Who hasn’t experienced the frustration of trying to scrape off shavings of rock-hard, fridge-cold butter and then spread it, only to destroy your toast? Or struggled to grease a baking pan with stiff, crumbly butter? You can leave your butter out on the counter to keep it soft and spreadable, but when butter is exposed to light and air, it can go rancid in just a few days. Luckily, a solution to this problem exists, and it’s not a newfangled kitchen gadget, but rather a 19th-century invention. A butter crock (also known as a “butter keeper” or “French butter dish”) is a cleverly designed container, originally made in France of ceramic, designed to keep your butter soft yet fresh for several weeks at room temperature.
A French butter crock is made up of two parts: a bell-shaped top and a cup-shaped bottom, filled with a bit of cold water, which protects the surface of the butter from contact with light and oxygen. While they’re not maintenance-free (you’ll need to change the water once or twice a week), many who have tried a butter keeper for the first time wonder how they ever did without one.
Here are our picks for the best butter keepers in each category.
Best Overall
Butter Bell Antique Butter Bell Crock
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- Durable
- Many choices of color and style
- Dishwasher safe
- Butter can slide out if it gets too warm
Inspired by the original French ceramic pieces of the late 1800s, the California-based Butter Bell company offers crocks made of durable bone china. They’re available in a multitude of colors and styles—from retro to antique to contemporary—to match any kitchen décor, and they hold about 1 stick (½ cup) of butter. They’re available in either a shiny or matte lead-free finish and are dishwasher-safe. One drawback to the models with a shiny glaze: If the room temperature gets too warm, sometimes the butter can get a bit too soft and fall out into the water.
Material: Ceramic | Capacity: ½ cup | Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 4 inches | Weight: 1.78 Pounds
Best Glass
SIDUCAL FORHOME Glass Butter Crock
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- Easy to monitor the water level
- Dishwasher safe
- Choice of color
- Fragile
- Not as discreet as other models
While butter keepers made of opaque material are discreet and attractive, their “out of sight, out of mind” quality can make the required maintenance a bit mysterious. This contemporary-style crock, featuring a ceramic bell and a transparent glass cup, lets you monitor the water level in the crock, serving as a reminder to replace it every few days, while still shielding the butter in the bell from light. A drawback to this is that glass is more delicate than ceramic and more prone to chipping or breakage, but both parts of the crock are dishwasher safe.
Material: Glass, ceramic | Capacity: ½ cup | Dimensions: 5 x 4.96 x 4.61 inches | Weight: 1.2 pounds
What Our Experts Say
“Water butter crocks are great for storing butter safely. When you put the butter into the crock, the water completely seals the butter so that it is not exposed to oxygen or bacteria. Oxygen is what turns the butter rancid so this acts as a barrier that keeps the butter soft and fresh.” — Alanna O’Neil, entertaining expert and the author of “The Art of Picnics”
Most Stylish
Emile Henry Modern Classics Butter Pot
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- Elegant
- Durable, with a 10-year warranty
- Dishwasher safe
- Holds a whole stick of butter
- Pricey
- Lid has no knob or handle
This sleek and understated butter pot, handmade in France from Burgundy clay fired at high temperatures, is quite durable and resistant to chips and scratches. It features a lead- and cadmium-free glaze, and it’s available in red, white, or blue. It’s dishwasher safe and can hold a whole stick (about 1 cup) of butter. It comes with a 10-year warranty, too, so you don’t have to worry about its longevity.
Material: Ceramic | Capacity: ½ cup | Dimensions: 4.3 x 4.3 x 3.9 inches | Weight: 1.1 pounds
Best Handmade
Sawyer Ceramics French Ceramic Butter Keeper
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- Stylish
- Dishwasher safe
- One of a kind
- Great for gifting
- A bit pricey
- Lid has no knob or handle
These unique, wheel-thrown stoneware crocks are handmade by Sawyer Ceramics in California. They feature an unglazed exterior for a rustic look and a lead-free, pale-blue glaze on the inside. The large capacity holds 1 stick (½ cup) of butter, and they are dishwasher safe. Since they’re handmade, each piece is one-of-a-kind, and no two will be exactly alike.
Material: Ceramic | Capacity: ½ cup | Dimensions: 4 x 4.25 x 2.25 inches
Best Budget
Norpro Glazed Stoneware Butter Keeper
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- Easy to use
- Stylish
- Holds a full stick of butter
- Keeps butter fresh and soft
- Not dishwasher safe
If you’re curious to try out a French-style butter crock but not keen to splurge, this simple, yet stylish crock from Norpro is a great option. Made of cream-colored stoneware accented with navy-blue stripes and finished with a lead-free glaze, it has a classic look and holds 1 full stick (½ cup) of butter. The only negative is that it’s recommended for hand washing, rather than the dishwasher.
