![]() 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. 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.įirst, you’ll need to leave your butter to soften at room temperature until it’s easy to spread. 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. 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. The purpose of a butter crock is to protect your butter from both light and air so that it stays fresh for longer. ![]() 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. Handmade butter crocks and sets also make good gifts. There are also single-serving sizes, which would be fun for breakfast in bed or giving guests individual butter servings at a dinner party.Ī 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. You'll want to factor in counter space before buying a large version, though. ![]() 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. Clay and stone butter keepers that are handmade make unique gifts but often need to be hand-washed. 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. 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. Most French-style butter crocks are made of ceramic, but you can find them made with everything from glass to marble. What to Look for in a Butter Keeper Material For a simpler budget version that’s still elegant and practical, try the Norpro Ceramic Butter Keeper. 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. Here are our picks for the best butter keepers in each category. 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. 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.Ī 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. Luckily, a solution to this problem exists, and it’s not a newfangled kitchen gadget, but rather a 19th-century invention. 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.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |