Oh man. Brace yourselves, I am a total Amazon junkie. (Note: These may not all be BIFL, but I'm responding to the OP in specific.)

• $9 butter keeper. (I bought a slightly different one that's no longer available, but it's the same basic design.) Keeping butter that isn't for cooking or baking in the fridge is for chumps. Mine is always perfectly spreadable room temperature while staying fresh for weeks... sometimes months.
  
  
• $9 TV antenna. I didn't own a TV until a few years ago, and it didn't have a built-in antenna. I don't watch much broadcast TV, so I grabbed the cheapest one I could find. Case in point for why digital is better than analog, this one picks up every digital channel perfectly.
  
  
• $13 shoe rack (now $18). Over the past year of living in this flat, I'd developed a bad tendency of kicking my shoes off at the bottom of the stairs just inside the front door. This looked like a cheap piece of shit, but I figured for the price I couldn't go wrong. Now almost every single pair of shoes I own is in one spot where it's easy to grab—and, more importantly, everything's out of the way of people coming in and out of the house.
  
  
• $14 jug of earplugs (50 pair). Essential for sleeping with the window open in loud neighborhoods, sharing rooms with snoring friends on a trip, or sharing beds with snoring dudes or gals you're sleeping with. These were also my go-to earplugs for shows until I got a pair that's better for listening to music.
  
  
• $22 electric kettle. The coffeemaker in our office puts out water that isn't nearly hot enough for a proper cuppa, and I got sick of microwaving it to boiling a mug's worth at a time. No bells and whistles, but it's performed perfectly since day one, with no breaking-in period like you get with kettles that have plastic parts in contact with the water.
  
  
• $32 32'/10m HDMI cable. Ran it between the computer in my bedroom and the TV in my living room, allowing me to watch all kinds of streaming TV and downloaded videos with friends in a spot more comfortable than standing in front of my desk.
  
  
• Slightly over the $50 limit, but $53 space heater. My best friend and roommate is one of those dudes who's built like a furnace, and our place uses radiators for heat. We had a few days of him sweating his ass off even with the thermostat set to 68, before I realized that we could just turn it way the hell down, and I could heat my own bedroom separately. This sucker dumps out a ton of heat, with a slew of features to sweeten the deal (my favorite being the remote control).
  
  
• Another that's slightly over, but $55 garment steamer. Collapses small enough to fit pretty much anywhere I've ever needed to store it, puts out steam within maybe 30 seconds of turning it on, and with a full tank has enough water to steam as many items as I've ever needed to do in a row. I haven't touched my iron once since I bought this thing, and my only regret is not buying one as soon as I started college over a decade ago.
  
  And, saving the best for last:
  
  
• $43 heated footrest. Hands-down, this is one of the best things I've ever bought in my life. I was looking for an unobtrusive, unobnoxious way to help myself stay warm in the office, which tends to be chillier than my taste year-round. When I opened it up, I was skeptical, since it looked like a cheap injection-molded piece of shit. Now, I'm pretty sure I'd rescue it from a fire before my mother. I don't want to imagine ever trying to get through another winter without it.
  
  ----------
  
  EDIT: As requested by /u/Mogrix, I posted List Part II: Electric Boogaloo, with more items from my Amazon history.

It’s a Dansk !

Really only matters for cakes and cookies. Melted butter will bake greasier and unevenly.

Also, Butter Crocks are awesome for buttering toast. 5/7 recommend.

http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-291-Butter-Keeper-Porcelain/dp/B000A1APL8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368284972&sr=8-2&keywords=butter+bell

they don't cost that much

just get one

If you put it in a butter keeper, it's good up to a month.

$11 on Amazon, Thank you!

This is why I use a butter crock.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000VLURQ/ref=cm_sw_r_an_am_ap_am_us?ie=UTF8

dont really need to risk anything

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076H7313Z/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B076H7313Z&pd_rd_wg=YVWkE&pd_rd_r=A8W4BH8B0GE48D0ZXE50&pd_rd_w=QHT9b

I have a similar one, they work pretty well.

