
Not only does a butter dish make spreading butter easier but it looks good in your kitchen too. Those that have ditched margarine “spreads” for a natural alternative will be aware of how tricky it can be to use butter straight from the fridge. If you’re baking, then cold butter can be a bonus but for everyday use such a sandwich making, cold butter can turn your beautiful freshly made bread into a broken pile of crumbles! A kitchen staple for many years, if you have a butter dish then your life is about to get a lot easier. There are lots of different types available to buy, designed from various materials such as stainless steel, plastic and ceramic – which is the best?
Keep reading to discover our favorites!
The Best Butter Dish
1
OXO Good Grips Butter Dish
This plastic butter dish caught our eye because not only has it been designed by the reputable brand – OXO – but it also has several clever features that make it the cooks’ choice. One of the most common problems with butter dishes is that the butter often ends up messing up the lid and spreading your knife along slightly hardened butter can send the dish sliding across the table. Luckily you won’t have that problem with this dish as it features stoppers on either side of the base which keep the butter dish firmly in place.
The dish has been specially designed to keep butter in place and not slide off either end or dirty the lid. It accommodates short and long sticks of butter and at the base you will find convenient tablespoon measurements which is perfect for baking. The plastic white and clear design may not be the most stylish on our list, but we feel that the minimal style would fit most kitchens.
Stoppers either side to keep butter in place while cutting
Tablespoon measurement markers
Clear lid so you can see contents
Oxo better guarantee
- BrandOXO
- Model11122500
- Weight4.8 ounces
2
Sweese Large Porcelain Butter Dish
If you’re looking for a butter dish to brighten up your kitchen then this vintage style dish is absolutely perfect. Available in x 10 different colourways, this extra large dish is simply gorgeous. There’s even a cute version that has “Butter Me Up” written on the side. This larger style dish has been designed to hold up to two sticks of butter and features a deeper design to keep the butter from sticking to the lid. The stylish lid is made from beech wood and gives the dish a really nice vintage feel. The lid doubles up as a butter cutting board when turned upside down, so not only does it look good but it’s practical too.
Extra large vintage style design
Beech wood lid
Available in multiple colorways
30 day no chip warranty
- BrandSweese
- Model8541936250
- Weight1.5 pounds
3
Sweese Porcelain Cute Butter Dish
This classic style butter dish would make a gorgeous addition to any kitchen as it features a lovely classic vintage style and is available in a number of different colours. Will you opt for classic white or make a statement with bright red or yellow? Choose between: red, yellow, white, navy, orange, turquoise or steel blue. Inside the butter container there is a lip that keeps the butter from sliding around and can fit most standard American butter sticks.
Classic butter dish
Available in multiple colors
30 day no chip warranty
- BrandSweese
- Model8541936260
- Weight2 pounds
4
Sweese Large Butter Dish With Beech Lid
You’ll notice that we feature quite a few Sweese butter dishes on our list and that’s because we believe it’s one of the best brands on the market providing really good value for money. Also Sweese make beautiful designs that generally suit any kitchen style. This Sweese butter dish is a slight upgrade from the previous style with beech wood lid, as this particular model is airtight. The inside of the beech lid on this dish features a silicone ring seal which promises to keep your butter fresh in the fridge without picking up any strong aromas from the fridge.
The removable seal is very effective at keeping your butter fresher than a standard butter dish. Beech wood ages well and looks really beautiful in all kitchens. There are several designs to choose from ranging from plain white, to weave patterned, “Butter Me Up” motif and “Alles In Butter” carved lid. The deep style has been specially designed to hold several sticks of butter whilst keeping mess to a minimum.
