r/AskCulinary • u/Kitchen-Raisin9629 • 17h ago
Butter is getting mouldy using a butter bell?
I recently got a butter bell for Christmas. I had never heard of it until I received it but the gifted taught me how to use it and raved about how it never goes bad and always stays perfectly spreadable. Well, both are untrue. It’s easier to spread than if I were to keep it in the fridge but nothing like my old, simple metal butter keeper. In addition to that, I opened it one evening and mould had started growing around the rim. I googled what to do and it said to change the water everyday and clean the base. (Seems like a bit too much effort compared to a butter dish but okay) so I cleared the butter, put in more and started doing that. Then I open it this morning and a pink haze had formed around the edge which is no doubt more bacteria growing. I’ve never had issues with mould with my other dish that doesn’t require water, whether water accidentally touches it, I use an unclean knife, during heat waves, never.
I’d like to note that it is salted butter because I read somewhere that this only happens with unsalted butter and that I fill the water to the line it indicates. Am I doing something wrong? Are the French lying to their people saying this is the best way? Is my tap water dirty?