The French butter dish – otherwise known as the butter bell and profoundly called the butter keeper, is your surest way of keeping butter soft and fresh for any of your cooking needs; especially toasting. So get in here toast lovers, let’s help you find the best butter keeper. Hold on a second, we already did!
A lot of people are familiar with butter bells, but if you’re not, it’s a ceramic crock with a cup/lid that fits inside. To use, you allow your butter to soften and then squeeze tightly into the cup which also doubles as a lid. After that, you add a drop or two of water into the base and cover by placing the cup in – and voila, you’re good to go!
If you don’t own one of these already, trust us when we say it will make your life easy and sweet. In addition to spreading on toast, the perfect butter keeper will grant you so many of your heart desires like providing you with room temp butter for your chocolate chip pancakes, for smearing graciously on steak, and for baking cookies.
Honestly, hot toast with fresh, soft butter spreading sounds like a fantastic way to start your day. So without further ado, let’s get into great butter keepers you can pick from and say your last goodbyes to refrigerated butter.
Top Pick
No other butter keeper qualifies for our top pick other than the original butter bell crock by L. Tremain. It is made from high-grade ceramic and boasts of a fascinating chic matte finish design. This product provides you with fancy while at the same time keeping your butter soft and fresh.
Budget Pick
Progressive GBD-2 prepworks butter keeper is our budget pick. It features a rectangular design with markings so you keep track of how much butter you’ve got left. The best thing is – you don’t have to break the bank to get this!
Best Butter Keeper Review
1. Original Butter Bell Crock by L. Tremain
Highlighted Features
- Classic French design
- High-grade ceramic
- Compatible with all types of butter
- Durable
- Easy to clean
Have you been looking for ways to keep your butter fresh and soft? This product is the secret weapon you need to achieve that.
If its relief café retro pattern, finished with a chic matte glaze to give its final stunning look doesn’t catch your attention, nothing else will. Beauty is not all it offers, it’s made from new bone china – a highly durable ceramic.
It works with all types of butter – all you have to do is add some cold water to the base, fill the lid with already softened butter and place it back in the base. Wondering what does the magic? Well, it’s the airtight seal – it keeps your butter fresh and delicious.
This butter keeper can contain about 125 grams of butter, keeping it fresh and soft for more than 30 days. Without a single doubt, this product will meet your needs and even double as a kitchen décor as it comes in various colors!
2. Norpro Glazed Stoneware Butter Keeper
Highlighted Features
- Can contain 1 stick of butter
- Keeps butter fresh for up to 30 days
- Fascinating design
- Durable
- Easy to clean
Standing at 4 inches tall, ladies and gents, we present to you the Norpro butter keeper to help solve your soft butter crisis.
It is a crème glazed stoneware with blue linings across the base and lid with a diameter of 3.5 inches; enough to hold 1 stick of butter and keep it delicious, fresh, and ready for spreading for up to 30 days.
Say goodbye to refrigerating your butter because this product can get the job done!
How? Simple – it has a basin, so add about 1.25cm of water into that and fill butter into the top. Turn the butter keeper upside down so the water covers the top and that’s it, your butter will be fresh as ever.
Note that the water in the basin has to be replaced every 2-3 days.
3. OXO Good Grips Butter Dish
Highlighted Features
- Rectangular design
- Tablespoon markings for easy measurement
- Stoppers to keep the butter from sliding
- Spacious
- Translucent lid
If you want something different from a ceramic butter keeper, this might be a good option for you. It features a design which consists of a rectangular dish with stoppers on both ends to prevent your butter stick from slipping and a transparent cover to give good views of the amount of butter you have left.
In addition to the view, there are tablespoon markings on the dish which allows you to accurately track the quantity of butter sticks you have. That’s not all, this product can hold short or long butter sticks and you can cut clean slices inside the dish without them slipping.
The transparent cover fits properly on the dish, so you don’t have to worry about it flying off. There are also non-slip handles on both ends for convenient conveyance.
It can be easily cleaned by your dishwasher. If you’re looking for something lightweight, it makes a very portable choice.
4. DOWAN Porcelain Butter Crock
Highlighted Features
- 6.5 oz. capacity
- High-quality porcelain
- Can be cleaned in a dishwasher
- Base waterline
- Easy to use
Are you tired of refrigerating your butter just to prevent it from getting stale? Today is your lucky day – now you can enjoy fresh layers of buttered toasts or pancakes with the Dowan butter crock.
It offers a not so common design. The base features a clear black waterline to help you keep check of the water level and the product itself is made from highly durable porcelain to deliver you with a long-lasting product.