I found the butter dish with the question. https://www.amazon.com/KooK-Ceramic-Butter-Handle-Design/dp/B075RJ5B2V/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=83Y3E4JRWOWM&keywords=ceramic+butter+dish&qid=1557092181&s=gateway&sprefix=ceramic+butter+dish&sr=8-3
$16.95

I usually keep only unsalted in the house for cooking because I don't eat buttered bread/toast/biscuits very often, but one the occasions that I do buy salted butter (holidays, dinner parties, guests in the home) I really enjoy my buttered toast. And baked potatoes--my goodness those are tasty.

BTW, if you're a butter fan, I highly recommend investing in one of these

Grab yoself a butter bell! It keep butter fresh and room temperature!

Esta mantequillera

[Butter Bell] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000A1APL8/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1421268338&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX200_QL40)

I recommend everyone buy a butter dish, one that uses water to preserve it. You can keep it out instead of the fridge, and your butter is always soft. Then buy some really good butter and some good bread. You won't want anything else for breakfast. Something like this.

What's even better than a butter dish is a butter bell http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000VLURQ?pc_redir=1408591398&robot_redir=1

I agree. I thought of this version I've seen on amazon as soon as I saw the picture. Apparently real butter will keep fine at room temperature as long as you keep air out of/away from it.

i agree!

https://www.amazon.com/Original-Butter-Bell-Tremain-Collection/dp/B000H47H0A

Yes to all of the above. If you nuke it, use DEFROST and check it every 3 seconds. I use something similar to this and just change the water every 2 days. It's what they did back in the Pilgrim days (snort I don't know, but I know they did it in the 30's-50's) Edit: duh! http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-284-Stoneware-Butter-Keeper/dp/B0000VLURQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Try a French Butter Crock.

The Original Butter Bell Crock by L. Tremain, Antique Rouge Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Q9U4KM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_uJOzyb1TH3S43

I found it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/RSA-BUTTER-CUTTER-ONE-CLICK/dp/B000Q9YXXK/ref=pd_sim_sbs_k_1

Norpro Glazed Stoneware Butter Keeper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000VLURQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TZsJybY4T0PAC

Keep soft butter on the table for a month.

Butter is spreadable butter if it's not refrigerated. One stick in a covered butter dish on the counter will not go bad before it's used up. Just leave it out all the time.

If you're super paranoid about leaving your butter out, use a butter bell AKA french butter crock. The water seal will keep out whatever your phobia is.

Like I said in another comment, I've made butter with a ~cup of buttermilk mixed with a ~quart of cream, left overnight... fantastic results! Here's the original recipe I followed and it uses your same method with the stand mixer. (I've made my mixer earn her keep by kneading pasta and bread doughs from time to time)

An as to what makes it great? not just the cows, but what the cows are fed, grass is an important element for good tasting milk and butter (gives them that yellow hue).

And btw, if you salt at the beginning, you can knead the butter in water to rinse the salt away. Salt will help keep the butter it's freshest. Also, if you want to do like the french, get yourself a butter dish that immerses the butter in water, avoiding contact with air.

We use something similar and I love always having spreadable butter.

I keep most of my butter in the fridge too for the same reasons, but let's say I use half a stick for something, I'll put the rest in a baggie or on a dish and use it over the next few days. If it's really been a while and there's no chance it's going to get used I'll stick in back in the fridge if I have to, but that's hardly necessary. By the way, they make devices specifically meant to store butter on the counter, so it's not like I'm making it up.

For example: https://www.amazon.com/Original-Butter-Bell-Tremain-Maraschino/dp/B000BOWWZQ

"Butter Bell crock keeps butter fresh and spreadable for up to 30-day without refrigeration; no odors or spoilage"

I went with the butter whale
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BB39J73/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_eyyxDbARKKB51

The butter you're leaving on the counter is salted butter, which is therefore preserved. If you did that with unsalted butter, it'll spoil. You can prevent that if you store your butter in a french butter dish. It's an extremely simple device, The lid holds the butter in the cup. It's butter, it'll stick in there. The basin has just a little bit of water in it. When you place the lid on the basin, the water creates an air tight seal around the cup. It'll keep your butter fresh for a month.

