If your margarine comes in a plastic container or tube, you can chuck it into the freezer as is. You switched to butter some time ago, so the margarine is just sitting in the butter compartment. Because of its sensitivity to temperature, it’s best to keep margarine in the interior of your refrigerator, where the temperatures are cooler and more stable, as opposed to on the door. Copyright © 2020 Can It Go Bad? You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Does margarine go bad? To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. You checked the label and noticed that it’s only a few days away from the date on the label. Fresh margarine should be completely mixed, and won’t separate. Margarine is about 80% oil (corn oil, soybean, etc) and 20% solid non fat (probably some milk solids and butter flavor). As usual, there’s no good way to estimate how long your margarine will retain freshness past that date. Let’s begin with the most obvious ones, namely the presence of mold, off or rancid smell, or a significant change in texture. You can either use aluminum foil or put the stick into a freezer bag and squeeze out the air before sealing. Mold growth certainly indicates spoilage, and the margarine should be discarded. Opened margarine will only stay fresh in your refrigerator for a month before going rancid, so while it may be tempting to buy those massive discount tubs of margarine, unless you plan to consume the entire tub within a month, they’re not worth the investment. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. To thaw margarine, leave in the refrigerator overnight. Going with the bag is better in terms of space it requires to store the food. Make sure you cut only as much margarine as you need for 2 to 3 days. Always keep margarine sealed or appropriately wrapped. Freezing margarine is an excellent way to extend its shelf life. Once margarine starts to separate, and drops of liquid form, the margarine should not be consumed. If it tastes okay, feel free to use it. You may even want to seal sticks of margarine in freezer bags, for an extra layer of protection. If any of these situations sound familiar, this article is for you. As a rule of thumb, you can assume it should stay fresh for about a month past that date, sometimes longer. There are also the usual signs of spoilage that we need to go through. That color alteration is how fat reacts to the presence of oxygen. Can margarine go bad? I know some people tell you it lasts for months on end, but that’s just stretching it. yes it can go bad or "rancid". That is, of course, if you store it well wrapped. That means you should keep it in the fridge when not in use. Even at this stage it won’t make you sick (though in extreme cases the smell might). How long will margarine last? it's made from vegetable oil and if it gets old it can start to turn. Please note that opening the margarine doesn’t matter that much, meaning it doesn’t significantly decrease its shelf life. If it looks and smells okay, you can give it a taste. Always keep margarine sealed or appropriately wrapped. Unfortunately, you’re not sure if your margarine freezes well. You don’t like discarding food, so you decided to use the rest. Sight and smell are the two best indicators that margarine has spoiled. Any mold would likely be from outside contaminants, like bits of food left on a knife used to spread the margarine. on the Brunch Pro Theme. Yahoo is part of Verizon Media. Be sure that the packages are tightly sealed, as fats are very likely to take on the flavors of other foods that may be in the freezer. It's pretty unlikely the margarine is bad. Or maybe you’ve bought a few too many sticks or tubes of margarine on a sale. If you’re interested in learning more about this popular spread, read on. Let’s start by talking about changes in color. Unopened, margarine will remain good for three to four months past the printed expiration date. Margarine should always be kept sealed in your refrigerator. Margarine that has spoiled may have a darker, hard or waxy appearance. Margarine provides a dairy-free way to enjoy buttered toast, and flaky pie crusts. The way to go about freezing it is super simple. Last but not least, when it comes to thawing, just put the margarine back in the fridge the day before you need it. Because of the high content of saturated fat, it is unlikely that margarine will grow mold. Opened margarine will only stay fresh in your refrigerator for a month before going rancid, so while it may be tempting to buy those massive discount tubs of margarine, unless you plan to consume the entire tub … it may have been your taste buds at the time but it would take a lot to make you sick. So its pretty stable. You don’t want to discard the food, so you thought about freezing some of the sticks. This shouldn’t have too much of an impact on texture or flavor, and the margarine can be mixed back together, and used as intended. Exposure to air, light and heat can all oxidize the fats in margarine, causing rancidity and spoilage. Margarine can stay good in the freezer for up to a year. Margarine should not be thawed at room temperature. Yes, even if it seems to be perfectly okay. If you leave a tub of margarine at room temperature overnight, be sure to check for separation, discoloration, an off smell or any other signs of spoilage. Frozen margarine may separate upon thawing, as a result of the moisture content of margarine, and this is not a sign of spoilage. Spoiled margarine will not smell buttery, but may smell like soap or paint, or like old microwaveable popcorn. If you’re unsure how well your margarine will freeze, test out a third of a stick before freezing a big batch. Otherwise, it’s time to discard it for quality purposes. Surprisingly, margarine can actually go bad, and the shelf life may be shorter than you think. The easiest way to see that is by cutting a slice and looking at the inside and outside. Margarines with higher fat content, that is 70 percent and more, tend to freeze better than low-fat ones. But if the darkened layer is thicker, it’s better to discard the stick. That’s not an expiration date by any means, and the margarine won’t spoil a day or two past that date. If you expect to store a stick of margarine for a couple of weeks after opening, consider some extra wrapping. Unopened, margarine will remain good for three to four months past the printed expiration date. Margarine, similarly to dairy products, usually comes with a sell-by date. Increasing the shelf life of butter The main reason for refrigerating butter is to increase its shelf life (there are also some misguiding health and safety regulations, much to the chagrin of gourmets and gourmands who like spreadable butter in restaurants). You should store margarine the same way you store butter. If your margarine is already two or more months past the date on the label, toss it out. In it, we go through storage, shelf life, and going bad of margarine. Tubs of margarine are less stable that sticks, and more sensitive to temperature, as they are designed to be more spreadable. If margarine gets too difficult to spread if refrigerated, you can cut a portion and keep it in a covered butter dish at room temperature. It depends on the quality of the product, its fat content, and if and how much preservatives it has. But often, those large tubs tend to be too much margarine to eat within a few weeks. Image used under Creative Commons from ilovebutter. If a tub of margarine is left on the counter overnight, it will likely start to separate and go rancid. An exception to this is margarine that has been frozen. While margarine from different producers tastes differently, they usually try to mimic the flavor of butter. That date informs the store how long they can keep the product on their shelves. If you need to store margarine for an extended period, freezing is an option. You can either use aluminum foil or put the stick into a freezer bag and squeeze out the air before sealing. If either one is present, throw out the butter. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. 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