It is very user-friendly; keeping your butter fresh in just three simple steps. Apart from the dishwasher, it can also be used in an oven, microwave, and freezer.
As for the capacity, it stands at 4 inches tall with a breadth of 3.5 inches which is enough to hold 1 stick or 125 grams of butter. It would make a great choice any time, any day.
5. Progressive GBD-2 Prepworks Butter Keeper
Highlighted Features
- Markings for easy measurements
- Transparent lid with an air-tight seal
- Can be cleaned in the dishwasher
- Portable
- Easy to use
If you’re looking for a lightweight butter keeper, this product will come in handy. It features a rectangular dish that houses your butter sticks and a clear lid that constantly reminds you how fresh your butter is.
The dish is sealed with silicone to make it airtight, that only means one thing – your butter sticks will remain fresh even for a longer period. Oh, two things! – You can also keep it anywhere, it’s airtight!
It eliminates guessing or taking wrong measurements by providing markings on both sides to help you get exact butter measurements for baking or cooking.
This product offers value, portability, and ease of operation. That’s not all, the price is a steal! It would make a great addition to your kitchen countertop.
6. Mrs. Anderson’s Butter Keeper
Highlighted Features
- Keeps butter fresh for up to 30 days without refrigeration
- Compatible with microwave and dishwasher
- Made using natural ceramic
- Can hold 1 butter stick
Do you love ceramic earthenware? Or you just want a product that securely holds your butter while keeping it fresh? This and many more features are what this product offers.
Made using natural ceramic, this butter keeper is durable and scratch-free. If your butter is a bit hard, not to worry; it works well with microwaves to soften your butter and can be maintained easily by cleaning in your dishwasher.
It has a capacity of 1 butter stick at a time and can be operated easily without stress. In case you’re thinking there’s no airtight seal, there actually is. The water added to the base creates an airtight seal when it comes in touch with the butter, keeping it fresh as ever.
7. Norpro Butter Keeper
Highlighted Features
- Stunning marble design
- User-friendly
- Capacity of 1 butter stick
- Keeps butter fresh for up to 30 days without refrigeration
Standing at 4 inches tall with a diameter of 3.75 inches, this product made from marble looks like a beautiful work of art and is everyone’s dream butter keeper.
There will never be a day without soft, fresh butter as this product can hold and keep 1 butter stick fresh and yummy for up to 30 days without refrigerating once. Amazing, right?
If you’re familiar with butter keepers of cup and base design, it’s still the same easy steps to achieve soft and fresh butter. Ensure to change the water every 2-3 days to continue the cycle of freshness.
It is durable, easy to clean, and most importantly easy to use. Thanks to its stunning looks, it can also double as a kitchen décor and would make an excellent gift.
8. Sweese Porcelain Butter Keeper
Highlighted Features
- Impressive porcelain design
- Capacity of 1 ½ butter stick
- Simple to use
- Waterline in the crock
You definitely won’t be able to get your eyes off this pretty butter keeper. Sweese, the makers, made use of highly durable porcelain which is non-toxic and it comes in a variety of amazing colors you can’t resist!
It not only makes your kitchen table more attractive, it solves all your hard butter problems and gives you the ultimate soft butter experience.
This product has a bigger capacity than common butter keepers. It can hold up to 1 ½ stick of butter, that’s a ½ butter stick extra for the family or maybe visitors.
It is super easy to use but works best in cooler environments. The crock has a waterline to help keep the water level in check. It requires simple maintenance practices like changing the water every 2-3 days and washing in the dishwasher.
9. Le Creuset Butter Crock
Highlighted Features
- Made from high-fired premium stoneware
- Can hold 1 ½ butter sticks
- Highly durable
- Easy to clean
- Doesn’t absorb odors
Le Creuset butter crock offers quality in the product and the purpose of the product. It is an incredibly strong product made from premium high-fired stoneware. The makers are confident it will last long, attaching a life warranty to this product.
If you’re not a fan of changing your kitchen wares, you can get this as it would literally last forever.
Its capacity is just as impressive as its durability, holding up to 1 ½ stick of butter. It gets the job done effortlessly; the crock provides an airtight seal which keeps your butter soft, yummy, and fresh.
The surface is enameled which makes it easy to clean and prevents it from absorbing odors and scratching.
It can be washed in a dishwasher and is a perfect choice if you’re looking for durability and value.
