Can You Freeze Margarine?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against USDA FoodKeeper · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes, you can freeze margarine. Best quality within 12 months; it stays safe beyond that at a constant -18°C.
What freezing does to margarine
Butter and margarine freeze very well: they are mostly fat, so there is little water to form damaging ice crystals. Butter can be frozen in its wrapper for months and then used as normal. The main risk is picking up other freezer smells, so overwrap it. FoodKeeper gives margarine a best-quality freezer window of 12 months. For comparison, the same database gives milk 3 months, double cream 3–4 months, cheddar 6 months.
You can also check the calorie content of margarine alongside its safety information.
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Margarine next to similar foods
| Food | Freezer window |
|---|---|
| Half and Half Cream | 4 months |
| Commercial Eggnog | 6 months |
| Butter | 6–9 months |
| Margarine | 12 months |
| Tub Whipped Topping | 14 months |
Of the 12 dairy foods in the freezing guide, margarine has a best-quality window that is longer than 10 and shorter than 1.
Margarine: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| In the fridge | 6 months in the fridge |
Common questions
How long can you freeze margarine?
For best quality, up to 12 months (USDA FoodKeeper). It stays safe beyond that, because bacteria cannot grow at a constant -18°C; the time limit is about taste and texture, not safety. Label the pack with the date so you can use the oldest first.
How should I freeze margarine?
Freeze in the original wrapping, overwrapped in a freezer bag or foil so it does not pick up odours. Freeze it in the portions you use (e.g. 250g blocks).
How do I defrost margarine?
In the fridge overnight. For baking, grate it from frozen or soften at room temperature.
Can you refreeze margarine?
Fine in practice if it stayed cold, but quality drops with repeated thawing — take out only what you need.
Fridge or freezer for margarine?
The fridge window for margarine is 6 months (USDA FoodKeeper). If you are not going to finish it inside that window, freeze it while it is still fresh, ideally in the first day or two, since freezing only pauses the clock and anything frozen late goes in with less life left.
Related answers
Primary source: USDA FoodKeeper.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.