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Butter is expensive—here’s how to get your money’s worth.

Baker-Approved Butter Storage Tips

• Always keep your butter sealed in an airtight container to prevent it from absorbing odors (my favorite is from Bentgo).
• Leave salted butter out at room temperature in a ceramic butter dishas its salt content helps it last longer.
• The French butter crock is a great option for storing unsalted butter at room temperature.

I’d always known that butter was important in baking, but it didn’t fully click until I took an ingredient science class in pastry school. Butter is more than just a fat—it impacts the flavor, structure, and texture of your pastry. It’s also surprisingly sensitive to how it’s stored—easily absorbing odors and changing consistency depending on the temperature.

All this to say: Butter is temperamental. How you store it depends on how you plan to use it—salted butter requires less care than unsalted, while refrigerated butter needs a tighter seal than the stick you’re leaving out for daily use. I always keep a few sticks stocked away for everyday cooking. Read on for my best storage tips and tricks, along with the tools I use to keep butter at its freshest.

Baker-Approved Butter Storage Solutions

• Odor-Resistant: Bentgo Signature Leak-Proof Glass Food Storage Containers$40
• Compact for Freezing: Stasher Silicone Reusable Food Storage Bag, Half Gallon$23
• For Room-Temperature Butter: Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Butter Dish$36
• Fits 2 Standard Sticks: Sweese Large Airtight Butter Keeper$22 (was $26)
• For Odd Ends in the Fridge: Bee’s Wrap Beeswax Wraps$16 (was $20)
• French Chefs’ Best-Kept Secret: Dowan Butter Crock$14 (was $20)

Bentgo Signature Leak-Proof Glass Food Storage Containers

$40 at Amazon

I like using glass containers to store butter in the refrigerator or freezer, especially if your fridge door doesn’t have a dedicated butter section. Because butter easily absorbs odors in the fridge, airtight containers are key. Made from glass and silicone, these Bentgo containers seal tightly and keep partially used sticks fresh without picking up unwanted flavors or odors.

Stasher Silicone Reusable Food Storage Bag, Half Gallon

$23 at Amazon

These Stasher bags have a tight, durable seal, which makes them a great option for freezing butter. Store sticks in their original packaging inside to help preserve flavor and ward off freezer odors. When you’re ready to use them, just thaw sticks in the refrigerator before using them as normal.

Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Butter Dish

$36 at Amazon

I keep salted butter on my countertop in a ceramic dish like this one from Le Creuset, so it’s always room temperature and spreadable. This is especially useful at breakfast; I no longer need to rip apart my toast to get an even layer of butter! It melts much faster, and I love that I always have a softened stick for greasing dishes, too. Salted butter can be left out longer because the salt acts as a natural preservative. Between the salt content and the sealed yet breathable design of my ceramic butter dish, my Kerrygold sticks stay fresh for days.

Sweese Large Airtight Butter Keeper

$26 $22 at Amazon

European-style butter comes in a wider block, meaning standard butter dishes won’t do the trick. This Sweese container is large enough to fit those bigger sticks of butter or two standard sticks of butter. This dish has a wooden lid with a silicone gasket, which creates a super airtight seal.

Bee’s Wrap Beeswax Wraps

$20 $16 at Amazon

These wraps are an excellent alternative to plastic wrap. They’re best for odd ends of sticks—just place them into a sheet and use the warmth of your hands to fold and seal them. You can pop them in the refrigerator without worrying about odor absorption. The best part is that they’re reusable, so save your sheet for leftover butter sticks to come.

Dowan Butter Crock

$20 $14 at Amazon

The French butter crock is a clever way to keep butter fresh and soft on your countertop, especially unsalted varieties. Fill the base with a small amount of water, and pack the bell-like lid with your butter; when inverted, it creates an airtight seal. This works best for daily use — just make sure to change the water frequently!

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