10. Better Butter & Beyond Butter Crock
Highlighted Features
- Fancy design
- Made from porcelain
- Capacity of ½ cup of butter
- Easy to use
This butter crock is smaller than the usual ones but it provides the same quality. If you stay alone or need just little quantity of butter, check this product out and thank us later.
With a height of 2 inches and a diameter of 4.2 inches, it can hold only ½ a cup of better at once, but it does a great job of keeping it soft and fresh without the need for refrigeration.
The water goes into the base as usual (stopping at the waterline), providing some sort of sealing to keep air from the butter. Just like that, you’ll never run out of sweet and soft room temp butter for baking or toasting.
It’s also compatible with microwave, oven, freezer, or dishwasher. It is made from porcelain which makes it durable and is easy to maintain. Without a doubt, this butter keeper is perfect to cater for your small butter needs.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Butter Keeper
There are certain essential features you have to look out for before buying your butter keeper. This section highlights some of those features and guides you through your purchase decisions.
Size and Capacity
Just like most products, butter keepers come in different shapes and sizes. The shape and size of each product determine how much butter they can hold at once. You should have an idea of the size you’re looking for considering how much soft butter you’re going to need.
If you stay alone or your appetite for butter filled meals aren’t so great, you can settle for butter keepers with small capacity like ½ cup of butter. Most butter keepers can hold up to 1 stick of butter which is enough to meet regular needs.
Large families, however, may have to go for products with a capacity of 1 ½ or they could simply get 2 or 3 of products that can hold 1 stick of butter since they are the most common anyway.
Material
Make sure you take a second to check what material the product is made of. To avoid replacing your butter keeper every now and again, ensure the material is strong and durable. Some of the best butter keepers are made with porcelain, ceramic, stoneware, and marble – which are all high-grade materials.
However, these high-grade materials may weigh heavier. So, if you need a product you can readily and easily carry around – the feature you should watch out for is lightweight. Some butter keepers are rectangular-shaped with clear lids and are made of plastics – they tend to weigh way less, hence easier to carry around.
You should also look out for material property like scratch-resistance and make sure it doesn’t absorb odor.
Design
Two common designs are; French butter crock (cup with base) and butter dish (dish with clear lid). You should choose your design based on space. Make sure you have enough space to accommodate the design you’re going for.
If you fancy attractive patterns and bright colors on your butter keeper and need a product that can also serve as kitchen décor, you can go for the vintage products or the ones similar to the original French butter crock design.
The most important thing, however, is that the product design entails an airtight seal because that’s what actually does the work.
Safety
This is one thing most people tend to overlook. The butter keeper houses something you’ll consume, so you must make sure the material the product is made from is lead-free, non-toxic, and doesn’t react with butter in any way.
Why should I change the water in the crock?
Manufacturers suggest changing the water every 2-3 days to prevent natural bacteria from growing into the butter. In other words, changing the water as recommended is important to keeping your butter fresh.
What’s the best way of cleaning my butter keeper?
Cleaning instructions are usually provided by manufacturers. You can either wash manually with a plastic brush or by using a dishwasher (if the product is dishwasher-safe).
How much water do I put in the crock basin?
The amount of water you have to pour in is always stated and is usually about ½ inch. If you’re confused, some crocks come with waterline to help you keep check of the water level. So just add water until it gets to the waterline.
What do I do to prevent the butter from falling into the water?
Even with the best butter keeper, this can still happen if you don’t get the steps right. To prevent this from happening, make sure your butter is already soft and then fill the bell using the back of a spoon, leaving no space for air between the butter and bell.
How long can the butter stay fresh?
This depends on the product you get. Some can keep your butter fresh for 14 days and some for up to 30 days. As long as the crock is airtight, your butter will stay fresh for long.
Final Thoughts
Shopping for a new butter keeper sounds like fun and it’s understandable to get confused on what to pick from the so many options available and that’s why we’re here – to give you our expert opinion.
We have reviewed 10 butter keepers, providing you with important details you need to know. To select the best, you’ll have to make a clear decision considering the factors we stated in our buying guide.
If you want the best baking or toasting experience, you’ll need the best butter, and for the best butter, you’ll need the best butter keeper. Do you belong to this category? If yes, we recommend the Original Butter Bell Crock by L. Tremain. It’s an excellent product that is aesthetically pleasing and is guaranteed to keep your butter soft, fresh, and yummy.
At the same time, you can have great quality without having to break the bank. If you belong to this category, you’ll enjoy the services of Progressive GBD-2 Prepworks Butter Keeper. It is pocket-friendly and delivers great value by keeping your butter soft and fresh.