Why Land O Lakes Butter Uses A Unique Wrapper

When it comes to butter, a stick of Land O Lakes — one of the best store-bought butters — is kind of special. No other butter is wrapped the way this brand packages its product. At first glance, the Land O Lakes butter wrapper looks like ordinary wax paper; however, it is anything but. It's specially engineered to preserve and protect the taste of butter while keeping the tastes and smells of other foods, like aromatic dishes, in the refrigerator at bay. The pre-measured butter sticks are individually wrapped in what Land O Lakes has dubbed the FlavorProtect® Wrapper.

This special wrapper made its debut in 2005, replacing the paper-backed foil wrapper that was not microwavable. It was quickly embraced for its multiple features, such as measurement lines, as well as the fact that it could be easily sliced through, unwrapped, or softened in the microwave with the wrapper still intact, without fear of causing a fire. 

What really makes it superior? According to the Washington Post, Land O Lakes tested this new packaging over several months and found that it not only made it easier to microwave but also prevented the butter from soaking up odors like a sponge. The FlavorProtect® Wrapper is not like regular parchment and waxed papers, which are porous and allow the environment to encroach on butter's taste and smell. Simply put, Land O Lakes butter packaging isn't foil, but it can keep moisture and air away as if it were, thanks to its patented design. 

That said, when it comes to storing a stick of Land O Lakes or any opened stick of butter, you'll want to refrigerate it in its original packaging in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Hint: It's not the fridge door. While the Land O Lakes wrapper has protective properties, it'll be compromised once you open it, and you will need to place it in a resealable plastic food bag.