For generations, families have kept a small dish of butter on the kitchen counter, ready to spread over warm toast, fresh bread, or homemade biscuits. But while some people insist that butter must always stay refrigerated, others believe leaving it out for several days is perfectly harmless.

So who’s right?

Unlike milk and many other dairy products, butter contains a high percentage of fat and relatively little water. This composition makes it less favorable for bacterial growth, which explains why butter can sometimes remain at room temperature longer than people expect.

However, not all butter is the same. Whether it’s salted or unsalted, how warm your kitchen becomes, and how the butter is stored can make a significant difference.

And there’s another important detail that many people overlook when leaving butter uncovered on the counter.

So how long can butter actually stay outside the refrigerator, and when should you throw it away?

Continue below…