#5 Definitely Avoid! Unsalted Butter
There are thousands of Americans that are used to leaving their butter out in the open to soften up and spread easily, be it on the counter or even in the pantry. However, as safe as it technically is, you should not make a habit of leaving unsalted butter out in the open like that, no matter how much you want it to be spreadable!
This is because bacteria can easily attach themselves to unsalted butter, which can cause some nasty reactions and make the butter go rancid. The only variety you should count on being able to be kept out in the open like that is the salted butter variety, as the added sodium will keep the bacteria away. Not to mention, when you are eating bread and butter, having it salted tastes better.
The bottom line is this: avoid keeping unsalted butter outside at room temperature, and keep the salted butter in an airtight container for up to two weeks at most if you want to have soft butter on hand. Otherwise, look for the spreadable variety that you can keep in the fridge.
However, if you’re looking for things that will save you in case you’re out of ideas for tonight’s dinner or on a tight schedule, check out these canned pantry staples you should never ignore!
1 thought on “Avoid Keeping These 5 Foods in Your Pantry”
Wish I could post a picture of my pantry! While I still have a few bought cans, my pantry is full of home canned goodies. Vegetables, meat, fruit, even milk (for cooking only). I mostly follow USDA guidelines, but I have the older guides.
Right now I have 40# of chicken in the fridge waiting to be de-boned and canned. While the Amish choose to water bath everything (THREE HOURS for chicken), I will be pressure canning my chicken for 90 minutes.
If you only use part of a can of anything, please store it in a covered bowl in the fridge. Don’t leave it in the can. Just put a bit of freezer tape around the container and label it. Then plan to cook with it within a day or two. Be safe.