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    Learn More About Butter Dishes

    A butter dish is a piece of kitchenware designed to keep your butter fresh and soft. Storing butter in the fridge slows it from going bad, but good luck getting cold butter to spread evenly. On the other hand, butter left out on the counter stays nice and soft, but it can quickly go bad. Looking for soft, spreadable butter that also stays fresh? A butter dish is your new best friend.

    Butter begins to go rancid when it’s exposed to air or light, so a butter dish with a lid helps keep your butter fresh for longer. Heat will also speed up the process, so keep your butter dish away from hot areas of the kitchen like the stove. For more time to enjoy your butter, buy salted, or salt it yourself. Unsalted butter won’t last anywhere near as long as salted butter. Ultimately, you may have about two weeks to enjoy your butter when stored well in a butter dish.

    Choosing a butter dish is all about the aesthetic—from modern, simple shapes to intricate designs, you’ll find a range of beautiful and functional styles from small shops on Etsy. Take your pick from a wide selection of butter dish types that suit your style and kitchen needs:


    • Ceramic butter dishes: For a premium look with countless color and design options, check out the ceramic butter dishes offered by the sellers on Etsy.
    • Glass butter dishes: Glass provides a tasteful and sophisticated look, allowing you to see your butter sitting inside.
    • Crystal butter dishes: Stronger than glass but with the same perks, crystal is a terrific option for dressing up your butter dish with intricate designs and an upscale look.
    • Vintage butter dishes: For a wide range of classic and antique butter dish styles, explore the beautiful curated collections from shops on Etsy.

    A French butter dish, also called a crock, has two parts. The bottom piece holds water, and the top, or “bell,” holds the butter. Firmly pack softened butter into the bell, then put it inverted into the water filled bottom. Keep the water cold and replace it every four days. The water creates an airtight seal that keeps butter fresh even longer than a regular butter dish, typically up to one month.