Deep dish design
Multiple designs & motifs available
Airtight silicone seal
Beech wood lid
30 day no chip warranty
- BrandSweese
- Model8541936237
- Weight1.63 pounds
5
Rubbermaid Standard Butter Dish
If you work in catering or just need a standard plastic butter dish, then these Rubbermaid butter containers are a good, inexpensive alternative to the more classic styles on the market. The good thing about using a standard plastic dish such as this, is that they are virtually impossible to break so they will be much more hard-wearing. These dishes feature a snap fit lid which will keep your butter fresher for longer. Whilst in the fridge, your butter won’t pick up any food aromas or tastes either as it will be airtight. Dishwasher safe, these dishes are super easy to wash too. All in all a good budget option.
Plastic design
Two x dishes in pack
Dishwasher safe
Snap fit lid
- BrandRubbermaid
- Model1777193
- Weight5.6 Ounces
6
Le Creuset Heritage Stoneware Butter Dish
From cheap and cheerful to classic and chic, we like to shake things up a little when we write our reviews! This classic Le Creuset Heritage butter dish would make a very handsome feature in any house. This premium French cookware brand is well known for its high quality products and classic designs. If you choose this brand for your butter dish, you know you’re getting good quality from the start. These may not be the cheapest butter dishes on our list, but as they are made from dense stoneware blocks, you are guaranteed a high-quality product that will last.
Classic design
Available in different colors
Glazed interior for easy cleanup
Enamel exterior resists stains and scratches
- BrandLe Creuset
- ModelPG0307T-1716
- Weight2.3 pounds
7
Butterie Flip-Top Butter Dish With Matching Spreader
This is the type of butter dish that you want to buy even if you already have a decent butter container! Just look at that design. Made from BPA-free hard plastic, this butter dish is totally shatterproof and features easy grip handles and a non-slip base. This is where beauty meets great design, as not only is this butter dish good looking but it’s practical too. Totally safe for the dishwasher and microwave (if your butter needs a little warming), this dish will protect your butter and add a pop of color to your kitchen too.
Available in a variety of cool shades: black, cobalt blue, ivory, light blue, red, taupe, white and yellow – there’s a colour to suit every home. What we like about this butter dish is the additional spreader that sits in a specially designed cradle at the front – really sets of the design and makes this dish an unusual yet stylish choice.
Made from bpa-free hard plastic
Non-slip base
Easy grip handles
Spreader included
Wide range stylish colors
- BrandButterie
- ModelBTRWHT1001
- Weight12 ounces
8
Prepworks by Progressive GBD-2 Butter Dish
This butter keeper has a patented design that features markings along the base for precise measuring when you’re cooking, baking or spreading. The butter dish is totally airtight with a silicone seal which promises to keep your butter fresher for much longer. We liked this design because of its simple style that would suit most fridges and it’s perfect for storing your butter in the fridge, on your countertop or pantry.
Patented design
Easy to use measurements
Silicone seal for airtight freshness
- BrandPrepworks by Progressive
- ModelGBD-2
- Weight4.5 ounces
9
Kangaroo Glass Butter Dish With Cover
We could just list our favorite “fancy-pants” butter dishes and our favorite cookware designers in our review but we are fully aware that sometimes a classic no-frills design is better than anything else. Not only is this glass butter dish classic, but we think it would look good in most kitchens too. This dish provides good value for money and will keep your butter fresh longer. The glass dish is easy to wash and can be put inside a dishwasher. Shame it doesn’t have a handle at the top as the lid can be a little tough to remove. But all in all, a good basic butter keeper.
Classic glass design
Keeps butter fresh
Dishwasher safe
- BrandKangaroo
- Model10254
- Weight1.19 pounds
10
Sweese Porcelain Butter Dish With Lid
Oh Sweese…not another one! We simply had to include this butter dish as it’s made from professional grade porcelain and features a classic design that will never get old or tired. Choose from classic white or go for something a little different and take a look at the colorful options available. Red or navy is sure to make a statement in your kitchen. This timeless, simple style has a good weight and feel to it, with a practical handle and elegant curves. There’s a small ridge inside the dish that keeps the butter from sliding too, so it’s not only pretty, but super practical too. This butter dish is simple to clean, easy to use and can contain an average American size stick of butter.
