One of the coolest yet simplest kitchen utensils I own is a butter crock. It’s actually a container for butter that keeps butter fresh and spreadable without refrigeration. That’s right… room temperature butter!

The design is simple… a base that holds an inch of water, and a cup that holds about a stick of packed butter. You place the cup into the base and a seal is created to keep air out and butter fresh. The butter crock can stay right on your countertop 365 days of the year. To ensure your butter remains fresh, change the water every third day.

The butter crock is also called a French butter dish and was designed by French potters in the late 19^th century. According to Wikipedia, the butter dish design was thought to have originated in Vallauris, France. But it wasn’t until the 1970’s and 1980’s that this cool tool was replicated by potters here in the United States and sold at craft fairs and art boutiques.

Luckily, I have a mother-in-law who loves not only craft fairs and mom & pop hardware stores, but she also loves sharing her finds. We were gifted with a butter crock one Christmas many, many years ago. Now when I make my crusty bread, we have spreadable butter on hand!

The simplicity of the butter crock and the ease of spreading butter on either warm toast or when craving grilled cheese makes this tool a must have! Hopefully you will feel the same way!

Butter crocks can be purchased through specialty stores such as William Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, Bed Bath & Beyond, or online through Food52, etsy, and Amazon to name just a few.