with pecan halves. —Natalie Larsen, Columbia, Maryland
Dutch Letters
These S-shaped super flaky butter pastries filled with almond paste and topped with crunchy sugar are popular in both Iowa and Holland during the Christmas season. Here's a recipe that will let you make and enjoy them all year round. —Shirley De Lange, Byron Center, Michigan
Cranberry Butter Crunch Bark
One Christmas I dreamed this recipe up when making buttercrunch toffee. It is an addictive treat that disappears fast.—Heather Ferris, Vanderhoof, British Columbia
Nutty Butter Munchies
My sweet tooth flared up, so I had to get baking. Peanuts and pecans are everywhere in Louisiana, so I worked them into my buttery drop cookies. —Zenola Frazier, Tallulah, Louisiana
Grilled Ribeyes with Browned Garlic Butter
Use the smoke of the grill to flavor the ribeyes, then pass them with garlicky butter for a standout entree your friends and family always remember. —Arge Salvatori, Little Ferry, New Jersey
Buttery Orange Sugar Cookies
My husband's grandmother made a variety of cookies every year for her grandkids at Christmastime. She would box them up and give each child his or her own box. This crisp, orange flavored cookie is one of my favorites from her collection.—Heather McKillip, Aurora, Illinois
Miso-Buttered Succotash
The miso paste used in this super simple dish gives depth and a hint of savoriness to canned or fresh vegetables. To brighten the flavor profile even more, you could add a splash of your favorite white wine. —William Milton III, Clemson, South Carolina
Buttery Bubble Bread
Homemade bread can be time-consuming, difficult and tricky to make. But this fun-to-eat monkey bread, baked in a fluted tube pan, is easy and almost foolproof. If I'm serving it for breakfast, I add some cinnamon and drizzle it with icing. —Pat Stevens, Granbury, Texas
Pumpkin Waffles with Orange Walnut Butter
This is so delicious! Bring a flourish to the breakfast table with these unique and flavorful waffle. —Brandi Davis, Pullman, Washington
Bake-Sale Lemon Bars
The recipe for these tangy lemon bars comes from my cousin Bernice, a farmer's wife famous for cooking up feasts. — Mildred Keller, Rockford, Illinois
Creamy Orange Caramels
Each Christmas I teach myself a new candy recipe. Last year I started with my caramel recipe and added a splash of orange extract for fun. This year I just might try buttered rum extract. —Shelly Bevington-Fisher, Hermiston, Oregon
Corn with Cilantro-Lime Butter
I created a lime butter especially for grilled corn and love to add fresh cilantro from my garden. —Andrea Reynolds, Westlake, Ohio
7UP Pound Cake
My grandmother gave me this 7UP pound cake recipe. On top of being delicious, this 7UP cake represents family tradition, connection and love. —Marsha Davis, Desert Hot Springs, California
Buttery Cornbread
A friend gave me this recipe several years ago, and I think it's the best cornbread recipe I've tried. I love to serve the melt-in-your mouth homemade cornbread hot from the oven with butter and syrup. It gets rave reviews on holidays and at potluck dinners. —Nicole Callen, Auburn, California
Buttery Grilled Shrimp
This is easy and delicious! These shrimp are great with steak, but for a special occasion, brush the sauce on lobster tails and grill. —Sheryl Shenberger, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Buttery Spritz Cookies
This tender spritz cookie recipe is very eye-catching on my Christmas cookie tray. The dough is easy to work with, so it's fun to make these spritz cookies into a variety of festive shapes. This is hands down the best spritz cookie recipe ever. —Beverly Launius, Sandwich, Illinois
Buttery Radish Baguette
My dad and brother are crazy for radishes, and this peppery baguette appetizer is a big-time favorite. Add a sprinkle of fresh dill or parsley on top. —Kathy Hewitt, Cranston, Rhode Island
Butter-Dipped Biscuit Squares
These are the easiest and best biscuits I've ever made. They're light and buttery and go well with virtually any meal.
