The Very Best Tools for Storing, Spreading, and Melting Butter

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Stick of butter, one opened
Credit: Joe Lingeman

If you’re a Butter Person, we love you. And, also, we have good news for you: We spent a lot of time in 2021 testing all sorts of butter-related gear. Because like you, we take all butter matters very seriously. No, butter isn’t fussy. But if you have the right gear then your butter experience can be even better. A better butter experience? Yes please! These are three of the tools we want to spread the word about. Pun intended!

1. OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Butter Dish

When we set out to test various butter storage options, we didn’t really know what we were expecting. The winner didn’t seem like much at first glance, but it actually has lots of useful features. It has stoppers on either end that prevent the butter from moving around and a non-slip bottom that grips the counter as you slice. The dish can hold East or West Coast sticks and the lid stays put once you slip it on. Note: There’s also a cheaper, plastic version, which has tablespoon markings on the base.

Read more: We Tested 5 Different Butter Storage Options — The Winner Was Not What We Expected

2. Zyliss Sandwich Knife and Condiment Spreader

When we were done testing butter holders, we moved on to butter spreaders. There are lots of different gizmos and gadgets and the winner was one of the simplest inventions. It’s a stainless steel spreader with a wide blade and serrations on one side. The serrations swiftly cut through butter, while the blade easily spreads it. The spreader works pretty well for cold butter and amazingly for room-temperature butter. It’s also great for scooping and spreading mayo and mustard onto sandwich bread.

Read more: The $5 Tool That Spreads Butter Way Better than a Regular Old Butter Knife

3. Food52 x Dansk Kobenstyle Saucepan & Butter Warmer

What’s better than melted butter? Melted brown butter! (Which you can then use for the best vinaigrette of all time, Rice Krispies Treats, other baked goods, and more.) We love this tiny saucepan for the job. It has a light interior, which helps you see what you’re doing, a comfy wooden handle, a spout for pouring, and a lid that doubles as a trivet.

Have you found any tools you love when it comes to all things butter? Tell us in the comments below!