Can You Freeze Homemade Butter?
Making homemade butter is one of my favourite ways to use up leftover double cream. It’s surprisingly satisfying watching cream transform into butter, and it always feels less wasteful than throwing an almost-full carton away.
The downside is that homemade butter doesn’t last as long as shop-bought butter because it doesn’t contain preservatives. If you’ve made more than you can use, the freezer is definitely your friend.
Can You Freeze Homemade Butter?
Yes, homemade butter freezes brilliantly.
Freezing doesn’t affect the flavour or texture in any noticeable way, and it’s an easy way to make sure none of your hard work goes to waste.
For the best quality, freeze homemade butter within a week of making it, although sooner is always better.
Both salted and unsalted homemade butter can be frozen.
How To Freeze Homemade Butter
The easiest way is to portion it before freezing.
I like to divide mine into small blocks because they’re much more convenient for baking. There’s nothing worse than having to defrost a huge lump of butter when a recipe only needs a couple of tablespoons.
Here’s how I freeze it:
- Divide the butter into portions you’ll realistically use.
- Wrap each piece tightly in greaseproof paper or baking paper.
- Place the wrapped portions into a freezer bag or airtight container.
- Label with the date before freezing.
Wrapping the butter twice helps stop it absorbing flavours from other foods in the freezer. Nobody wants garlic-scented butter for their Victoria sponge.
How Long Does Homemade Butter Last In The Freezer?
Homemade butter is best used within 6 months.
It will remain safe for longer if kept continuously frozen, but the flavour is at its best during those first few months.
How To Defrost Homemade Butter
The easiest way is to transfer it to the fridge overnight.
If you’re in a hurry, you can leave it on the kitchen worktop for an hour or two until softened enough to use.
Occasionally you’ll notice a few droplets of moisture after thawing. That’s completely normal—just blot them away with a piece of kitchen paper.
Can You Freeze Homemade Compound Butter?
Yes.
Garlic butter, herb butter, chilli butter and other flavoured butters all freeze really well.
I actually think compound butter is one of the best things to keep in the freezer because you can slice off exactly what you need. A few rounds of garlic butter straight from frozen are perfect for homemade garlic bread or melting over steak.
If your butter contains strong flavours such as garlic, onion or blue cheese, make sure it’s wrapped particularly well so those smells don’t spread through the freezer.
Can You Freeze Vegan Homemade Butter?
Yes, in most cases.
Most homemade vegan butter recipes freeze just as well as dairy butter, although it’s worth checking the recipe if it uses unusual ingredients that don’t freeze well.
Can You Refreeze Homemade Butter?
I generally wouldn’t.
While butter is fairly forgiving, repeated freezing gradually affects the texture and flavour.
If you’ve thawed the butter and then used it in another recipe, such as cakes, pastry or biscuits, those finished dishes can usually be frozen without any problem.
How Long Does Homemade Butter Last In The Fridge?
This depends on how well it was made.
The more buttermilk you remove during the butter-making process, the longer it will keep.
Most homemade butter will last around 1-2 weeks in the fridge, although exceptionally well-washed butter may keep a little longer.
If you know you won’t use it within that time, freezing is definitely the better option.
How To Tell If Homemade Butter Has Gone Bad
Homemade butter is usually pretty easy to assess.
Throw it away if you notice:
- A sour or unpleasant smell
- Visible mould
- Dark discolouration
- An unusually slimy or sticky texture
If in doubt, it’s always safer to make a fresh batch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you freeze butter sticks?
Yes. In fact, I think freezing smaller portions is much more practical than freezing one large block.
Does freezing ruin butter?
No. Butter is one of the easiest dairy products to freeze and most people won’t notice any difference once it’s thawed.
Can you make butter from whipping cream?
Absolutely. Double cream and whipping cream both work well, although the amount of butter you get will vary depending on the fat content.
Does homemade butter need refrigerating?
Yes. Unlike many commercial butters, homemade butter doesn’t contain preservatives, so it should be stored in the fridge unless it’s being used straight away.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve gone to the effort of making homemade butter, it’s well worth freezing any surplus rather than letting it spoil in the fridge.
I nearly always freeze mine in baking-sized portions because it’s so much more convenient. Whether I need a little butter for a batch of scones or enough for pastry, I can simply take out what I need without thawing the whole lot.
If you’re looking for more freezer tips, browse my Freezing Food Hub, where you’ll find over 100 guides covering everything from cakes and bread to meat, vegetables and leftovers.
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