German Butter Pound Cake
Cardamom and lemon peel mix with almond and vanilla flavors to add zip to a classic butter pound cake. — Kristine M. Chayes, Smithtown, New York
Lemon-Butter Spritz Cookies
This recipe makes a lot of terrific cookies! It's great for Christmas when all the kids and grandkids visit. They can help decorate the cookies-not to mention help eat them! —Paula Pelis, Rocky Point, New York
Buttery Sweet Potato Casserole
Whenever we get together as a family for major holidays, my kids, nieces and nephews literally beg me to make this sweet potato casserole. It goes together in minutes with canned sweet potatoes, which is ideal for the busy holiday season. —Sue Miller, Mars, Pennsylvania
Hot Buttered Cider Mix
Put the butter base for this beverage in a decorative jar and attach a copy of the recipe for a great gift from your kitchen. You can omit the brandy for a kid-friendly version. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Thumbprint Butter Cookies
These buttery little rounds add beautiful color to a platter of treats. Fill the thumbprint in the center with any fruit preserves you like. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
True Belgian Waffles
It was on a visit to my husband's relatives in Europe that I was given this Belgian waffle recipe. These homemade waffles are great with any kind of topping: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, fried apples, powdered sugar or whipped topping. —Rose Delemeester, St. Charles, Michigan
Shortbread
I live in Missouri, but many family recipes come from New Zealand where I was born. My parents moved there when I was a year old, so I have a "Down Under" heritage. These special-occasion cookies bring back warm memories of my childhood, and I'm going to make sure they're passed on to the next generation in my family…no matter where they live! —Allen Swenson, Camdenton, Missouri
Roasted Potatoes with Garlic Butter
I created this recipe while visiting my grandmother. When we sat down to eat, she asked me where I'd learned to cook like this. Of course, I answered, "From you!" —Elizabeth Kelley, Chicago, Illinois
Favorite Baked Potato Soup
My husband and I enjoyed a delicious baked potato soup at a restaurant while on vacation and I came home determined to duplicate it. It took me five years to get the taste right! —Joann Goetz, Genoa, Ohio
Brown Sugar Pound Cake
This tender pound cake is the first one I mastered. You'll want to eat the browned butter icing by the spoonful. It tastes like pralines. —Shawn Barto, Winter Garden, Florida
Big & Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies
My take on the classic cookie is inspired by a bakery in California called Hungry Bear. It's big, thick and chewy—truly the best chocolate chip cookie recipe. —Irene Yeh, Mequon, Wisconsin
Mushroom Corn Muffins with Chive Butter
In this unexpected combination, thyme and mushrooms tucked into a fine-textured cornbread muffin are enhanced with a smear of homemade chive butter. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
Grilled Ribeyes with Herb Butter
I make this recipe for special occasions. The tantalizing fragrance of the herbs de Provence is unforgettable. The seasoning and herb butter goes well with filet mignon, T-bone and steak strips, too. —John Baranski, Baldwin City, Kansas
Browned Butter Roasted Cauliflower
When I was growing up, my mother (who insists on loving some of the least popular vegetables) always raved about how deliciously sweet and tender cauliflower can be. Here, the briny capers, lemon juice and sweet raisins allow the caramelized, nutty cauliflower to shine. —Gina Myers, Spokane, Washington
Frosted Cashew Cookies
We savor these cookies every Christmas, but they're special year-round with coffee or tucked into a lunch box. I won a ribbon with these cookies at my county fair.—Sheila Wyum, Rutland, North Dakota
Garlic-Butter Steak
This quick-and-easy skillet entree is definitely restaurant-quality and sure to become a staple at your house, too! —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Lemon & Rosemary Butter Cookies
Cooling lemon and aromatic rosemary make these butter cookies stand out at the holidays. I use them to punch up the cookie trays for potlucks or as gifts.—Elizabeth Hokanson, Arborg, Manitoba
Stollen Butter Rolls
Our family enjoys my stollen so much that it's just too good to be served only as a holiday sweet bread. I created this buttery, less sweet dinner roll so we can satisfy our stollen cravings anytime. —Mindy White, Nashville, Tennessee
Grilled Cabbage
The first time I made this, I couldn’t believe how good it was! We served it with grilled burgers and our dinner was complete. I never thought I’d skip dessert because I was full from too much cabbage! —Elizabeth Wheeler, Thornville, Ohio
