# Spreading hard butter on soft bread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 1, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424 "2012-03-01T04:31:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/61 "2012-03-02T21:31:55Z")
> [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](#): > > It’s a [“butter dispenser” and it works great.](http://www.amazon.com/MS11-Butter-Dispenser-Original-White/dp/B005DS5YP0/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1330641771&sr=1-1) You put a stick of butter in, twist the screw and it extrudes a thin ribbon of cold butter. > > No toast crumbs in the butter, no knives or spreaders to clean up. The butter is hermetically sealed from air on all surfaces, and so keeps very well. I love this thing. Wow. This looks neeto-keeno. Looks like something that would be “not found in stores” but rather sold only by world-famous Swedish chefs at county fairs. Might I find this in local department stores? Do you keep this, with the butter in it, in the fridge or at room temperature? Does it work when the butter is, like, actually cold? > [@Grestarian](#): > > For those of you with a Sweet Tomatoes restaurant (Souplantation in California) it’s the same thing they serve by the muffins and potatoes, though perhaps a bit lighter on the honey. I leave the container out over-night, or at least a half-hour before I expect to use it. CA here. I’ve never seen a Souplantation, but I’ve heard of it. OTOH, we DO have Sweet Tomatoes in some cities here. There is also Fresh Choice, another all-you-can-eat salad bar type of restaurant chain that is totally identical to Sweet Tomatoes – If you were suddenly transported inside of one, you would hardly be able to tell a Sweet Tomatoes from a Fresh Choice. Both are very good places to eat, BTW, IMHO. > [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I dunno, but I find orange type on a white screen hard to read. Highlight the whole area with your moose and it becomes readable. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/62 "2012-03-02T23:26:06Z")
Funniest typo I’ve seen in a while, there. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/63 "2012-03-03T00:00:01Z")
Yeah, no one told me ungulates were required for optimal readability. ---
**Author:** ![minionkat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@minionkat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minionkat)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/64 "2012-03-03T01:15:00Z")
I bought an electric butter dish for my dad for Christmas. He loves it. > **[Alfille Innovations Temperature Controlled Butter Dish](https://alfille.co.uk/)** > > Temperature controlled butter dish from Alfille Innovations, inspirational lifestyle products to make the everyday special and life worth living. I think it’s ridiculous. But he is incredibly hard to shop for, and he loves it. He tells everyone about it. I have a covered butter dish that holds one stick of butter. I have never had it go bad. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/65 "2012-03-03T01:27:04Z")
I no longer have a moose. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/66 "2012-03-03T01:32:28Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I no longer have a moose. ☹ I’m so sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/67 "2012-03-03T01:36:49Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I must use butter too quickly or something. I just leave mine in the cupboard and have never had it go rancid on me and I never tear holes in my bread with too-hard butter. Me too. I usually use a stick of butter within a week. Even when it lasts longer than that, I can never recall throwing any away because it was bad, only because there was a sliver left when I wanted to wash the butter dish. I really don’t see any reason to keep butter in the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/68 "2012-03-03T08:27:29Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Funniest typo I’ve seen in a while, there. > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Yeah, no one told me ungulates were required for optimal readability. > [@Procrustus](#): > > I no longer have a moose. [side-track] Whooshed you all! That wasn’t a typo. I _always_ type that when referring to the popular computer pointing device. (Sometimes I spell it _mousse._) I don’t permit rodents here. And the plural is mooses. ( **Procrustus** , what happened to your moose? Did you chop off its feet?) [/side-track] ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/69 "2012-03-03T08:57:21Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I no longer have a moose. A Møøse once bit my sister … No realli! She was Karving her initials on the møøse with the sharpened end of an interspace tøøthbrush given her by Svenge - her brother-in-law - an Oslo dentist and star of many Norwegian møvies: “The Høt Hands of an Oslo Dentist”, “Fillings of Passion”, “The Huge Mølars of Horst Nordfink”… > **[MOOSE ON FILM (MONTY PYTHON)](http://www.smouse.force9.co.uk/monty.htm)** > > Full credits to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/70 "2012-03-03T09:16:22Z")
I must say this thread is delightful. The minutiae of life are the most engaging. Living in an agrarian nation, matters of useful dairy products are at the forefront of our scientists minds. For that reason NZ refrigerator company Fisher and Paykell developed the butter conditioner as an integral part of fridges downunder. > **[Best Fisher & Paykel C450RT Prices in Australia | Getprice](https://origin.getprice.com.au/fisher-paykel-c450rt-refrigerator_gpms_114--1538)** > > These are the best products for Fisher & Paykel C450RT. Compare prices and get the best deal! A butter conditioner is a small slightly-warmed enclosed compartment near the top of the fridge. It is big enough to hold 1 lb of butter and can be set for firm, medium, or soft. Simple. Oh but then the scientists realised Europeans (and others) didn’t have our technology so they developed semi-soft butter. Its spreadable just like margarines etc. So…I’m rather puzzled. Nobody in the US has come across spreadable butter from NZ in the supermarkets?? NZ exports millions of tons of the stuff. Hmm…maybe the Aussies are eating it… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Pither](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@Pither](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pither)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/71 "2012-03-03T19:50:45Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The problem with microwaving butter is that the sticks melt from the inside out. 2 seconds can make the difference between butter that is still too hard to spread on the outside of the stick and a puddle of melted butter in your microwave. I’ll go 12 seconds. Even if it partially melts, there’s always parts that are just right. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/72 "2012-03-04T02:12:06Z")
