Should Butter Be Kept at Room Temperature or Refrigerated?

The answer to this long-standing debate - is butter best kept in the refrigerator or on the counter - may surprise you.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Butter is a mainstay in most kitchens, but debate rages on over the best way to store it — on the counter or in the fridge; the answer is it’s up to you

• Because it’s made primarily of fat with a low water content, butter is not a favorable environment for bacterial growth

• It’s perfectly safe to store butter at room temperature, but you sh…