Buying guide
Butter Dishes and Butter Bells: Soft Butter Without the Mess
Covered dishes versus water-sealed butter bells, what size fits a British block, and how to keep butter fresh on the counter.
Butter straight from the fridge tears soft bread. A butter dish lets you keep a little at room temperature, ready to spread.
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Types
| Type | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Covered butter dish | A plate with a lid | A standard block; everyday use |
| Butter bell (French butter crock) | Butter packed into a cup; the cup sits upside down in a little water to seal out air | Keeping butter soft for longer |
| Open butter pat dish | A small plate for curls or pats | The table only |
Size
The standard UK block is 250 g. Check the inside length and width of the dish: some imported dishes are made for the long, thin sticks sold in the US and are too narrow for a British block.
Keeping butter fresh
- Keep out only what you will use in a few days; keep the rest in the fridge.
- Keep the dish out of direct sun and away from the cooker.
- Salted butter keeps better at room temperature than unsalted.
- Change the water in a butter bell every couple of days.
Soft butter is the whole point with warm Irish soda bread or scones.
How we choose
BeneRecipes compares tools using manufacturer specifications and retailer listings. We have not tested these products ourselves and don't publish star ratings. We explain which type suits which cook and why.
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