Bethenny Frankel is known for sharing skin-care and makeup tips aplenty; now, she's taking her frank recommendations to the kitchen. (Getty)(Getty)
We love any tool or trick that can make our everyday life simpler. From weird and wonderful gadgets to travel must-haves, who doesn't love a little more convenience? Luckily, former Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel recently shared one that you may not know about — the butter bell.
In a hilarious TikTok video that she deemed "gadget university," Frankel debuted her new kitchen accessory. A butter bell, or butter crock, is a container that keeps your butter fresh and soft at room temperature. After all, is there anything more frustrating than trying to spread cold butter on toast or a biscuit? Nope!
In the video, Frankel exclaims: "This is amazing ... I was at my friend's house and I loved it. ... You put your butter in here and it keeps your butter soft and you can just keep it on your table forever. ... It's giving rich bitch."
Here's the deal with butter bells: There are two pieces to this French-style container. You fill one side (the side you lift up and out of the bottom container) with your butter, and you fill the bottom container with cold water. When the container is closed, the butter in the top touches the water. That keeps the butter from coming into contact with light or air, which can affect its flavor and freshness.
While Frankel says you "can just keep it on your table forever," that's an exaggeration. For starters, you should clean your bell in between each stick of butter, and you should only use it with butter (not margarine or cream cheese). A typical butter bell holds about one stick, and you should change the water in your butter bell every two to three days. Pro tip: The Butter Bell website has a great how-to video for first-time users.
According to the USDA, you can safely leave butter unrefrigerated for one to two days. Additionally, the Food Network reports that that's the maximum amount of time you'll be able to enjoy your butter as it is truly meant to taste.
Ready to shop, butter lovers? Keep scrolling to add this little-known must-have to your countertop.
Available in white and black, this marble butter bell will look great in any kitchen. We love the subtle design and lack of branding.
One happy user wrote: "I have never had a butter keeper before. This one looks great in the kitchen... almost like a decoration and keeps the butter and the perfect softness. Very happy with this!"
This butter crock is from none other than the Butter Bell company, and there are plenty of colors and patterns to choose from if you're not feeling this sunny yellow.
One five-star reviewer shared: "I absolutely LOVE my butter bell. The butter stays fresh and spreadable without the worry of melting (I live in the desert). I also have a naughty kitty that loves to get into the butter, and with this, she doesn't even know it's on the counter."
If your kitchen is already full of Le Creuset cookware, well, we're jealous! Add this adorable butter crock to your collection in red, blue or white.
"This little crock makes me sooo happy! I've always wanted soft room-temperature butter, but regular butter dishes are a big no for me as the butter goes bad quickly. This keeps butter fresh and [I] love how it looks on my counter," raved one shopper.
This sleek ceramic butter bell is dishwasher-safe and comes in four neutral shades, including white, gray and black.
One five-star reviewer shared: "It's the perfect size for storage on the countertop of a small kitchen."
This simple white porcelain butter bell will seamlessly blend in with your kitchen, and it's dishwasher-safe — win-win!
"It is nice, good quality and has done well with our butter so far. It is slightly larger than I had expected," shared a content shopper.
