You might want to think twice before you refrigerate some of those newly purchased treats. In fact, some of your favorite finds may not need refrigeration at all.
Check out these eight surprising foods that just don’t belong in the refrigerator. (At least not when it comes to safety.)
Salted Butter
Most people keep salted butter on the countertop for softening purposes just before using it to bake. But did you know that salted butter is safe on the countertop in general?
According to the Organic Authority, butter is low in water and high in fat and salt. Those factors prevent it from spoiling rapidly. Just be sure to use butter made with pasteurized milk to limit bacteria and rancidity.
Still worried? A European-style butter crock can keep butter fresh for two weeks without refrigeration.
“These genius little containers use an airtight seal of water inside them to protect both the freshness and the flavor/aroma of your butter. Just a small layer of water at the bottom of the crock works to keep the container airtight, and it also maintains a moderately cool temperature for the butter—just cool enough to stay fresh, and not warm enough to melt or spoil,” says the Organic Authority.