Get one.

Get yourself a Butter Bell. Keeps it on the counter without it going rancid. Butter spoils faster when it is in contact with oxygen and light.

Or, buy a butter keeper!

Hmm...maybe use a Butter Bell? They keep your butter fresh at room temperature via airlock, and you could probably use the bell part as a mold.

Well. Growing up, butter was always in the fridge.

A few years ago, I decided to see what was up with all this leaving it on the counter business and got a fancy butter bell ( this one). It was cute, convenient and a pain in the ass. I hated changing the water out and it was one more thing I had to remember to do. In a short amount of time, it also grew mold, so that was infuriating. (I'd put salted kerrygold in it, for those wondering.) I ended up washing it out and just using it as a butter crock in the fridge.

About 6 months ago, I decided to replace it. I browsed Amazon and ended up with this guy. He's been working out great so far. Butter is always a spreadable consistency (salted kerrygold), no water to futz around with and the simple look goes with any decor.

I always keep extra butter that won't fit in the crock in the fridge along with the unsalted butter for baking. 👍🏽

You need one of these Butter goes in the cone and water goes in the other half. The water keeps the butter from picking up other tastes, odors and from molding and lets you leave it on the counter.

I have the same one! It's the most important thing on my counter! Sits next to my butter keeper, another object of importance! http://www.amazon.com/Original-Butter-Tremain-Collection-Cobalt/dp/B007FF57J2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421886355&sr=8-2&keywords=butter+bell

About the butter: whoever told you that might be thinking of something like this. For some crazy awesome scientific reason you don't have to refrigerate the butter - has something to do with the water creating an airtight seal.

household items you don't need, but you sure do want anyway

A butter bell. I bought it on Amazon. I love having spreadable butter on demand. Mine cost 10 dollars and holds one stick.

Edit: This one is the one I have but any wouldwork.

Under $10 link for the lazy

Make great housewarming gifts cause you're pretty sure they don't already have one.

I love my Butter Cutter. Yeah, it seems a little goofy, but it's so easy to put a little pat of butter on anything. It's now a quick, one-handed job instead of having to put a butter dish on the counter and get out a knife.

-Brie Baker with all the ingredients to get started (Brie cheese, fruit, nuts, honey)

-Butter Bell with a loaf of locally made bread

-Mariposa Napkin Box with Weights and Cocktail Napkins

-Cocktail Shaker Set with Bitters, Stirrers, and a nice bottle of liquor

-Cool coffee table book (esp. if it matches a gift set mentioned above (The Art of Mixology or Magnolia Table) or it's hostess-themed, such as Kate Spade's All In Good Taste or Emily Post's Manners for Today)

-Guest Book for house/bathroom/guest room (and this is always fun because you can be the first one to sign it and everyone at the housewarming party can sign it/write a message). Look around Etsy for these...I'm not crazy about the ones on Amazon.

Hope this helps! Happy housewarming to your friend!

Perhaps look for a plastic butter dish?

https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Butter-Dish-Colors-Vary/dp/B000BQU5US

Get one of these. Been using it for years.

The Original Butter Bell Crock by L. Tremain, Antique Collection - White Linen https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LA364Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Mo4WAbMAN73TM

You're looking for a french butter keeper!

http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-284A-Stoneware-Butter-Keeper/dp/B0000VLURQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1415677816&sr=1-1&keywords=french+butter+dishes

We have this one: http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-284-Stoneware-Butter-Keeper/dp/B0000VLURQ

I love Amazon Prime. Whenever I need something for the kitchen, it's usually there.

Depends what’s a Dansk !

We use a butter bell and as long as you remember to change out the water fairly frequently when it's hot out, it works quite well.

Do people really keep butter in the fridge if they use it often? We've always used one of these porcelain dishes and I've never seen butter go bad.