I am surprised that no one has had butter go bad as I have. I admit it was not in a butter bell type thing but was wrapped in wax paper as it comes from the grocery store. It tasted rancid after just a couple of days and this wasn’t even the summer time when the ambiant temperature would turn the butter into goo. Also whenever I have had ghee it had a slight rancid taste to it. According to some of my books some people prefer “aged” butter and say it has a stronger taste. Maybe one persons rancid is another persons aged? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/73 "2012-03-04T02:42:35Z")
slice off one slice of cold butter, place on bread Slice off another slice and place next to first Continue until bread is covered What? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/74 "2012-03-04T02:46:23Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > I am surprised that no one has had butter go bad as I have. I admit it was not in a butter bell type thing but was wrapped in wax paper as it comes from the grocery store. It tasted rancid after just a couple of days and this wasn’t even the summer time when the ambiant temperature would turn the butter into goo. Also whenever I have had ghee it had a slight rancid taste to it. According to some of my books some people prefer “aged” butter and say it has a stronger taste. Maybe one persons rancid is another persons aged? I keep my unsalted butter, in wax paper on an open butter dish and not only hasn’t it gone rancid, it doesn’t even change flavor at all. ---
**Author:** ![NGC2024](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NGC2024](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NGC2024)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/75 "2012-03-04T03:00:03Z")
Am I the only person who occasionally needs massive unspread chunks of cold butter on a piece of soft bread? I find that teeth marks through the buttered parts of the bread means that I did it right. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/76 "2012-03-04T03:12:23Z")
> [@NGC2024](#): > > Am I the only person who occasionally needs massive unspread chunks of cold butter on a piece of soft bread? I find that teeth marks through the buttered parts of the bread means that I did it right. Look up about 2 posts. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![NGC2024](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NGC2024](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NGC2024)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/77 "2012-03-04T03:20:11Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Look up about 2 posts. 😃 Oops! Now we’re talking! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/78 "2012-03-06T08:04:00Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > Oh but then the scientists realised Europeans (and others) didn’t have our technology so they developed semi-soft butter. Its spreadable just like margarines etc. > > So…I’m rather puzzled. Nobody in the US has come across spreadable butter from NZ in the supermarkets?? NZ exports millions of tons of the stuff. Hmm…maybe the Aussies are eating it… 😉 Well maybe we have something like that. One can find butter sold in round tubs (rather than in bricks) that are softer and maybe spreadable. There seem to be two varieties: (a) Whipped butter, which presumably is airy and a little bit fluffy. I’ve tried this. It’s only slightly softer than solid butter. (b) Then there’s the stuff that I think is some mixture of real butter with some veggie oil mixed in. That makes it softer, like a cross between butter and margarine (because that’s what it is). But some people might prefer to stay away from margarine for fear of evil trans fat. So tell us, **Ken001** , what is this spreadable NZ butter like? Is it whipped butter, or butter mixed with veg oil, or something else? Also: I still want to know what happened to **Procrustus** ’s moose. Or møøse. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/79 "2012-03-06T11:45:14Z")
The Scandinavian variety of spreadable butter is butter (~70%) mixed with vegetable oil (~30%). It’s not bad and the taste is rather similar to real butter. We also have a “light” variety where water is whipped in. But AFAIK the veg oil is native, not hardened (which would sort of negate the point of adding veg oil), so there shouldn’t be any scare about evil trans fat. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424/80 "2012-03-06T23:58:42Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Also: I still want to know what happened to **Procrustus** ’s moose. Or møøse. A Møøse once bit my sister … No realli! She was Karving her initials on the møøse with the sharpened end of an interspace tøøthbrush given her by Svenge - her brother-in-law - an Oslo dentist and star of many Norwegian møvies: “The Høt Hands of an Oslo Dentist”, “Fillings of Passion”, “The Huge Mølars of Horst Nordfink”. After it bit my sister the møøse didn’t feel so well so had to lie down on Procrustus bed. FOX News stretched the story and as the say, the rest is history - or fable, who can say. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spreading-hard-butter-on-soft-bread/614424.md?page=5)