What Is a Butter Bell?

I know it's silly, but shredding my toast apart because the butter is too cold and hard is one of those things that can ruin a morning. I realize it's not a problem on the level of achieving world peace, but it sure is annoying.

I, like most, don't always remember to take the butter out of the fridge the moment I get up, and though I know that I can nuke a bit of it in the microwave for a (very) few seconds...I'd kind of prefer not to. I don't want melted butter, just spreadable butter. And I don't love leaving a stick of butter out of the fridge as-is overnight. Sure, that's fine for a while, but rancid butter is not something you ever want to eat—or certainly not eat again if you've ever accidentally tasted it.

Warmth and exposure to air are the real culprits in making butter go bad. So, is there a way to keep your butter soft and safe at the same time?

There is! It's called a butter bell.

Though it may sound like a kind of goofy contraption, a butter bell allows you to safely leave silky soft butter at room temperature. A butter bell (also commonly called a butter crock or butter keeper) comes in two pieces: a cone or cup-shaped container with a non-removable, saucer-like base, and a larger cup—both are usually made of ceramic. Your butter is placed in the smaller cone/cup (it's best to use soft, but not too soft/melty, butter when adding it), and cold water is placed in the larger cup. The butter cone is then placed, butter side down into the cup containing the water.

Until you get used to using it, you should do this step over the sink, as water may overflow out. After a few goes, you'll figure out just how much water you need by sight, but to be clear...the butter should touch the water. What you're doing is preventing any air from coming into contact with the surface of the butter, effectively sealing it off from the air and preventing spoilage.

If your home is very warm, I'd suggest changing the water out twice a day. If your house is fairly cool/normal room temperature, changing the water once a day is fine. That may sound like a lot of effort, but changing the water takes about 15 seconds—and no more shredded toast!

The Original Butter Bell Crock by L. Tremain

Buy on Amazon $30

The Butter Bell is one of the most recognizable and famed names in the butter keeping world. Inspired by 16th century French cooks, this crock is modernized for home kitchens and produces silky smooth spreadable butter. There are many fun colors and designs available, but this retro-style labeled crock is a true classic. The ceramic keeper holds one stick (or half a cup) of butter. It's also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

Le Creuset Butter Crock

Le Creuset Stoneware Butter Crock — Le Creuset

Buy on Amazon $44 Buy on Sur La Table $44 Buy on Lecreuset.com $44

Le Creuset is a kitchen darling, with many aesthetically-pleasing products—including butter keepers. There are many bright colors to choose from, so you can match it to the rest of your gear. The enamel glaze keeps out any unwanted odors and is chip-resistant, while the dense stoneware beneath blocks out moisture to keep six ounces of butter safe.

Williams Sonoma Honeycomb Marble Butter Keeper

Buy on Williams-Sonoma $60

This marble butter crock from Williams Sonoma is a sight to bee-hold. The butter keeper is carved from a single block of marble, then the honeycomb shapes are etched by hand. Golden metal bees adorn both lid and container, protecting up to 1.25 pounds of butter inside. You'll definitely want to hand wash this fashionable crock.

Norpro Glazed Stoneware Butter Keeper

Buy on Amazon $15

Simplicity done well is a wonderful thing. This straightforward butter keeper won't break the bank yet works perfectly well (and is still easy on the eyes). Made of glazed stoneware, the crock holds one stick of butter and will keep it nice and soft for up to 30 days.

Is a Butter Bell Worthwhile?

The first time I tried using a butter bell...well, let's just say I was quite the skeptic. But the next morning? My toast and morning, totally NOT ruined! To be entirely honest, I have no idea exactly how long butter will stay fresh in a butter bell sitting on your countertop because most butter bells have just enough capacity that I have never kept one batch of butter so long, I had any worries about spoilage. These little beauties take up hardly any room on the counter—and they're quite stylish. Most importantly though, they work. And anything that helps me to start the day off this well, I call it a win.

Additional reporting by

Allison Wignall