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The prosecution: Ruby

My boyfriend insists on maintaining butter within the ‘pantry’. To me it’s unusual and unhygienic

My boyfriend Stewart has grown up maintaining the butter within the cabinet. I essentially disagree with this – in my view, it ought to all the time be refrigerated.

We moved in collectively 5 months in the past, and Stewart would all the time put the butter in just a little cabinet within the kitchen. He sometimes refers to it as “the pantry”, which I discover hilarious. What are we, Victorians? When he tried to retailer the butter there the primary time, I instantly challenged him and stated it belonged within the fridge.

He stated: “What are you speaking about? Butter saved at room temperature is completely positive, I’ve all the time finished this.” He thinks that it tastes higher on his toast when it’s softer and extra spreadable. However dairy merchandise degrade faster when left at room temperature.

It’s now an ongoing battle – with the butter shifting forwards and backwards between the 2 places

I used to be adamant that the butter wouldn’t reside within the “pantry”, it’s disgusting. However after I put the butter within the fridge, the subsequent day I’d uncover that Stewart had moved it again into the cabinet. It’s now an ongoing battle, with the butter moved forwards and backwards between the 2 places. I do many of the cooking in the home, so I really feel I ought to have the ultimate say.

When summer season comes, I’m frightened that the butter will probably be disgusting. I’ve by no means come throughout rancid butter and I don’t need to. Stewart likes a extra conventional way of life: he wished this flat as a result of it comes with just a little backyard the place he grows greens. However a fridge is a good invention and Stewart wants to make use of ours extra.

Once we began courting a couple of years in the past, I realised Stewart was a bit posher than me. Once we moved in collectively it grew to become extra obvious. He likes to purchase scones and crumpets – I by no means eat them. He additionally grew up on a farm and his household saved their butter and eggs in an enormous pantry, which is why he desires to do the identical. I’ve seen his household let their milk sit out all day on the desk in just a little jug. Leaving perishables out of the fridge isn’t cute, it’s unhygienic and poses a well being hazard. Most individuals I meet agree with me.

The defence : Stewart

It’s positive to maintain butter within the cabinet. Ruby ought to compromise now that we share a house

Once we first moved in collectively, Ruby couldn’t consider that I didn’t refrigerate sure dairy objects. She was like, “You’re disgusting. You’re going to make us in poor health.” I discovered that response a bit a lot. I advised her, “There’s no difficulty right here. Let’s be logical about this,” however she wouldn’t pay attention.

It’s completely positive to maintain butter at room temperature: households have finished this for generations, together with mine. Nobody has ever died.

Ruby and I additionally primarily purchase salted butter, which is further protected as a result of the salt provides further safety in opposition to bacterial development. We don’t reside in a scorching nation. Ruby wants to understand there are alternative ways of dwelling. She must be extra open to compromise now that we share a house.

Ruby typically jokes that this difficulty reveals our completely different class backgrounds, however I don’t assume that’s strictly true

I don’t take her opposition to my butter-storing habits personally, however I’ve grown up maintaining butter, eggs and a few muffins and pies within the cabinet as a substitute of the fridge. It’s a matter of style: pastries dry out extra rapidly when refrigerated, and room-temperature butter spreads extra simply on bread.

I admit that I’ve been a bit petty and moved the butter again into the cabinet after Ruby put it within the fridge, however solely as a result of Ruby doesn’t eat as a lot butter as I do. When she cooks, she makes use of low-fat oils as she’s extra health-conscious. I eat buttered toast practically each morning. Why is she so bothered about my butter? Depart it alone.

Ruby typically jokes that this difficulty reveals our completely different class backgrounds, however I don’t assume that’s strictly true. I’m not from outdated, posh cash, I simply grew up on a farm the place we tried to not waste meals and saved perishables in another way.

There’s nothing flawed with calling our little cabinet a “pantry” both; that’s what my dad and mom and grandparents known as it. I’m undecided why that is so amusing to Ruby. She must adapt to my way of life and realise that maintaining butter and eggs within the cabinet received’t kill her.

The jury of Guardian readers

Is the fridge the perfect place for butter?

Stewart, let’s begin by what butter is – a block of outdated lumpy cream – so we’re already on a again foot right here, aren’t we? Don’t inform me that you may’t style the cheesiness when the butter is so comfortable that it wants a spoon. Eww. Get it within the fridge, lad.
Joni, 49

It appears that evidently each events’ robust emotions are linked to their sense of id. However finally Stewart, as chief butter eater, ought to have the ultimate say. To maintain the peace, I counsel two packs of butter, one saved within the pantry and the opposite within the fridge.
Jessamyn, 39

Is that this actually in regards to the butter, or is it about any individual making an attempt to show they’re proper? The science of butter backs Stewart; Ruby is objectively flawed. Ruby talks in absolutes, and belittles her companion. Received’t any individual please consider the toast!?
Jack, 28

I’m with Stewart. If Ruby doesn’t use the butter, it shouldn’t matter the place Stewart retains it. And Ruby says she’s by no means encountered rancid butter – which means that Stewart’s strategy is working for now.
Melanie, 63

Ruby is flawed. I additionally reside in a cool local weather, and retailer butter within the cabinet. The straightforward answer is for Stewart to maintain his butter within the pantry and Ruby hers within the fridge. Ruby also needs to look at her defensiveness about Stewart being posh.
Colleen, 59

You be the decide

So now you might be the decide, click on on the ballot under to inform us: ought to Stewart cease leaving the butter within the cabinet?

We’ll share the outcomes on subsequent week’s You be the decide.

The ballot is now closed

Final week’s consequence

We requested if Peter ought to hold his motorcycle inside the home, one thing that annoys his spouse, Sandy.

75% of you stated no – Peter is responsible
25% of you stated sure – Peter is harmless