Have you ever tried to spread cold…
…rock-hard butter onto toast after scraping off shavings…
…from a box of frozen butter?
Have you struggled to grease a baking pan with stiff, crumbly butter?
Even if you leave butter out on the counter to keep it soft and spreadable…
…it can go rancid in just a few days if exposed to light and air.
An innovative invention from the 19th century has an answer to this problem…
…and it isn’t a newfangled kitchen tool.
The butter crock (also called the butter keeper or French butter dish)…
…is a cleverly designed container, originally made of ceramic…
…designed to keep butter fresh at room temperature for several weeks.
A French butter crock is composed of two parts:
,,,a top shaped like a bell and a bottom shaped like a cup…
…both of which are filled with cold water…
…which prevents light and oxygen from reaching the butter surface.
Despite not being maintenance-free…
…(you’ll need to change the water once or twice a week)…
…many people who use butter keepers…
…for the first time wonder how they managed without them.
Before we move on to the next section, we’d like to hear from Yoon…
Butter Keeper is awesome! I wonder how I have lived without one until now?
In the summer, I keep butter in the fridge because I live in a hot Mediterranean climate.
As most of us know, this can be quite annoying when making toast, etc.
For that reason, I had to abandon fake butter spreads in favor of real butter.
This thing is amazing! It does work! It’s something I would recommend to all my friends.
It’s time to get started…
What Is A Butter Keeper?
Butter keepers allow butter to be stored at room temperature without refrigeration.
The butter keeps its flavor and freshness by preventing it…
…from becoming contaminated with air outside.
The product line can keep your butter at the perfect spreading consistency…
…by reflecting outside heat while insulating and cooling it.
Butter keepers can generally accommodate one butter stick…
…although some can accommodate two sticks or cubes simultaneously.
Additionally, their designs are very simple.
For convenience, they usually come with a crock, dish, or boat.
These butter keepers feature a base that accommodates cold water…
…a dry lid that covers the container…
…and an airtight seal that preserves the butter’s flavor, softness, and freshness.
There are many butter keepers that are similar in size and function.
The capacity, material, appearance, and safety of some appliances…
…such as the dishwasher, microwave, freezer, oven, and broiler…
…can be different from one another.
Perhaps you are wondering…
What to Look for in a Butter Keeper
Material
The most common type of French-style butter crock is made of ceramic…
…but you can also find them made of glass or marble.
Butter keepers with glass cups are less discreet…
…but you can easily monitor the water level, so you never forget to replace it.
Because marble retains heat well, it makes an excellent butter crock…
…but it can be difficult to clean since it is so heavy.
Handmade clay and stone butter keepers make unique gifts…
…but they often need to be hand-washed.
Size
Butter keepers usually hold a stick of butter (about ½ cup)…
…but if you go through butter quickly, there are large-capacity versions.
If you plan to buy a large version, be sure to account for counter space.
The butter is also available in single-serving sizes…
…which would be fun for breakfast in bed…
…or giving out individual servings at a dinner party.
Style
Butter keepers serve a very important function…
…but since they sit on your counters, you want to make sure they aren’t ugly.
Choose a style that matches your décor.
Butter crocks and sets also make great gifts.
Here’s the main part…
Our Top Picks for Butter Keepers
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Butter Bell - The Original Butter Bell Crock by L. Tremain, French Ceramic Butter Dish, Antique Collection, White Linen | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | SIDUCAL Butter Dish, Glass Butter Crock with lid Water Seal Butter keeper Ceramic Cover for Fresh Soft Butter, Table Butter Holder, Dishwaher Safe (Light Bule) | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Emile Henry HR Modern Classics Butter Pot, Green | Prime | Buy Now | |
 | Norpro Glazed Stoneware Butter Keeper | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Let’s go through them one by one…
Butter Bell Antique Butter Bell Crock
- A TOUCH OF PROVENCAL RUSTIC CHARM – The popular Antique collection of Butter Bell crocks draw inspiration from a French country kitchen, with intricate embossing on each butter keeper that resembles the leaves and crawling vines of a French vineyard, giving the butter crock a well-worn vintage appearance. Conveniently sized for optimal butter freshness, the crock is easy to handle and fits neatly on your countertop.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
A California-based company called Butter Bell offers an assortment of crocks…
…made of durable bone china which are inspired…
…by French ceramic pieces from the late 1800s.
