To ask how you keep your real butter useable?

[SpudsandGravy]

Hello all,

Following on from the yummy food worth paying extra for thread, how do those who use it keep 'real' i.e. block butter (not spreadable versions) usable? I always have some in a butter dish and I keep it out of the fridge, but for large parts of the year I can't use it for sandwiches etc.

What am I missing?

[User0ne]

You could "work it" with a knife on the side of your plate before you try to spread it: it's what we do (no microwave here and a cold house).

Or eat toast where it's less of a problem

[Almostslimjim]

Ours is in a butter dish on the counter. I only keep it in the fridge before it goes in the butter dish. I've never had any go off.

[Catsneezies]

Cut it like cheese

[Truthlikeness]

I cute off a few bits into a ramekin (those ones from Gu) and microwave for 10 seconds. Makes it soft enough to spread, but not melt. That much will last 2-3 days so I just leave it on the side.

[Bargebill19]

Only use it on hot food. Butter in a sandwich is a waste!

[partyatthepalace]

I just use M+S softer butter or President Softer butter, which is just butter whipped with water/milk rather then evil oil. So it is just slighter watery-er butter but you don't notice that unless baking. Spreads from fridge.

[MeepleMe]

We always keep it out and when it's too cold to spread, just sort of dab thin bits onto the bread, like you do with Marmite. Not ideal except when it melts straight away onto toast. Might try microwaving it.

[Hankunamatata]

Friend cuts hers into slices and keeps slices in butter dish

[elver]

I use a butter curler, put a few on a plate at room temp and they're soft enough to use in a couple of minutes

[tigger001]

We leave ours out in the dish, i squish it against the plate with my knife to soften it up a bit first.

[Buttercup2021]

Insulated butter dish from Lakeland. It’s on the counter all day and night - we don’t need to put it in the fridge except in high summer.

[SpudsandGravy]

Thanks all. When I put it in the MW I've found that it develops a soft/liquid hole in the middle, and when it solidifies again it's not the same. I'll try m/waving smaller pieces, though.

[BeyondFrustrated]

We leave it out...it’s so cold in my kitchen it doesn’t go off.

[dementedpixie]

I put a slice in the microwave for about 10 seconds when it's solid even at room temperature

[RoganJosh]

I just slice thin bits off.

[Yoffel]

I hear you. When I need to use it for spreading in the winter I put a chunk in the microwave for five second bursts till its soft enough. I have on occasion ended up with liquid though so you need to keep an eye.

[miserableannie]

I do exactly the same as you

[Letsgetbizzy]

I don't know however we do cut bits off and put int the meecro-waaaavey for about 3 to 4 secs....

[Thatsnotmynamename]

A few seconds on defrost in the microwave.