It can be challenging to contend with life in Australia. There’s the wildlife, the wild weather, the wildfires. And then there’s storing your butter without the wild oscillations between being hard as a rock from the fridge or a melted, rancid puddle.

Which is why we’re so excited that a clever solution exists, thanks to a little French company called Le Creuset. Perhaps you’ve heard of them?

The classy creators of our favourite kitchen accoutrement have the answer – the butter bell. The aesthetically pleasing and practical butter bell is a genius way to keep your butter fresh and protected against extreme summer temperatures thanks to a sturdy ceramic bowl, and a small amount of water that forms an airtight seal.

It’s a bit of a mind-bender so here’s a handy tutorial to illustrate.

Say ‘hello’ to perfectly spreadable butter year-round. Say ‘goodbye’ to torn toast, the thread you didn’t know you were hanging on by.

You have to see it. Mainly because we need to justify spending $70 on it. 

Butter bells date back to the Middle Ages when they were used to keep butter at a constant temperature and to stop it from spoiling, but they probably weren’t as cute as the Le Creuset Stoneware ones. And now TikTok is obsessed with the butter bell in general and the Le Creuset ones specifically – from concerns about safety (just change your water regularly and you’ll be fine) to people in hot climates insisting this discriminates against them (sorry, Queensland, it must be tough having weather that’s beautiful one day and perfect the next). But mostly, people are just excited about spreadable butter and cute ceramics.

Available in signature colours of Cerise (red) and Azure (blue), the Le Creuset butter bells can be purchased at selected retailers and online.

Related story: Le Creuset has released a stoneware collection for your pampered pet

How do you clean your Le Creuset?

Before first use, wash your Le Creuset products in warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly. After using, wait for your Le Creuset to cool down before you clean it. Wipe any leftovers off the pot, fill it with warm, soapy water and soak for around 15 minutes to soften any cooked on food.

Wash and dry by hand or clean your stoneware in the dishwasher.

Related story: Stock up on cultured butter, Le Creuset has released a bread oven