Classic design
Available in different colors
Professional grade porcelain
Easy to wash
- BrandSweese
- Model8541936247
- Weight1.75 pounds
11
GranRosi Vintage Style Enamel Butter Container
This butter keeper is going to make a nice little vintage statement in your kitchen. The gorgeous design has been crafted from the finest enamel which means that it will last longer than glass and porcelain butter dishes that break easily when dropped onto the floor. We love the fact that this butter dish also has a thick wooden lid to give it an extra stylish touch. Large in size, you will be able to fit x 2 standard American butter sticks in this butter holder and the extra tight lid with keep them fresher for longer.
You can also use the lid as a cutting board or a butter server too. To keep this butter dish in the best possible condition you should hand wash it and not use it in the dishwasher. That way it will last longer and stay in tip top shape.
Vintage style design
Hard-wearing enamel
Thick wooden lid
Can hold x 2 sticks butter
- BrandGranrosi
- Model8541936248
- Weight13.1 ounces
12
Fisher Glass Butter Dish With Handled Lid
This traditional style butter dish has been crafted from glass and features a quick access handle at the top making it easy to separate the lid from the base. You can keep your butter fresher in this two-piece serving dish which has been made from the finest Crystal Borosilicate Glass which is not only heavy-duty but stain resistant and odor resistant too. The shape of the butter dish is long and rectangular which has been specially designed for individual sticks of butter. Store your butter dish in the fridge, countertop or pantry.
Heavy-duty glass butter dish
Quick access handle
Stain & odor resistant
- BrandFisher Scientific
- Model28049
- Weight1.5 pounds
13
Bezrat Glass Butter Dish With Lid
This beautiful ornate butter dish is more suited to those of you who like your kitchen products to sparkle! The high-quality lead-free glass forms the base of this pretty butter dish which features molded lettering which says “BUTTER” across the top. In contrast to the modern plastic designs and vintage-style enamel designs this glass butter dish makes quite an elegant choice. The clear cover allows you to see the contents, whilst the heavy-duty glass keeps your butter fresh and is really simple to clean.
Elegant butter dish
High-quality glass
Easy to clean
- BrandBezrat
- ModelBT406
- Weight8 ounces
14
Norpro Stainless Steel Double Covered Butter Dish
Some people find stainless steel quite clinical whereas others such as us, find the material pretty darn stylish. Perfect for serving butter or cream cheese, this dish has an elegant design that would look good on any breakfast table. Inside this butter dish you can fit two sticks of butter and the top of the dish features an easy-to-use handle.
Stainless steel butter dish
Highly-polished design
Can hold x 2 sticks butter
- BrandNorpro
- Model282
- Weight3.2 ounces
15
Ashes to Beauty Porcelain Butter Dish With Lid
We couldn’t complete our list without including a quirky design and we feel that this butter dish by Ashes to Beauty fits the bill perfectly. This butter container features a classic design with little handle but what makes it different is the modern lettering on the side which says “Butter”. This little piece of kitchenware makes a statement for any kitchen and you can choose from a range of colors from off-white, aqua, pastel yellow and bright red.
There is a small ridge on the inside of the dish which prevents the butter from sliding around and stops you from creating mess when buttering your morning toast! The porcelain keeps your butter cool and fresh all day long.
Porcelain butter dish
Quirky design
Handle for easy grip
- BrandAshes to Beauty
- Model8955
- Weight1.65 pounds
Best Butter Dish Buying Guide & FAQ
Although it’s not a technical product, you will still need to take some things into consideration when buying a butter dish. Below we have written a guide to buying butter dishes and answered your most commonly asked questions regarding butter and how best to store is safely.