Frosted Butter Rum Brickle Bites
The rum, real butter and toffee bits made these cookies my husband’s new favorite. If you’d like them less sweet, skip the frosting and sprinkle the cookies with confectioners’ sugar while still warm. —Cindy Nerat, Menominee, Michigan
Cranberry Cake with Almond-Butter Sauce
Make room for this recipe in your collection. Tart cranberries and sweet almond glaze turn this potluck cake into something truly special. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
Swiss Cheese Bread
This bread will receive rave reviews, whether you serve it as an appetizer or with a meal. For real convenience, you can make it ahead of time and freeze it! —Karla Boice, Mahtomedi, Minnesota
Amish Sugar Cookies
These easy-to-make, old-fashioned sugar cookies simply melt in your mouth! This is one of the best Amish cookie recipes I've ever had. I've passed this one around to many friends, and after I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won the best of show prize! —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri
Browned Butter Red Potatoes
I've been making my version of Dad's potatoes for years, and it goes great with any meal. Browning the butter gives the potatoes a whole new taste. —Anne Pavelak, Endicott, Washington
Scottish Shortbread Cookies
This simple three-ingredient shortbread cookie recipe makes wonderfully rich, tender cookies. Serve them with fresh berries of the season for a nice, light dessert. You'll get miles of smiles when friends see these at an afternoon tea or a bridal shower. —Marlene Hellickson, Big Bear City, California
Butter Pecan Fudge
Toasted pecans add a nutty crunch to this creamy fudge, perfect for holiday giving. People always seem to rave about its wonderful caramel flavor. —Pam Smith, Alta Loma, California
Classic Chocolate Cake
If you need to learn how to make chocolate cake from scratch, this easy homemade chocolate cake recipe is a perfect place to start. It appeared on a can of Hershey's Cocoa way back in 1943. I tried it, my boys liked it and I've been making it ever since. —Betty Follas, Morgan Hill, California
Icebox Rolls
I remember my mom making these rolls almost every Saturday so they'd be ready to bake on Sunday for company or someone just dropping by. Although they take a little time to prepare, they're really not all that difficult to make. And there's nothing in the stores that can compare to them! —Jean Fox, Welch, Minnesota
Pumpkin Pancakes with Cinnamon Brown Butter
Good morning, indeed! These tender, moist pumpkin pancakes will make everyone wake up early. The cinnamon butter makes a flavor combo that is out of this world! —Courtney Shay, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Holiday Almond Bars
This fast, delicious dessert always makes an appearance during our Christmas celebrations.—Cheryl Newendorp, Pella, Iowa
Mimosa Butter Cookies
You can add many different flavors to butter cookies to make them your own. Try an alternate type of citrus zest, or add an alternate liquid to change things up. —Sara Lark, Raton, New Mexico
Chicken in Lime Butter
"A few ordinary, on-hand ingredients make this moist and tender chicken something really extraordinary! The flavor added by the rich, buttery sauce with a splash of lime juice is unmatched. It’s been a hands-down winner at our house for 20 some years," says Denise Segura of Draper, Utah.
Pecan Butter Tarts
I searched for the perfect butter tart for ages. After many attempts, I discovered this favorite that begs for a scoop of ice cream on top. —Susan Kieboam, Streetsboro, Ohio
Double Delights
You get the best of both worlds with these chocolate and vanilla cookies. They're an appealing addition to any cookie tray. I usually serve them at the holidays, when they're often the first cookies to disappear, but you can have them any time of year.—Ruth Ann Stelfox, Raymond, Alberta
Pecan Pie Cobbler
I couldn't find a recipe, so I took it upon myself and devised this amazing dessert that combines the ease of a cobbler and the rich taste of pecan pie. It tastes even better with ice cream or whipped topping. —Willa Kelley, Edmond, Oklahoma
Buttery Ganache Cookie Cups
Our family wanted to share our love of ganache-filled cupcakes, so we made them into cookies. Even better: we bake the cookies in muffin cups, fill with ganache, and get the best of both worlds! —Adela Srinivasan, Parker, Colorado
Holly Butter Mints
A merrier melt-in-your-mouth sweet than this butter-mint holly would be hard to find! It's inexpensive to make, looks so lovely on a candy tray and doesn't require refrigeration.
Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits
Every bite of these flaky biscuits get a little kick from cayenne pepper and sharp cheddar cheese. They're a nice accompaniment to soup and stew. —Kimberley Nuttall, San Marco, California
Butter Pound Cake
Whether garnished with fresh berries and sprigs of rosemary or just served plain, this rich cake is fabulous. It bakes to a beautiful golden brown and it's definitely a keeper! —Edgar Wright, Silver Spring, Maryland
Chocolate-Tipped Butter Cookies
These wonderfully moist morsels are too tempting to resist. They melt right in your mouth. Rather than sprinkling the chocolate tips with nuts, you can roll them in red and green jimmies or leave them plain. —Charolette Westfall, Houston, Texas
Lemon-Butter Brussels Sprouts
Kick up those sprouts that lots of folks claim to dislike. Even my toddler eats these up. — Jenn Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California
Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
I like to try different fun fillings in these soft rolls, and each one is packed with cinnamon flavor. They are definitely worth the overnight wait. —Chris O'Connell, San Antonio, Texas
Peppermint Meltaways
This recipe for peppermint meltaways is very pretty and festive-looking on a cookie platter. I often cover a plate of these peppermint cookies with red or green plastic wrap and a bright holiday bow in one corner. And yes, they really do melt in your mouth! —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
Garlic Bread
Ever wonder how to make garlic bread? This homemade garlic bread is the answer! Minced fresh garlic is key to these flavor-packed crusty slices, which our big family would snap up before they even had a chance to cool. —Grace Yaskovic, Branchville, New Jersey
Beer and Pretzel Caramels
Beer and pretzels are a natural combination—mix them with smooth caramel and you have an awesome candy. The guys will go wild over these crunchy, chunky chews. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
These easy pumpkin cookies are pleasantly spiced. Everyone enjoys the soft, cake-like texture, too. —Lisa Chernetsky, Luzerne, Pennsylvania
Herb-Buttered Baby Carrots
The herb butter can be used for everything from vegetables to roast chicken, turkey, game hens—let your imagination be your guide.—Sandra Corey, Caldwell, Idaho
Hot Buttered Rum
I received this recipe for hot buttered rum from a friend over 30 years ago, and I think of her every winter when I stir up a batch of this delightful mix. It keeps well in the freezer. —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota
Old-Time Butter Crunch Candy
Both my children and my grandchildren say the season wouldn't be the same without the big tray of candies and cookies I prepare. This one's the popular part of that collection. We love the nutty pieces draped in chocolate. —Mildred Duffy, Bella Vista, Arkansas
Butter Pecan Layer Cake
Pecans and butter give this cake the same irresistible flavor as the popular butter pecan ice cream flavor. —Becky Miller, Tallahassee, Florida
Stilton, Bacon & Garlic Smashed Potatoes
Bold, savory flavor from bacon, Stilton cheese and fresh garlic take mashed potatoes to a whole new level. This side dish is so rich and satisfying, it could be eaten as an entree! —Jamie Brown-Miller, Napa, California
Garlicky Herbed Shrimp
I love shrimp. Love garlic. Love herbs. Cook ’em in butter and what could be better? —Dave Levin, Van Nuys, California
Pecan Meltaways
This sweet, nutty pecan balls recipe is a tradition in our house at Christmastime, but the treats are great any time of the year. —Alberta McKay, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Buttery Lemon Turkey
A simple seasoned butter with a dash of hot sauce and a splash of lemon provides all the flavor you could want in a holiday turkey. Even novice cooks will find the recipe easy.—Sharon Tipton, Winter Garden, Florida
Brown Butter Spice Cookies
If you like spice cake, you’ll love this recipe! Browned butter, dark chocolate and a splash of rum produce an unconventional spice cookie that’s guaranteed to please. —Kristin Kenney, Newport Beach, California
Salmon with Lemon-Dill Butter
If you’re looking for a dish that’s fast and healthy, this one has it all. Round it out with steamed sugar snap peas for a simple weeknight meal. —Jennie Richards, Riverton, Utah
Icebox Butterhorns
These beautiful golden rolls just melt in your mouth! People will be impressed when these appear on your table. —Judy Clark, Elkhart, Indiana
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
I love the excellent texture of this easy coffee cake recipe. Always a crowd-pleaser, its pleasing vanilla flavor enriched by sour cream may remind you of breakfast at Grandma's! —Eleanor Harris, Cape Coral, Florida
Shortbread Hearts
These flaky cookies melt in your mouth. Dipped in chocolate, they look festive.—Barbara Birk, St. George, Utah
Favorite Chicken Potpie
Chock-full of chicken, potatoes, peas and corn, this recipe makes two golden pies, so you can serve one at supper and save the other for a busy night. This is the best chicken potpie recipe to have on hand when company comes over. —Karen Johnson, Bakersfield, California
Sticky Cinnamon-Sugar Monkey Bread
You can do all the prep work for this monkey bread the night before. I prepare the dough pieces and put all the sauce ingredients in the pan so it's ready for the morning. You can sprinkle chopped nuts in with the dough pieces before pouring the sauce on and baking. — Diana Kunselman, Rimersburg, Pennsylvania
Lemon-Butter New Potatoes
With an abundance of potatoes in our garden each summer, I often make this easy recipe. We love the combination of parsley and spices, and the lemony butter sauce. They make a great accompaniment to grilled fish. —Sandra McKenzie, Braham, Minnesota
Butter Nut Twists
My mother has been using this recipe for the last 45 years for special occasions and the holidays. She taught my sister and me how to make the twists so we can carry on the tradition for our families.
—Joyce Hallisey, Mt. Gilead, North Carolina
Homemade Corn Muffins with Honey Butter
I turn classic corn bread muffins into something special by serving them with a honey butter. They're gone in a flash! —Suzanne McKinley, Lyons, Georgia