Regardless, I like this because it's delightful!

What you need my friend, is a butter keeper. Your life (and cholesterol level) will never be the same.

I don't understand what this improves over a normal butter dish. Not denying it's an improvement. I just don't see it. My butter is perfectly spreadable. Is it more for people that live in climates that are hot enough that ambient temp melts butter?

Or better yet, a butter crock. It keeps butter good for 30 days without refrigeration.

Use a butter bell, they're awesome

Buy one of these and regular old stick butter and never destroy a slice of bread again.

A butter bell for $7. Also, cheap picture frames.

Well, I've praised French Butter Keepers here before, but I am always willing to tell people about HOLY SHIT THE BUTTER IS ALWAYS SOFT IT'S FUCKING WITCHCRAFT.

On the more... practical side of things, everyone should have one of this style plunger Seriously. Especially if you have a very wussy low-flow toilet like my apartment does.

And a good pair of all-purpose scissors. It's important to have your junk scissors be distinct from your paper scissors and your fabric scissors so you don't gunk up the latter two.

Sure! There are tons of videos on YouTube if you need a visual, but basicallly use either a quart or pint of heavy cream (a quart will give you roughly a pound of butter). I have used WalMart's Great Value heavy cream, and it tastes pretty darn good, so don't feel you have to buy an expensive cream to make great homemade butter.


Next, place contents of cream into stand mixer bowl. I start on 2 for about 1 minute and then kick it up to 10 (you may need a splash guard in place to prevent splashing). Let your mixer run for about 2-3 minutes or so. It will go from liquid, to whipped cream, to curdled and separated looking. That's when it's essentially butter!


Now, turn off mixer, and strain out the "buttermilk" (the liquid that's separated from the butter solids). You'll probably need to mash on the butter in the strainer to be sure all the liquid is separated. Save that buttermilk for baking. Some tutorials I have looked at feel it's necessary to really get all that buttermilk out to prevent the butter from going rancid (I go through the butter so fast, it's never been a problem), so give further directions to place the butter back in the mixer and add some water and mix again and strain (and repeat several times), until the water is clear.

Using your hands or a wooden spoon or placing your butter in a butter bell, shape your butter how you like it and store in the fridge or however you store your regular store-bought butter.

The butter can also be placed back in your stand mixer and mixed with salt to taste, herbs, garlic, etc. There are tons of recipes, too, that can be found on how to season your butter.

I'll apologize in advance if my directions aren't that great. But, really it's a pretty simple process. If you have any questions, just let me know!

I must say, as a fellow hockey fan, Mr. Pavel Datsyuk is quite a cutiepie!

If you have Prime, I'd love this The Tao of Pooh or this butter keeper. Honestly though, anything on my $5-10 list would be fabulous.

The optimal way is to buy something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Original-Butter-Bell-Tremain-Collection/dp/B007FF57J2

And then never deal with cold butter ever again.

It's not often I get to change a strangers life...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Q9U4LG/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_XjBHxbCZD5BZV

The butter bell for reference! We got a cheaper one at first but it broke in the mail so SO got a fancier one. It's amazing.

That's what I do right now. I bought this butter keeper container from amazon and keep butter on the counter in it. I probably don't need it since I go through the butter so fast I could just leave it in a glass bowl on the counter top.

Edit: Link to butter keeper.

Better yet, get a butter bell, keeping your butter fresh and creamy soft. The salt in butter also acts as a preservative, so you really don't need to be paranoid about it spoiling.

Or get a butter bell?

You need this. http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-284-Stoneware-Butter-Keeper/dp/B0000VLURQ/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt

and put it in a french butter bell

Just a quick tip about Amazon Links: anything after the product ID isn't necessary. This URL works just as well as yours: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B076H7313Z/

Edit: Oops, forgot to convert it back to a non-smile link. :)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076H7313Z/

I've never had this happen in over 20 years of leaving butter out. There is a reason that butter dish/butter keepers exist. Example

As long as the butter is kept in an airtight container and under 80 degrees Fahrenheit, you are in soft spreadable butter heaven.