You can find them in a variety of colors and styles to match any kitchen decor…
…and they hold about 1 stick of butter ( ½ cups).
They come in either a shiny or matte lead-free finish and are dishwasher-safe.
Models with shiny glazes have the drawback…
…that if the room temperature gets too warm, the butter can get too soft and fall out.
“The airtight mechanism includes an inverted bell-shaped lid and a base that contains cold water. I believe that this device would make you satisfied.”
Jamie – Writer at Lacademie.com
Pros:
- Durable
- Comes with a wide variety of color and design choices
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Butter can slide out if it gets too warm
SIDUCAL Glass Butter Crock
- The butter dish have the uniform color appearance with the clear body. The elegant transparent butter dish with the ceramic cover is suitable for your kitchen.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Although butter keepers made of opaque materials are discreet and attractive…
…their “out of sight, out of mind” quality makes maintenance somewhat mysterious.
With a ceramic bell and a transparent glass cup…
…this contemporary crock lets you monitor the level of water in the crock…
…a handy reminder to replace it every few days…
…while shielding the butter in the bell from light.
However, glass is more delicate than ceramic…
…and more prone to chipping or breaking…
…but both parts of the crock can be washed in the dishwasher.
Pros:
- Water level can be easily monitored
- Dishwasher safe
- Choice of color
Cons:
- Fragile
- Not as discreet as other models
Keep reading…
Emile Henry Modern Classics Butter Pot
- Made in France using Emile Henrys proprietary HR ceramic (high resistance)
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The sleek and understated butter pot is made…
…from Burgundy clay fired at high temperatures…
…making it quite durable and scratch-resistant.
This ceramic cup is available in red, white, and blue…
…with a lead- and cadmium-free glaze.
It can hold a whole stick of butter (about 1 cup) and is dishwasher safe.
Additionally, the product comes with a 10-year warranty…
…so you don’t have to worry about its durability.
Pros:
- Elegant
- Durable, with a 10-year warranty
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Pricey
- Lid has no knob or handle
Norpro Glazed Stoneware Butter Keeper
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
When you’re looking to try out a French-style butter crock…
…but don’t want to spend a lot, this simple…
…yet stylish crock from Norpro is a great option.
Finished with a lead-free glaze and crafted from cream-colored stoneware…
…with navy-blue stripes, it has a classic appearance and can hold up to ½ cups of butter.
It is only a negative that it is recommended…
…for hand washing rather than dishwasher use.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Stylish
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
How To Use A Butter Keeper?
In this section, we provide a step-by-step guide on how to use your butter keeper.
The steps are simple enough for anyone to understand.
Additionally, make sure you read the user manual thoroughly…
…for detailed information about every product.
French Butter Crock
- To provide an airtight mechanism, fill the bottom half an inch with water;
- Pack cold butter firmly inside the lid, then add the water base;
- Check whether the amount of water rises over the mouth of the inverted bell-shaped lid while submerged;
- Replacing the water every couple of days is recommended, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.
The design prevents oxygen from coming into contact with your butter.
As a result, the butter is preserved well without refrigeration.
In the event that the butter cube slides off the lid…
…wipe it with a dry towel and do the same inside the lid.
Afterward, you can repack the butter cube to remove all the air holes.
If you want to avoid butter falling into the water, you can use a spoon to push it back.
The air has been sucked out of your butter cube when you hear several pops at that time.
Butter Dish
The ease of use of this type is superb.
You place your butter sticks on top of the butter dish…
…then close the lid tightly to prevent air from entering.
Sum Up!
It happens to all of us, the perfect piece of sourdough just screams…
…for some salty butter, but when you grab the butter…
…from the fridge and attempt to spread it, things fall apart, quite literally.
The worst nightmare of a food lover is hard butter.
You can, however, soften that solid arch-nemesis quite easily with a butter keeper
Conclusion
It seems that you chose one of the high-quality butter keepers…
…that we introduced above.
We would appreciate your feedback in the comment section.
We recommend the Butter Bell Crock as the best butter keeper…
…that meets most needs because it is available in a variety of colors and styles.
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Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
