How Long Do Butter and Margarine Last?

How long does butter last? How long does margarine last?

Most of us usually have a few sticks of butter and margarine in the refrigerator, or probably either one or the other as there seem to be two distinct camps out there. But, with butter and margarine it's not always easy to keep track of how long they've been there.

Are we keeping butter too long? Could you do a better job of keeping it fresh? Food scientists have several suggestions to help with all of these questions. Read all about them on the individual butter or margarine pages.

To compare butter and margarine products side by side, see the margarine page. Visit all the EatByDate pages for specific information on all the varied foods in your diet.

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Butter makes most things taste better... unless it's gone bad!
Does margarine last as long as butter? Find out here!

Butter & Margarine Products

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To find out how long foods are good for, please visit the Dairy, Drinks, Fruits, Grains, Proteins, Vegetables and Other sections of Eat By Date or search below.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Butter & Margarine lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Butter & Margarine.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Butter & Margarine shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!

Our Favorite Food Storage Set!

With oven-safe glass and water-tight lids, these food storage containers are ready for action! Not a Prime Member? Try a 30-day free trial today!

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