Butter sticks - short and stubby or long and thin?

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

I like the half sticks! Then I don’t have unwrapped butter in the fridge as much. I will have to look for those other brands if I make a pie crust. But I wonder if it makes much difference.
I don’t know if I have seen the land o lakes in foil? If it seems fresher then I’m in!
I don’t like salted butter as much. I think it seems less fresh or something. I salt my butter with a sprinkle of fresh salt when I use it. You guys should try that!

 

[ChrisFL]

its not the size of the butter, it's how you use it

 

[design_mom]

I have seen this discussed before, too. What kind is shown in the OP? Is that the "short and stubby" or the "long and thin." I'm in Ohio, and we have the kind shown in the photo -- whole (1/4 lb) and half (1/8 lb) sticks available. I've never seen it another way, unless it's the "fancy butter" sold in a 1 pound block.

 

[bcla]

Got a little sidetracked and never answered OP's original question, LOL.
I'm guessing short and stubby means eighths in a 1 pound box, and long and thin means quarters equaling a lb based on the photo in the starting thread. There's also bulk slab of butter that weighs a pound. I can get the slab, and the quarters readily. The only time I've seen the eights is in a supermarket in CT.

I'm mostly thinking of quarters. They're typically short and stubby here in California. The packages are longer and flatter. If you open the end, you see two sticks, and there are two more on the other end. With the east coast style the sticks are the full length of the box, and when you open the end you'll see all four sticks.

This article shows the two basic shapes (these were from Trader Joe's locations in different parts of the US):

https://www.becomebetty.com/trader-joes-unsalted-butter-quarters/

The Land O Lakes half sticks are like the top, but only half as long.

 

[bcla]

I have seen this discussed before, too. What kind is shown in the OP? Is that the "short and stubby" or the "long and thin." I'm in Ohio, and we have the kind shown in the photo -- whole (1/4 lb) and half (1/8 lb) sticks available. I've never seen it another way, unless it's the "fancy butter" sold in a 1 pound block.

The one on the top is the "long and thin" (aka Elgin). We don't see those very often around here. And typically butter trays require stubbies. At least the one that came with my refrigerator was short/wide.

 

[aprilchem]

We get the long sticks (1/4 lb). I'd love to use the more expensive brands, but it's Walmart Great Value here. We use SO much butter because I'm baking all our bread these days and cooking everything from scratch, and the Great Value is $2/lb. I bet we go through at least 1.5 lbs a week.

 

[pryncess527]

I will have to look for those other brands if I make a pie crust. But I wonder if it makes much difference.

European butters have a higher fat content which is why they are well-suited for butter piecrusts. I’ve never done a blind taste test test though so I can’t honestly say I tell the difference. But I figure if I’m going to the trouble of making an all-better crust, I might as well use the good stuff

 

[AustinTink]

Kerrygold for smearing, Plugra for baking and grocery brand european style for everyday cooking.

 

[porschegrl]

I use Miyoko's Creamery vegan butter, which is short and stubby: https://miyokos.com/collections/vegan-butter

I have this butter dish, which makes me happier than a butter dish ought to make a person: https://www.lecreuset.com/heritage-butter-dish

I've had it for 2 years, and it seriously makes me happy every time I reach for the butter. I would guess my son has less happy feelings about it, because I'm forever reminding him, "Be careful with my butter dish!"

 

[BlueStarryHat]

We get the Land O' Lakes 1/4 sticks for baking, and Breakstone's in a tub for table use.

 

[amcnj]

I have had both kinds, but the usual around here is the long thin type.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I'm mostly thinking of quarters. They're typically short and stubby here in California. The packages are longer and flatter. If you open the end, you see two sticks, and there are two more on the other end. With the east coast style the sticks are the full length of the box, and when you open the end you'll see all four sticks.

This article shows the two basic shapes (these were from Trader Joe's locations in different parts of the US):

https://www.becomebetty.com/trader-joes-unsalted-butter-quarters/

The Land O Lakes half sticks are like the top, but only half as long.

The bottom style I've never seen here so a pp stating it has to do w/ plant location sounds plausible.

 

[starry_solo]

I forget what we get, but it's unsalted

 

[bobbiwoz]

Mostly we buy the longer quarters.

 

[RedAngie]

Generally long thin sticks on the East Coast, but one brand which I can't recall has the shorter thicker sticks.

This is the first time in decades I've haven't purchased butter shaped like a lamb or bunny for Easter.

 

[Tangled Pink]

I love this thread! Who would have figured we’d be talking about my favorite food group!! It’s refreshing to hear everyone’s input. There is so much for me to think about now when using it for baking and cooking.

 

[bcla]

How about ghee? Or for that matter goat or sheep butter?

 

[katmigordon]

Not in this house - unsalted butter for the win.
Then we can decide how much salt we want to add.

Stick size/shape does't matter too much to us. However sweet butter is very much superior to salted butter.

 

[MamaLema]

We use to much butter to buy it in sticks

 

[RamblingMad]

I usually get Kirkland unsalted butter. But now, I don't really want to wait in line to go to Costco, so I'm going to try Land O'Lakes.