Good to see you, Nancy. Here's a thread with some information for you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Butter - room temperature?

Thanks, Ruthanna! It sounded like a great idea, but perhaps it's not. The maintenance of changing the water every 1-3 days seems like a pain. Still, I just love the website I linked to. Wondering if anyone has shopped there?

I've shopped there and Grainlady has mentioned it. Pleasant Hill Grain is a very good and reliable company. When I called with questions about a Bosch mixer, I got a real person, someone who was actually in Nebraska. Another employee went out of her way to stop an order before it went out of the warehouse and helped me re-order something entirely different.

I have seen Pleasant Hill Grain mentioned on bread-making forums many times. Never anything uncomplimentary.

Carol

I have a butter crock or French butter keeper or whatever you want to call it.
And while the nuisance is not so much changing the water as having the drip when you want a bit of butter.
I have a glass butter dish with a lid that stays on my counter all the time. I put about 1/3 of a stick in it since I live alone, and it just stays out all the time. In the 3 or 4 days it takes to eat the butter it doesn't get nasty nor rancid nor become a puddle nor anything but just soft spreadable butter.
My house is airconditioned and it's a rare occasion when my kitchen gets warmer than 74 degrees. Butter is fine at that temperature for a few days.
Linda C

I've also done business with Pleasant Hill Grain, I bought the metal pieces for my cider press from them.

Prompt and courteous service and a good product, I'm happy with them.

I also use a butter bell. I don't find it a pain to simply change the water every couple of days, it's better than dealing with hard butter from the fridge or melted butter on the counter. It was a gift from dishesdone, and I have it on my counter all the time.

Annie

I use a butter bell in the warmer months and a butter boat in the cooler months. With a butter bell, the butter is in contact with the water; but the "boat" sits in the water in the butter boat and the butter never comes into contact with the butter. Butter gets a little mushy in the butter boat when ambient room temperatures warm.

Pleasant Hill Grain are top notch folks.

-Grainlady

Here is a link that might be useful: Butter Boat

Another one that has done business with Pleasant Hill Grain, I bought my Bosch mixer from them. They were very helpful and the service was top notch.

Linda

I had a butter bell but tossed it after I made the mistake of using an herbed butter in it. It was glazed, but it seems there was enough pourousness (or faults) in the glaze to allow the herby smell to permeate it.

I decided if it could absorb off odors, it could probably absorb other things I woudl rather not eat.

I keep 1/2 stick on the counter (covered) and it is usually gone in 3 days with my family of 4, and is wonderfully spreadable and not too melty at all.

Alexa

I have a couple of butter bells that I got at TJMaxx for under $8. Also have little individual ones for when entertaining. I wouldn't be without a butter bell!

It is funny when I looked at the site, and got to the bottom of the website I saw where they were located. They are located only half an hour from where I grew up. I am glad to see that so many have had good experiences with this Nebraska business. Now I need to search the site and see what I need lol.

Stacie
girlsingardens

I bought my Zoji rice cooker and other items from them. Great company. I've sent several people to them for Zoji coffee brewers. Everyone's reported back postive on doing biz with them.

thanks for all the feedback! I think I will just continue keeping my butter in the covered dish on the counter. I've never tasted it go rancid, so I guess I shouldn't worry about it. We haven't had our air on for over a week, but my kitchen stays pretty cool. Probably the granite counters help too. But if I happen to come across a butter bell while browsing someday, I might pick one up. I also plan to do a little shopping at Pleasant Hill Grain. Looks like fun!
Nancy