Material: Stoneware | Capacity: ½ cup | Dimensions: 4 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches | Weight: 12 ounces
Best Large-Capacity
Hawkins New York Simple Butter Keeper
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- Holds 2 sticks of butter (1 cup)
- Easy to see how much butter and water left
- Dishwasher safe
- Doesn’t protect butter from light
- Fragile
This minimalistic butter keeper, made completely of mouth-blown glass in Portugal, holds more than any other option we found: 1 full cup or 2 sticks of butter. It would be perfect for a large family or those who go through butter quickly. While the transparent glass is handy for monitoring how much butter or water is left in it—and reminding you to change the water every few days—it also potentially exposes the butter to light, which is one of the things that can make it go bad more quickly. Therefore, this crock would need to be kept in a dark spot, away from direct sunlight. On the upside, however, it is dishwasher safe.
Material: Glass | Capacity: 1 cup | Dimensions: 4.25 x 2.5 inches
Best Mini
PoterieTOURaTOUR Handmade French Butter Dish
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- Handmade
- Custom color options
- Beautiful appearance
- A little pricey
If you want to save space on your countertop, you may need a mini butter keeper. This beautiful handmade French-style butter keeper from Etsy is a fabulous option. It’s a cute, round dish that comes in three different colors—blue, yellow, and white. This butter keeper can fit into any kitchen decor and lend it a nostalgic and homey feel.
Despite its smaller size of 3 x 3.5 inches, it still holds about half a cup of butter. There is also a larger size available that holds a whole cup of butter.
Material: Stoneware clay | Capacity: ½ cup | Dimensions: 3 x 3.5 inches
Best Marble
Crate & Barrel French Kitchen Marble Butter Keeper
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- Elegant design
- Durable
- Keeps butter cool
- Heavy and a bit cumbersome to clean
- Requires handwashing
This sophisticated crock is carved from white marble, which is not only stylish but also practical. Marble is very sturdy and durable, and absorbs heat better than other materials, which is why it always feels cool to the touch. That makes it great for a butter keeper because it will help keep your butter cool enough not to melt and slide out of the bell, yet still soft and spreadable. The slightly rough surface also helps hold the butter inside the upside-down bell a bit better than the smooth surface of a glazed ceramic crock.
Like most of our picks, this marble crock holds 1 stick (½ cup) of butter. The downside is that it’s not dishwasher safe, so it needs to be hand-washed, and because marble is so heavy, it’s a bit awkward to handle. But that’s a small price to pay for the style and convenience it offers.
Material: Marble | Capacity: ½ cup | Dimensions: 4 x 4.25 inches
Final Verdict
Our overall pick for the best butter keeper that meets most needs is the Butter Bell Crock, which is available in a large range of colors and styles. For a simpler budget version that’s still elegant and practical, try the Norpro Ceramic Butter Keeper.
What to Look for in a Butter Keeper
Material
Most French-style butter crocks are made of ceramic, but you can find them made with everything from glass to marble. Butter keepers with a glass cup are less discreet, but they also make monitoring the water level easy, so you never forget to replace it. Marble is excellent at keeping heat out, which makes for a great butter crock, but it can be difficult to wash because it’s so heavy. Clay and stone butter keepers that are handmade make unique gifts but often need to be hand-washed.
Size
Most butter keepers hold enough for one stick of butter (about 1/2 cup), but there are some large-capacity versions if you are someone who goes through butter quickly. You’ll want to factor in counter space before buying a large version, though. There are also single-serving sizes, which would be fun for breakfast in bed or giving guests individual butter servings at a dinner party.
Style
A butter keeper serves a very important function, but because it will sit out on your counter, you’ll want to make sure it’s not an eyesore. Opt for a style that matches your decor. Handmade butter crocks and sets also make good gifts.
FAQs
How does a butter keeper work?
It’s safe to keep butter unrefrigerated, but exposure to light and oxygen can cause the fats in the butter to go rancid, giving it an unpleasant smell and taste. The purpose of a butter crock is to protect your butter from both light and air so that it stays fresh for longer. You fill the bottom of the crock with a little cold water, and when you insert the bell full of butter, the water will rise and create an airtight seal against the surface of the butter. When used correctly, a French butter crock can keep your butter fresh yet soft and spreadable for 2 to 3 weeks, or even up to a month in cooler climates.
Note that if your room temperature is above about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s best to transfer your crock to the fridge until the weather cools off a bit; the crock will still protect your butter from picking up any “off” flavors and keep it fresher longer in the fridge than if simply stored in a paper wrapper.
How do you use a butter keeper?
First, you’ll need to leave your butter to soften at room temperature until it’s easy to spread. Then fill the bell with the softened butter, pressing down with the bottom of a spoon so that it’s firmly seated inside the bell. Fill the bottom of the crock with a bit of cold water—there should be just enough to touch the surface of the butter when the bell is inverted and placed inside the crock. The amount needed depends on the size of the crock, but it’s generally between ¼ to ⅓ cup of water. Some crocks feature small holes on the sides of the bell to allow any trapped air to escape. If you’re using unsalted butter, you can add a bit of salt to the water to keep the butter fresh for longer. Remember to change the water every 2 to 3 days, and wash the crock and bell in between butter refills.
