Butter in a butter dish.

[styley]

How long does butter keep in a butter dish at room temperature compared to being kept in the fridge? My girlfriend likes eating proper butter on toast but what I notice is that out of the fridge its hard to spread onto the toast and tears the bread. But I'm pretty sure if it was kept in a butter dish this wouldn't happen.

[Jugglering]

I've never kept my opened packs of butter in the fridge - always in a butter dish on the kitchen worktop (in the shade) unless it is a very hot day, in which case I do keep it in the fridge and only take a small amount out at a time. I find it keeps until I've finished the pack... You can buy *insulated* butter dishes that keep the butter at the same temperature - Lakeland do one for about �13... http://www.lakeland.co.uk/product.aspx/!1496

[Whoever]

We always buy Lurpak Spreadable which spreads direct from the fridge.

[taichiperson]

If you want spreadable butter which is not blended with vegetable oil, try Kerrygold.

[heathfield]

Mine lasts me a week on the worktop. When I get a new one out of the fridge, I microwave it on full power for about 35 to 45 seconds to soften it. It's then OK for toast, but still a bit firm for untoasted bread. (Butter melts from the inside in a microwave so you won't see it happening. Experiment, but don't overdo it!).

[chinois]

I've mostly found it lasts about as long as it takes to eat it so you should be fine if it's in the shade.
I will microwave cold butter like heathfield if someone puts it in the fridge. It's true it melts from the middle and is quite fun to play with. 45 secs sounds long to me though, i thought it was about 20-25 secs but could be wrong.