Huh, never had that issue with our $7.50 butter bell.

My gut says your butter fell out because it wasn't pressed into the butter bell full/completely and/or the butter bell was stored in direct sunlight (or a warm place).

You need to look up a Butter Crock . The water keeps a complete seal on the butter, helping it stay fresh.

Yeah, but its claim to fame is that you don't let the butter "sit out", but it's kept 'safe' with an airtight seal of water.

Look at the video in the picture list here to see how it works;
https://www.amazon.com/Original-Butter-Bell-Tremain-Collection/dp/B004Q9U4KM

I can imagine it works well in dirtier environments, but I live in South Texas and let my butter sit out (little regular butter dish with a cover, not air tight) and the butter doesn't go bad. We probably use it up within a month or six weeks, so no need to seal it or anything.

Christ, has no one in here heard of a butter keeper?

Follow the directions and leave this thing on your counter for as long as you want. Butter is always soft, and also does not spoil like leaving out it on a butter dish.

Try it, compare to a butter dish. You will never use a butter dish again. The taste difference is noticeable and incredible.

Easy way to 'steam' things. Use those plastic shopping bags you bring home your groceries in. No need to waste money on the name brand 'steamer bags'.

Addintionaly food like carrots, potatos, sweet potatos, corn on the cob, and other fresh veg dont need refrigeration and all microwave well. The smaller the food the shorter the cook time. I do big potatoes for 6-8 minutes, small carrots for 4-6.

Also keep in mind real butter (not the spreads or country crock) doesnt need refrigeration just stitck it in a butter bell so you can add butter to any dish you microwave.

inb4 "get yourself a butter keeper!"

Get yourself a go fuck yourself.

Pooper Scooper, roller coaster, kawasaki.

No, just one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-284-Stoneware-Butter-Keeper/dp/B0000VLURQ

https://www.amazon.com/Kilner-Delicious-Homemade-34-Fluid-Capacity/dp/B07N8RNP1C/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=tiny+butter+churner&qid=1570162525&sr=8-1

No clue if it works.

OP just needs to buy this for her roommate to use. She can cut the butter like an adult. Sadly I own one of these things lol.

OP you sound like my sister. She's a butter Nazi. I bought her this for her birthday one year. She's ceased to be a butter Nazi ever since.

The one I have is more like this. It doesn't use water or anything. Just a dish shaped like a stick of butter with a lid. Mine is a little different as it's got little hinges on the four sides to keep the lid on. Also creates an airtight seal which might help with preserving the butter a bit. It's also got little handy score marks on the bottom to help me measure out a tablespoon easily.

I've never heard of a butter bell before but they seem interesting.

I have used a couple butter dishes like the one I linked to earlier, but I've found that one with a wider lid is better. Less likely to miss the little grooves and sit the lid down in the butter. Soft, spreadable, creamy butter.

Get a butter bell and you will be all set. https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Glazed-Stoneware-Butter-Keeper/dp/B0000VLURQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1480896805&sr=1-1&keywords=butter+bell

This is all you need:

https://www.amazon.com/Inventions-Market-Butter-Cutter-Stainless/dp/B000Q9YXXK

Also, LPT: just leave your butter out. It'll be fine for a few days at room temperature, and it spreads so nicely.

Yes, This. If you're concerned about it going bad / getting invaded, can also use a "butter keeper" that seals it with water. For Example (not an endorsement, just the 1st result from Google)

butter keeper

Fill with half an inch of salt water, and it'll keep for 2 weeks easily for salted butter.

Do it with this > https://www.amazon.com/Original-Butter-Bell-Tremain-Maraschino/dp/B000BOWWZQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1VKUvTyMsQ


Also I agree , as the Cook in my house , the Kitchen is my domain women ! get the fuck out :) hehehehehe ., unless the wife wants to bake , she can have that all to herself hahahahahaha

Good luck !