Butter Dish - Comparison of Materials and Models

Last Updated: March 1, 2022

Which Butter Dish One to Choose for Home

The butter dish is used for storage of butter, or for decoration. It was patented in 1874. Butter is stored in one part, either to be served cold, or to be kept cool and ready for spreading on bread or toast. No matter what you are cooking or baking, chances are there is some butter in there. Butter is the fat that keeps every great culinary experience running smooth. So every kitchen should have a butter dish made for storage and setting at the table. You can never have too much butter right?

If you intend to use a butter dish for refrigerator storage and table setting, then you might want to consider that it needs a lid for covering. This means that your butter will last longer after cutting out the access of oxygen. Butter dishes are typically made of glass and ceramic material. There are also other materials like silver, pewter, crystal, porcelain, and metal. These materials have been used since the ancient Egypt era where most households prefer these materials as a symbol of wealth and status.

Introducing the basic design features of butter dish. You should be aware that every lot and type has its own peculiarities. This review is useful for those who want to explain all the nuances when selecting a particular model of butter dish. Or just learn more about this artifact, if you already use it in everyday life.

Traditional Butter Dish

The classic oiler is a saucer with a high lid that covers a piece of butter. In shape — round, oval, square, rectangular. The oiler can be completely flat, with small indentations and edges. Small sides ensure the lid is held in place, preventing it from sliding off. Sometimes small handles are attached to the lid to facilitate its handling.

In appearance, such oilers are similar to some syrnitsi — dishes for storing cheese. They can be kept in the refrigerator and served. Butter is a perishable dairy product that tends to absorb odors. Therefore, the lid should adhere to the plate as tightly as possible, without letting in air.

Another option is a recessed oiler with a lid, which is less convenient for hard oil, but works well for soft oil. It is more difficult to wash such dishes, since fat sticks to the walls. In the case of flat plates, this problem is not, which means that the consumption of the product is more economical for consumption. The oil adds some flavor to the dishes, and its consumption is recommended for people of modern society.

The storage of the oil is important, since it can go rancid quickly. In order to prevent this, the oil must be kept in the refrigerator in a clean container, being thus indispensable to wash it regularly. The conclusion is clear: an essential selection criterion is the material of manufacture.

Which Butter Dish One to Choose for Home

Butter dishes are essential for any kitchen. Butter is an important part of preparation of main meals; kids love to have it with bread, and adults can also use butter for cooking their favorite breakfast meal.

Different types materials each have benefits and downsides. You will need to decide where you will store your butter dish. You might want to place it on the table, counter, or even in the refrigerator. What’s best way to select a butter dish one?

Oilers are made of ceramics, porcelain, glass, stainless steel, and plastic. One material or two can be used in one model. For example, a combination of a glass lid and a ceramic base. Or a combination of porcelain with a wicker stand.

Stainless Steel

A stainless steel butter dish is ideal for those with a tendency to drop dishes. Unlike ceramic dishes, the surface of a stainless steel butter dish looks brand new even after many uses. Sticky foods like honey and peanut butter easily come off the surface when cleaning. It has also been known to withstand negative temperatures, making it best for those who place their butter in the fridge or freezer.

Stainless steel does not break from outside influences and can be washed in a dishwasher. Usually, the reason for having a dish that is butter cuter is to keep it well-preserved so that uninvited guests have no chance of eating it. For such purpose, stainless steel is the best.

Stainless steel does not absorb or emit odors and keeps the contents fresh. The opacity of the metal is also a plus, animal oil deteriorates when stored in the light. Good for everyday use. Fits into modern table setting.

If you pick up a set at a store, check to see if it comes with a steel knife that matches knife style. This will help you to get most out of the product you are preparing for cooking.

Porcelain

Porcelain is the most expensive ceramic. The material shines through in the light, light and thin, but durable. Storing butter in a porcelain oiler is no worse than storing in a stainless steel dish. It is easy to match the porcelain set of dishes by design. Porcelain has been used for ages to make belongings that require a high level of visual branding.

Brown Ceramic

Brown ceramic has a rougher and thicker feel to it. The material is perfect for country and retro styles. The surface of the pottery must be glazed so that food doesn’t get caught in between the cracks. When buying these ceramics, look at the surface carefully, slightly scratched or uneven texture gives off a rustic look. There are also finer painted ceramics which can be fine art pieces on their own.

Faience

Faience – is an ancient Russian ceramic of the past centuries, known since the XV century. Faience — similar in appearance to porcelain, but more porous, therefore fragile. With a careful attitude, faience serves for many years. Be sure to cover with glaze, paint for beauty. Gzhel is especially popular — recognizable blue motives.

Clay

Clay oil cans are a hand-made product created in an artisanal way. The clay is softened and gives rise to a pottery mold, which is then pressed using machinery. Glaze is required, otherwise the oil will be absorbed into the pores and create an unpleasant odor. Clay pots are useful for keeping food refrigerated because they maintain an appropriate temperature.

Also, they absorb the smell of spices, preventing the food from a negative smell. And finally, they do not rust because they are made of natural materials that will last even longer in comparison to others made of metals or glass that can easily break or potentially be scratched.

Glass Ceramics

Glass ceramics is one of the new materials that combines the beauty of porcelain and the practicality of glass. Dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe if you need to quickly soften the oil.

The advantages are obvious — in addition to break resistance, glass gives your dishes a special decorative appearance and does not require any additional treatment, it can withstand temperature changes, which makes it very easy to store. The main disadvantage of glass ceramics is the high cost compared to any other product, but this is a minor flaw compared with other benefits.

Glass

Minimalism is becoming increasingly popular among home decorators today, and it seems to be a growing trend. One great item to start out with when you are trying to achieve a simple and clutter-free environment for you and your family is the glass butter can for butter. Inert glass does not absorb odors and is easy to clean from residues.

The downside is transparency, but a typical kitchen refrigerator is dark most of the time. Another weak point is fragility. If you drop a glass oiler, there is a high probability of fragments. But it is suitable for all types of cow oil, no odors will remain.

Plastic

Plastic can be plain and patterned, bright or transparent, but it must be food grade and safe for health. No smell! Plastic are the cheapest in category. However, even the highest quality polymer is inferior in practicality and consumer properties to glass, porcelain and stainless steel.

Over time, from contact with a knife, the surface is covered with a net of scratches, in which bacteria accumulate. The advantage is that even if it breaks, it will not fly into fragments.

Modern Alternatives

If you like everything technological, then pay attention to modern and innovative options with advanced functionality. We’ll tell you about interesting technologies and devices that will help smarten up your life.

With Cooling System

The idea of an oil can with cooling function came to the British designer James Dyson while travelling by train. He noted that his bread and butter kept melting on the hot table, and this inspired him to create a can with a cooling system. You have a piece of bread, a little butter and the necessary knives but then realize that the butter is warm.

In other words, you are tired of having to go out to the kitchen every half hour to re-spread it. To prevent the butter from melting on the table too quickly, they came up with oil cans with a cooling system. The secret is simple — the set includes an additional removable bottom with a cooling element inside. The device resembles an insert in a cooler bag.

The insert is cooled in a freezer and placed on the bottom. Butter on a cold base does not melt longer, which means it stays fresh. Suitable for serving when the butter has to stand on the table for a long time. It also helps if the lights are often turned off in the house or the refrigerator needs to be defrosted.

Temperature Controlled

In temperature-controlled oilers, the set temperature is maintained using a built-in mechanism. Of course, this mini-device cannot be compared with a refrigerator, but there is some kind of cooling.

Personal cooling fittings are powered by a rechargeable battery or batteries. There are even models that charge from the USB port. I can advise people who love everything technological. But for the majority, it is of little use. Unless only consider it as a gift «to the person who has everything.»

With Dispenser

A suitable option for those who do not want to use a knife and wash it after use. The dispenser is suitable for softened butter, which is placed in a special compartment. The portion you need comes out by pressing a button.

For example, an oiler that resembles a large syringe. In this case, neat round “tablets” or curly portions are obtained. Convenient for breakfast and making sandwiches both in the kitchen and at the table. But there is also a minus — the remnants of the product remains inside on the walls.

When buying an oiler, you should consider several parameters: Ease of daily use and washing, tightness, durability. The material should be safe for health, inert (does not enter into chemical reactions with food). An important criterion is compliance with your taste preferences.