Butter Keeper - Why It's the Next Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Actually, I hate presliced bread. It goes stale so much faster than when you slice your own loaf as you go. But never mind that. I LOVE my butter keeper.

What is a butter keeper? Well, let me tell you because I'm so excited about my new little kitchen accessory that I'm about to burst. A butter keeper is a nifty ceramic, porcelain, or in this case marble dish that holds your butter at a soft, silky, luscious, spreadable texture at all times. You keep it on your counter and it keeps your butter fresh.

Imagine never having to wait for your butter to soften. Imagine toasting a piece of bread and instantly having malleable butter at the ready. Did you picture it? Doesn't it sound amazing? Well, if you get a butter keeper - you can kiss that rock-hard butter goodbye. I have.

I first saw a stoneware butter keeper at Paula Deen's house (she has the most amazing kitchen), and was intrigued by the notion. Then one day I googled it and a slew of choices popped up. Mine was delivered 2 days later and my kitchen hasn't been the same since. All I want to do is butter everything that will stand still long enough but usually I can manage to stick to toast.

Using a butter keeper is easy. Here's what you do: You fill the egg holder-shaped part with about a stick's worth of softened butter, turn the butter-filled piece upside down and insert it into the water-filled base. That's it. That water creates a vacuum seal and prevents the butter from spoiling for supposedly 30 days though it doesn't last more than a week in this butter-loving house.

Maintenance is a cinch too - you fill up the bottom of the butter keeper with a bit of water, which you have to switch out every three days, but I pretty much do it every day - everytime I butter my bread. And that's an awful lot.

Comments

[Kitchen]

Nice article. I'll give it a go.
Thanks
Jocelyn

[Leolennon]

i received one as a gift recently. i agree it is splendid!

[Dave Bridges]

I have one and I love it. When guests are coming over, I even have a stamp with my initial that I imprint on to the top of the butter.

[Myfoodia]

Provides a great incentive to make more fresh bread!

[Dianne Jacob]

I bought one at Sur La Table after being delighted by it at a friend's house.

Do you eat more butter because it is so much easier to spread and more accessible? I think I do.

Also beware that on hot days, the butter sometimes melts. When you pick up the butter-filled piece and it gooshes out. Other than that, I love mine.

[susan]

so loving this! i keep butter on my counter(my kids love toast at all times of the day), yet this is way prettier!

[Sidney]

Must have. It is now on my wish list! Thanks for the review.

[Sense of Home]

And it is beautiful too!

-Brenda

[Katie@Cozydelicious]

I have never seen a butter keeper - but I love it! Such a great little toy! I have taken to using a potato peeler on my butter to get nice little bits that melt into my toast, but this seems so much easier. I'm off too google it now!

[Nancy Gershman]

I made vast amounts of brandy butter for a brown betty at New Year's and was storing it in a repurposed chutney jar in the fridge. Now, finally, you've found me a vessel deserving of this beautiful stuff!

I think our readers will be astounded it can sit right on the counter ...

[david d]

The devil you say! This device is too beautiful to be real!!!

[Maureen @ Orgasmic Chef]

I love making my own butter and bread so one of these things is a must for my gift wish list. Great idea!

[Acacia]

My roommate and I always fight about where the butter should be...she likes it in the fridge and thinks that it's bizarre that I want it sitting on the counter...but I like my butter soft! I think this would be our solution.

[Jen]

What a great and cute little container!

[Nantucket Weddings]

What a cute keeper! I also love your butter keeper! Wish to have that one right now and I'm going to buy it. Just kidding! I hope I can buy a duplicate of your keeper! Thank you for the inspiration.