Whether you keep your butter in the refrigerator or out (I'm team refrigerator, by the way), you need a neat way to store it. In the pack or tub, it can look messy and unsightly. The simple transition to a butter dish will make all the difference.
I've always used a classic porcelain dish. It's a timeless design that won't date, but there are plenty of colorful, simple, and innovative dishes on the market.
There are plenty of macro ideas for kitchen storage, but it's also important to keep the smaller parts of your kitchen neat and tidy too. A good-quality butter dish is a perfect finishing touch.
I've searched the market, reading hundreds of reviews on every butter dish available. I've found some of the best ways to declutter, starting with butter. With some of our favorite brands, such as OXO and Le Creuset, there's so much to offer.
Best butter dishes 2024
You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Material: Stoneware
Dimensions: 8.3 x 4.1 x 3 inches
Dishwasher safe: Yes
A timeless piece, Le Creuset's butter dish is the best on the market. The luxurious stoneware is available in a range of colors and has enough capacity for a large block of butter or longer butter stick.
Material: Ceramic
Dimensions: 6 x 4.5 inches
Dishwasher safe: Yes
Forged with a reactive glaze and reduction firing, this round butter dish is perfect if you want your butter kept soft and spreadable. The earthy tones and domed lid bring some farmhouse chic to your countertops.
Material: Marble and glass
Dimensions: 3 x 3.86 inches
Dishwasher safe: Yes (lid)
Possibly the most beautiful way to store butter, this speaks for itself. It's not the most practical shape for the refrigerator, but, kept on the side, it's a true style statement. Who knew butter could look so good?
Material: Glass
Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.5 x 2.9 inches
Dishwasher safe: Yes
I didn't know I needed this butter dish until I saw it. The bamboo cover can be used as a cutting board, with grooves to hold the butter in place and a slot for your butter knife. The double silicone seal will keep your butter fresh too.
Material: Plastic
Dimensions: 7.87 x 2.56 x 2 inches
Dishwasher safe: Yes
OXO makes some of the best home accessories and this is no exception. The low sides make it easy to slice butter right to the bottom, saving you waste and time. It's big enough to suit long West and wide East Coast butters.
Material: Glass
Dimensions: 6.61 x 4 x 7.2 inches
Dishwasher safe: No
This is substantial and stylish without being over the top. It's durable and large, so will be able to fit almost two packs of butter at once. The lid isn't airtight, but that is fine for most users.
Material: Porcelain
Dimensions: 6 x 4 x 8 inches
Dishwasher safe: No
BIA Cordon Bleu have been crafting kitchen accessories for over 65 years, so it's no surprise that this is a classic. The glazed white design is timeless, elegant and highly rated, with an average of 4.5 stars on Amazon.
Material: Stainless Steel
Dimensions: 7.5 x 4 x 2 inches
Dishwasher safe: No
If you live in a hectic household, this stainless steel butter dish is the most durable option on the market. It holds two sticks at once and is a best-seller with families. The handle is great if you struggle with fumbling and grip strength too.
Material: Porcelain
Dimensions: 3.75 x 3.75 inches
Dishwasher safe: Yes
With a capacity for 6.5 oz of butter, this is all you need if you have a small kitchen. The natural wood knob adds some farmhouse chic to your kitchen collection. It would also make a lovely gift for new homeowners.
Material: Ceramic
Dimensions: 8 x 4.25 x 1 inches
Dishwasher safe: Yes
If you want a little more color in your kitchen, this is all you need. Reviewers said that it was almost too good for toast, although I think there's no such thing. This has unique flair and is the perfect size for the average refrigerator slot.
Material: Silicone
Dimensions: 3.54 x 2.13 x 0.75 inches
Dishwasher safe: Yes
This isn't strictly a butter dish, but it is smart. The butter hugger does what it says, sealing the end of your stick, keeping it fresh and chilled. The silicone flexes to any size, saving you space and washing.
Material: Organic cotton
Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.3 x 0.15inches
Dishwasher safe: Yes
Made with wax sealed organic cotton, this is a reusable version of clingfilm. It's thick, durable, reusable, and a kitchen essential. You can wrap it round your butter, but also sandwiches and other foods in your kitchen.
FAQs
What is the best butter dish for room temperature?
Look for a butter dish with high sides and a lid, so that when things heat up in the kitchen, your butter doesn't melt and pour onto the surface.
What is the best thing to keep butter in?
Keeping butter in the unopened packaging, a dish, or a crock will help to keep it fresh for up to two weeks. Once your butter is open, try to keep it in an airtight container to keep it fresh for longer.
Why are some butter dishes round?
These are the older, vintage, traditional butter dishes. They are also known as butter crocks, butter bells, or butter keepers. They're designed to be kept on your countertop. You can fill the bottom with a little water before placing the bell lid (a cloche, in French) over the top of the butter, which forms a tight air seal.
What butter dish won't break?
Metal or plastic butter dishes are the least likely to break. If you're part of a hectic household, I would recommend investing in one of these, because, even though glass and ceramic look nice, they're easy to break.
Final Thoughts
A butter dish is the perfect opportunity to refine your breakfast aesthetics. Brining out a smart dish, whether it's marble, porcelain, or stainless steel will help everything look tidy and well-kept. If you can, buy an airtight container too, because this will keep your butter fresher for longer.
There are plenty of options if you don't want a big dish. From smaller, round options to the innovative butter hugger and bees wrap. There's certainly an option for everyone, so get spready to tidy your kitchen up, one dish at a time.
How We Test
When we recommend products, we like to test them in person. However, that is not always possible, especially in the case of butter dishes. In lieu of our physical tests, I searched and read through the reviews of hundreds of butter dishes, so that I could determine the best for a range of butter uses.
I read so many reviews that I know them as well as if I had tested them, if not better; I could find customers who had been using these dishes for years. We have a dedicated page for how we test if you're interested to find out more about the process.
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