Why does mold keep growing on my butter? I have followed the directions carefully and I have mold. REALLY NOT HAPPY
2036452
Have been using this product for several months - admittedly, over winter here in NZ, so the temperature has not allowed for mould growth. Also use salted butter.
2036453
I had the same thing happen recently. Just make sure you change the water every 3 days, and that should take care of the mold.
2036454
I have found that I need to keep the water change every 3 days and also to use cold water. I have also found that if my kitchen get hot I have mold. I keep my house at 75 degrees. If you put it near the coffee pot or toaster the heat from these produce mold, also keep out of sunlight. I live in Fl. and its really hot from July to Oct. You also need to clean the dish really good between uses. Since doing this I have not gotten the again. Hope this helps.
2036455
As some have mentioned you can use salted butter, but the preferred method to help from the start is to add a small amount of salt to the water itself.
2036456
Make sure you are using salted butter. It might be too the quality of the butter keeper. I have used one for years and love it.
2036457
I have the same problem. I have a reddish color and my butter seems to lose its flavor.
2036458
I have never had a mold problem. I keep enough water in base to touch the butter, change water every three days, and keep in a cool place on my counter top. I add butter as needed(from the fridge) and return to water when butter softens.My daughter has never had mold either!! Hope you have better luck--we just love having soft butter at hand.
305147
I'm not sure why your having this problem, but I can tell you how I use mine and maybe that will help.. I let the butter soften a little and smoosh it down good into the cup with a spoon or spatula. I making sure there are no air pockets.. I keep my butter keeper in a spot away from toaster, oven, coffee pot, etc so it wont get too warm. Also before each refill I wash it good so the new butter I put in has a non greasy surface to stick too... I love mine but wish it was a little bigger... lol Hope this helps...
1827187
Sage's answer is exactly right...make sure the bowl is clean and dry so the butter will form suction with inside of bowl.I too have been using a "butterbell" for years and I particuraly like the Norpro. Enjoy!
463724
No need to worry - there may be a droplet of water or two left, but nothing to bother with. You can always dodge water when you're messing with butter ;)
328560
I've found that the real solution to discouraging mold growth is to change the water every 2-3 days. I don't know if there is a qualitative difference between porcelain, ceramic, or marble in terms of mold growth, however, I have thrown away my marble butter keeper after only a month's use because I found the marble to be too porous. It left moisture rings on my counter and table. That has never happened with my ceramic butter crock, which I had used for many years until it broke. I did not have a problem with mold in the ceramic keeper so long as I kept the water fresh. Hope this helps with your selection . . . .
1372030
No mold problems yet, but I've only had this for a few months. We leave it on all the time. If it were to get mold I'd put it in the dishwasher.
930949
After seeing the question, I checked mine and see no mold. I confess I remember to empty the reservoir only about 50% of the time. Perhaps a full reservoir is not a friendly environment for mold.
21176
Mine mold and mildew and turn a disgusting brown/yellowish color at the bottom. I wash it with and without bleach and it doesn't help. I just live with it til it gets to gross for me and get a new one.
1581220
I have actually started noticing mold a few weeks ago. I use both daily and it took a few months to show up & it's only in the water bowl. They've since stained so I stopped using them
2227435
In what way does it look moldy? I had a few dark brown specks of the hull in the Shea butter but nothing odd looking. It shouldn't go bad. I would call the company if it looks green or something.
328557
As long as you change the water, you should never get mold. The water keeps the butter isolated from the air, which protects against rancidity. The butter does get in the water since it is an oil, so the water should have nothing to encourage mold; the upside down butter bell has a lip that protects the water from getting air too. But, if you change the water, you should take care of any risk. I suspect a very humid location would be far more likely to have mold. So, you could also was the non-butter part (the outer container) with detergent to kill any mold particles before they can get a toe-hold (so to speak). As long as you change the water, you should never get mold. The water keeps the butter isolated from the air, which protects against rancidity. The butter does get in the water since it is an oil, so the water should have nothing to encourage mold; the upside down butter bell has a lip that protects the water from getting air too. But, if you change the water, you should take care of any risk. I suspect a very humid location would be far more likely to have mold. So, you could also was the non-butter part (the outer container) with detergent to kill any mold particles before they can get a... » Read More As long as you change the water, you should never get mold. The water keeps the butter isolated from the air, which protects against rancidity. The butter does get in the water since it is an oil, so the water should have nothing to encourage mold; the upside down butter bell has a lip that protects the water from getting air too. But, if you change the water, you should take care of any risk. I suspect a very humid location would be far more likely to have mold. So, you could also was the non-butter part (the outer container) with detergent to kill any mold particles before they can get a toe-hold (so to speak). « Show Less
1065808
No, seems to be wrong mold. I no idea what is the issue, I still must try and return mine I have bought. Have tried too request instructions to do so but heard nothing.
415995
Just enough to form a seal to keep odors out. A 1/4" of water is plenty. The key, though, is to change the water frequently and to make sure the water does not directly contact the butter. Butter + stagnant moisture = mold.
2031893
I place my keeper in the refrigerator when I know my house is going to be to warm, and take it out first thing, otherwise the butter does warm and slips into the water which is no big deal. I live in the lower south so we have humidity issues!
305145
It could be a couple of things: 1. Are you using REAL butter not the butter substitutes? Butter bells are really only for real butter. 2. Is your butter soften to room temp? The butter bell and the butter need to be at the same temp or else the cold butter will not stick to the bell. 3. Is the inside of your butter bell completely dry? The since oil/fat and water repel each other, and butter is a fat, the part of the bell that comes in contact with butter must be completely dry. Hope that helps.
305148
I *just* had this problem for the first time. The first many times, the butter didn't fall out. Now, after months of using this great product, KERPLUNK! Butter in the water. So, what did I do differently. I PUT COLD BUTTER IN THE BELL. Condensation created MOISTURE between the butter and the bell, so that the butter did not adhere. The solution is to take that stick of butter out of the fridge, unwrap it, and let it sit till there is NO condensation on the surface of the butter any more. Then, put it in the bell. And, it will not fall out, even on a warm summer day!
1383900
Well the problem with any mold is that it's alive, more or less. So, once it starts, one either kills it or does not. What I did (no longer have that machine,) was always wipe the inside of the seal with a solution of pure liquid bleach, applied on a rag, using my finger tip (rubber gloves, OK) as the applicator. That more or less did the job... depending on how bad it was. But there's no doubt it's a troublesome problem. The other thing I frequently did was run a load of HOT water in the empty machine, with about a quart of pure bleach. I think you get the drift: mold is not your buddy; kill it!