Things to Consider When Buying the Best Butter Dish
When looking to purchase a butter dish, it’s worth considering the following features:
- Easy Grip
It might seem like a silly thing to consider, but if your butter dish doesn’t contain a handle, the lid can be quite difficult to remove. The problem occurs when you place a large stick of butter into a butter container and the butter can melt a little and stick to the lid. Not only can this become super messy, but it also means that the lid can stick to the base too. If the dish contains a handle then lifting the lid from the base is much easier. We think it also looks prettier too on the classic designs.
- Non-Slip
How often do you use butter in your household? If you are a regular baker and use butter on a daily basis then it might be worth considering a more “technical” butter dish with a non-stick base. This means that every time you use the dish to scrape or cut the butter, the dish won’t slide across the table.
- Measurement Notches
Again, this is a handy feature for those of you who use butter to bake or cook with and also people who are looking after their weight and do not want to use too much butter. Measurement notches at the base of a butter dish, often indicates a teaspoon or tablespoon of butter - which makes baking super easy as you might not need weighing scales.
- Material
Butter dishes often come in a variety of materials and the most popular choices are: porcelain, glass, stainless steel and plastic. If you are choosing porcelain just be aware that although it looks super pretty, it can chip and break easily. One drop on the floor and your butter dish will be gone forever. Glass is pretty much the same although it can be a little more hard-wearing. Plastic makes a good option if it’s BPA-free (which uses less chemicals in the manufacturing process) and shatter resistant. Stainless steel is one of the more hard-wearing materials but isn’t to everyone’s taste.
- Size
Most butter dishes available to buy in the US have been designed to hold between 1-2 sticks of American sized butter. The benefit of purchasing a larger sized butter dish isn’t just so you can squeeze more butter into the container, it’s so you create less mess. If you purchase a deeper butter dish then you have less chance of getting butter all over the lid.
Best Butter Dish FAQ:
Q: Does a butter dish keep butter soft?
A: This depends on a number of different factors. Firstly, do you live in a hot country? If you do live in a hot country then you should store your butter dish in your refrigerator and take the dish out half an hour before use. Depending on the material of the dish, it may keep your butter soft for longer as it retains the outside temperature. If you live in a country with cool temperatures then a butter dish is likely to keep your butter softer than “straight-from-the-fridge-butter” but this also depends on where you store your butter - in a cool pantry or countertop.
Q: Is it OK to keep butter at room temperature?
A: This largely depends on the temperature of your kitchen. Although butter is a dairy product, it doesn’t tend to spoil as fast as cheese or milk as it generally contains a higher fat content with water and salt. Exposure to air and light as well as sunshine can spoil your butter faster, so if you’re going to keep your butter out of the fridge, then you’ll need to make sure you use an airtight container. Generally speaking, if the temperature of your kitchen is higher than 70°F, it’s important to keep butter in your refrigerator. Salted butter is better for leaving at room temperature as salt helps to prevent bacterial growth. You can also slice a small chunk of butter and leave it in your butter dish at room temperature, so if it is too warm, you don’t spoil the entire block. Salted butter in temperatures way under 70°F can normally be kept out of the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You’ll know when it’s not ok to eat anymore as it will look, smell and taste rancid and sour. If it has that appearance or taste then throw it away immediately.
Our Top Pick
Despite featuring some pretty gorgeous designs, our ultimate favorite butter dish was the OXO Good Grips Butter Dish. Not only has this been designed by one of the best kitchenware brands on the market, but it also boasts some really handy design features. We really liked the stoppers on either side of this butter keeper, that stops it from sliding across the table when you’re spreading or cutting the butter.The dish has been specially designed to keep butter firmly in place and not dirty the lid. The dish can accommodate both long and short sticks of butter and there are measurements at the base which indicate a tablespoon of butter, which makes baking a lot easier. The design is simple and stylish enough to suit most kitchens too.
Sources:
- Do You Really Need to Refrigerate Butter? And 7 Other Debated Foods - HuffPost
- Why You Should Keep Your Butter on the Counter - SouthernLiving