When I was staying with Aunt Mary Anne in Kentucky for a bit, I got to know her “mother ways.” You know, the way a woman cooks and cleans and makes a bed and all that. One of the my favorite discoveries was her butter bell — a kind of butter crock or butter keeper that allows you to keep butter fresh outside the refrigerator, so that it’s always spreadable. The twist on this product is that: You pour 1-2″ of cool water into the base at the right… and plug the “bell” full of butter into the base… so, the butter actually in preserved in water in a “crock.” I change out the water regularly, and don’t sit the bell anywhere near the sun…
So, now I am the proud owner of a butter bell of my very own. Which is good, because we Kuebers never met a dairy product we didn’t like.
You can buy all varieties of butter bells and crocks on Amazon, or you can jump over to the “Official Butter Bell” site, where there are lots of choices.
CarolK says
My mom had one of these butter bells which I gave to my daughter. She bakes fresh bread more than I do and she’ll use it. Mmmm…. fresh bread and butter.
lady brett says
i was so excited about our butter bell…but it was a flop. i really, really wish it worked, but it just doesn’t. i think we are back to our previous method – regular butter dish on the counter 6-9 months of the year, and in the fridge during the summer. as long as the weather is decent, we’ve not had any spoilage problems, but the heat does it in quickly.
*sigh* the bell is so cute and such a nice idea and i can’t figure out why it doesn’t work for us.
Kyle says
I had always wanted to leave the butter out, but my girlfriend was super skeptical and swore up and down that it would spoil. We dont eat very much butter, but one day I decided to leave it out (in our crazy daisy butter dish). So about 2 or 3 weeks later I remember that I had left it out and sure enough it looked delicious. I made some toast, smeared some on, took a bite……and turned green! Sure enough, the butter spoiled!! haha And of course said “I told you so!!!”
So im still pro “leaving the butter out” but maybe just not for that long!
Jason says
I’m use to it in the fridge and try to set it out ahead of time when needed. I want to get a Tupperware butter dish I think. Another fabulous thing from the mid century that you can get current models off, TUPPERWARE! I just got the hour glass salt and pepper for Christmas, just like Mommom’s! Hard to find anyone who sells it though now a days.
TappanTrailerTami says
How about the “travel” butter bell – so we don’t all have to suffer with hard-as-a-brick butter pats in restaurants since most serve them refrigerated (frozen???) GRRR!!!
I too, am a leave it in the cupboard in a container type of person – soft butter is the best!
Michele says
Lehmans.com has these…also they have lots of old-timey things, that work without or less electricity. They have lots of farmhouse type stuff. I read their newsletter–even print up recipes. But you probably know about them, right?
pam kueber says
Yes, Michelle, I know about Lehman’s, but thanks for the reminder, as I haven’t looked there recently!