Over the years, mango butter has been used for many purposes. It is a by-product from mango seeds and is very rich in fatty acids such as palmitic, stearic, and oleic acid (which makes it helpful to individuals with any skin type).
The properties of mango butter make it ideal for making body care products like soaps and lotions.
This vegetable fat has been in use for ages in India and Africa. Besides its benefit as an emollient and a moisturizer, mango butter is also useful for aromatherapy.
Its mild aroma can relieve stress and depression while it tonifies the skin by stimulating circulation to the tissues! No wonder this butter is used to make lipsticks and creams.
Unfortunately, mango butter can become rancid if it is not properly stored. This is why it is crucial to know how to store mango butter.
If you’re new and don’t know the proper way of preserving Mango butter, make sure to read this article.
How Long Does it Take for Mango Butter to Expire
Mango butter’s typical shelf life is around 6 months to 1 year. However, it can last longer if you store it properly.
The self-life of mango butter also depends on several factors like temperature and how it was processed.
Let’s look at different expiry points when mango butter is at different states:
- Unrefined Mango Better: The general expiry point for unrefined mango butter is around two years. Unrefined or crude mango butter color varies from bright yellow to pale yellow, and its texture is soft.
- Refined Mango Butter: The shelf life of the refined butter is around 1 year and is harder than unrefined butter. If it has been deodorized, its shelf life is around 2 years. Refined Mango butter has a light white color and does not have any odor. Mango butter that has been hydrogenated is generally stable for 2 years.
- Mango Butter Compresses: The shelf life of mango butter compresses is around 6 months to a year. It is a good idea to check the expiry date of your compress before using it.
- Homemade Mango Butter: For the homemade butter, its shelf life is around 2 months because there are no emulsifiers used to preserve it. You can extend its shelf life by storing it in the fridge or adding preservative agents.
In each state above, the shelf life is to be used as a guide for individuals who have stored mango butter in different ways.
In reality, every lot of mango butter has different properties depending on how it was processed. Its possible expiry time can be longer or shorter than the general guideline.
Read: Pure mango oil
How to Store Mango Butter: The Proper Ways
Mango butter darkens with age, which is usually the first sign of rancidity. So, it’s crucial to know how to store mango butter properly.
Here are some techniques that you can use for maintaining the quality and shelf life of the butter:
1. Keep Mango Butter in a Cool and Dark Place
The ideal storage condition for mango butter is at room temperature and away from heat and light. Mango butter should be kept in a closed container to avoid exposure to air, dirt, moisture, and sunlight.
Exposure to sunlight and heat will speed up the mango butter’s oxidation process. Hence, make sure to keep the butter stored in a cool and dark place like the fridge or freezer.
The temperature should be lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, at 15 degrees Celsius.
2. Keep the Butter in an Air-Tight Container
Proper packaging of mango butter is an important step in preserving its quality. You can store it in a container or wrap it tightly using plastic to ensure that particles from the air will not contaminate the butter.
If you want your butter to last for more than a year, create an airtight container and keep it inside the fridge. Airtight containers prevent water from evaporating and contaminants from entering.
Many manufacturers use this method as it maintains the quality of their produce.
Read: Edible mango butter
3. Store Mango Butter in a Refrigerator Or Freezer
Refrigerating butter is the best way to prevent rancidity. It slows down chemical processes in large molecules like fats, which last longer.
This technique prevents your mango butter from darkening, melting, and becoming sticky. Moreover, it also extends its shelf life, ensuring you can use it after 9 months to a year.
You can also store your butter in the freezer, especially if you want to prolong its shelf life for more than one year.
This is effective for homemade mango butter, which does not contain preservatives that extend its shelf life or emulsifiers to slow down oxidation processes. Just make sure that you leave enough room to expand when frozen.
4. Add Preservatives and Antioxidants Properly
Antioxidants like vitamin E can prolong the shelf life of your butter by preventing oxidation, which is a chemical reaction.
It usually takes around one month for mango butter to oxidize because it contains many unsaturated fatty acids.
Antioxidants are also used to improve mango butter’s emollient and moisturizing effect. You can add antioxidants like vitamin E or beta-carotene into your butter during production to preserve its quality.
Read: How to make mango soap
Frequently Asked Questions on Mango Butter
What Is The Shelf Life Of Mango Butter?
The general shelf life of mango butter is around 9 months to 1 year, depending on various factors such as its properties before preservation and how it was made.
What Will Happen If I Store My Butter In A Hot Area?
If you store your butter in a hot area, it will become sticky and lose its quality. It will not melt, but it may become very soft.
What Should I Do If My Butter Is Melted?
If your mango butter has already melted, then the best thing that you can do is to place it inside the fridge or freezer to allow hardening. But make sure that the product was not overly exposed to heat.
There you have it; now you have a good idea of how to store mango butter effectively. Using proper storage techniques will help you maintain the quality of your butter and make it last for a long time.
Just remember these simple tricks, and soon enough, you’ll be able to enjoy the fruit’s most popular butter for a long time.