The Best Way to Store Butter: Ranking Five Popular Kitchen Keepers
Food editor Rivfka Giperlein-Shiram tested five popular butter storage containers. A stainless steel keeper won first place for its durability and design.
The eternal kitchen debate about butter storage—whether it belongs in the fridge or on the counter, in a special dish or its original wrapping—led Rivfka Giperlein-Shiram, food editor at The Kitchn, to test five of the most popular butter keepers on the market. After weeks of storing, spreading, and baking with butter in each container, she evaluated them for convenience, performance, and ease of cleaning, revealing surprising results.
Ceramic Dish: Beautiful Yet Fragile
The classic ceramic butter dish with a lid scored the lowest at 1 out of 5. While it features a timeless design and is microwave- and dishwasher-safe, it is fragile, which becomes a major drawback when constantly moving between the refrigerator and the countertop. Furthermore, the lid tends to slip, and the base slides around.
Water Crocks and Silicone Lids
The traditional water crock (Butter Crock) scored 2 out of 5. It keeps butter soft and fresh for up to 30 days using water in the base, but it is tailored for spreading rather than slicing pats for baking, and requires daily or bi-daily water changes. Meanwhile, the silicone "Butter Hugger" earned 3 out of 5 for being cheap and convenient, though it only fits standard American butter sticks.
The Runners-Up and the Winner
Beeswax reusable food wraps took second place with 4 out of 5 points. Crafted from cotton infused with beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin, they accommodate butter of any shape or size, fit easily into fridge drawers, and last for years.
However, the ultimate winner with a perfect score was a simple stainless steel butter container. Featuring a precise base indentation that securely holds up to two sticks of butter without shifting, along with an elegant steel lid, it proved durable, easy to clean, and ideal for both the countertop and the refrigerator.
