# Has your butter become less spreadable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [February 17, 2021, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088 "2021-02-17T05:12:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/1 "2021-02-17T05:12:24Z")
I tend to cook with olive oil and use butter on bread. Growing up, we had to keep the butter in the fridge. I prefer to keep some butter at room temperature to allow for easy spreading. Except for the last few months, it ain’t so easy to spread it. Butter sales are up in Canada by 20% during the pandemic. Read an article today which claims farmers are feeding their cows more palm oil, possibly to fatten up the milk. Apparently, people have been complaining their room temperature butter stopped spreading in August. It’s obviously hotter then. This seems about right. Though my butts been spreading since February, the butter has changed. The companies say nothing material is different. But it is different. Is this just a Canadian thing? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/2 "2021-02-17T05:17:24Z")
I’ve been blaming the structural integrity of my toast. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/3 "2021-02-17T10:09:41Z")
Haven’t noticed a change here. Whenever the quality of butter declines I assume they’re putting more water in it, but I think they’re at the legal limits already. I would think more fat makes the butter spread better, and it doesn’t make sense that room temperature butter is not soft in August here in the US, but up there in Canada by the north pole isn’t the water still hard in August? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/4 "2021-02-17T11:39:01Z")
> Has your butter become less spreadable? On the bedpost, overnight? If you Mothers says “Don’t chew it” Do you swallow it for spite? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/5 "2021-02-17T13:36:39Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > If you Mothers says > “Don’t chew it” > Do you swallow it for spite? But she said not to chew it, so how would swallowing it be spiteful? Damn I’m easily confused before my third cup of coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/6 "2021-02-17T13:40:19Z")
The only spreadability difference I note is due to it being colder in the house this time of year. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/7 "2021-02-17T13:49:58Z")
I learned from Drug Store lunch counters. The person on the grill had melted butter in a small bowl and a small pastry brush. Works great for grilled cheese sandwiches. We used to do it for breakfast toast. It’s not worth melting butter for just my wife and I. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/8 "2021-02-17T14:10:32Z")
We’ve been using Kerry Butter for spreading purposes for quite a while, and the quality has stayed the same. What I did notice is that we ran out and had to use store brand, damn is that stuff white. Has butter always been that white? I think about the stories I hear about people having to mix in color to margarine to make it look like butter, with butter like this, you could hardly tell the difference anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/9 "2021-02-17T14:33:29Z")
I don’t use too much butter so I have not noticed anything but I will start to pay attention. Dr Paprika, where do you live and do you buy the same brand of butter all the time? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/10 "2021-02-17T14:57:58Z")
I thought so, too. It’s wInter in AZ, which means inside temps are in the 60s. But it does seem the butter lacks the expected malleability. Come ask me again in the summer! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/11 "2021-02-17T16:29:25Z")
I generally use Kerry or Plugra. Right now I’ve got Plugra. For any given butter temp it seems to spread about the same as always. It also melts about the same with the same embedded water as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/12 "2021-02-17T19:09:39Z")
I live in Canada, and the article was in a Toronto paper. I do switch between two or three brands but in this case it was the same as previous. It still tastes good, not having lost its flavour like chewing gum… if I hadn’t read the article claiming many others noticed this, I would have chalked it up to temperature though this is usually controlled in my house. It’s not worth much thought. But it brings to mind Cecil’s columns on Diet Pepsi. Everyone notices it is foamier than competitors except, apparently, the manufacturer. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2021, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/13 "2021-02-17T19:35:57Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > But she said not to chew it, so how would swallowing it be spiteful? [Malicious compliance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malicious_compliance) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2021, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/14 "2021-02-20T14:46:00Z")
Some of my butter has been out for a week and is still barely spreadable. Journalists are on the scene. > **[Buttergate: Butter not as soft as it used to be? The pandemic and our urge to...](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/article-is-your-butter-not-as-soft-as-it-used-to-be-the-pandemic-and-our-urge/)** > > Though it’s perfectly legal for dairy farmers to use palm fat in livestock feed, whether they should be is a contentious issue ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/15 "2021-02-20T14:51:24Z")
I always melt it and spread it with a brush. (I’m picky about even distribution) ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/16 "2021-02-21T10:28:43Z")
Because this is the Dope, and therefore has to include contributions only tangential to the O.P. and also unsolicited advice: Have you tried shaving the butter using a cheese grater? The little curls distribute evenly and spread easily, without tearing even the softest of bread. (O.P. I hadn’t noticed, but I’d have chalked any difference up to the fact that it’s cold as hell where I live right now.) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/17 "2021-02-21T10:40:41Z")
I keep mine in the fridge, so it’s harder than me. I just grab it and rub it over hot toast or corn or whatever and hope for the best. Then I gotta wash my fingers. > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Have you tried shaving the butter using a cheese grater? Fucking Genius. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/18 "2021-02-21T11:27:00Z")
I don’t know how butter from your immalleable Canadian cows will fare, but if you want to keep normal butter spreadable and fresh for up to a month, use a [butter bell/crock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_butter_dish). ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/19 "2021-02-21T11:48:25Z")
I never keep butter at room temperature unless it’s for a recipe, as I don’t use it often enough for it to be practical. When I need a small amount of butter to be spreadable, I stick some in a ramekin and microwave it for 5 - 10 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088/20 "2021-02-21T13:43:05Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > to keep normal butter spreadable and fresh for up to a month, use a [butter bell/crock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_butter_dish). I wanted one for _years._ Finally treated myself to one. That little saltwater “moat” requires constant attention and refilling. Ultimately, the butter in the bell went moldy, while the unwrapped half-stick left lying around the counter was fine. 😠 Thus endeth my use of a butter bell. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-your-butter-become-less-spreadable/933088.md?page=2)