In terms of kitchen essentials, a good butter knife is an important accessory to own. Butter knives can be used for a number of reasons, from spreading butter to applying jam and cutting through soft cheeses.
There are a lot of butter knife options available on the market today, so choosing the right one for home use can often be a tricky task. Keep reading to find out which butter knife is the best option for kitchens.
Table of Contents
Global market value of butter knives
What is the best butter knife for kitchen use?
Serrated butter knife
Spreader knife
Traditional butter knife
Heated butter knife
Final thoughts
Global market value of butter knives
Butter knives are essential to both household kitchens and commercial kitchens. They’re made of varying materials, including stainless steel, wood, and plastic, and each material has its own pros and cons. The latest trends in kitchenware innovation are helping to drive the butter knife market in an upwards direction. The demand for all types of butter knives also comes from a further demand for premium dining accessories.
At the end of 2024, the global market value of butter knives exceeded USD 65 million. This number is expected to increase by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of at least 4.4% between 2024 and 2032. This will bring the total market value up to approximately USD 99.18 million by the end of this period. Butter knives provide the perfect combination of functionality and aesthetics, and they make a great addition to any tableware collection.
What is the best butter knife for kitchen use?
There are several types of butter knives that are equally as useful in the kitchen. Each type serves a slightly different purpose, so it’s important that buyers are aware of their individual pieces of information and how these items can be used most effectively. Some knives can be used for more than just spreading butter and preserves, whereas others are simply designed for a single task.
According to Google Ads, “butter knife” had an average monthly search volume of 49,000 in 2024. The most searches appeared in September when they reached 74,000, which was followed by 60,500 searches monthly between January and March. Searches dropped to their lowest in June and July when only 40,500 searches were recorded per month.
Keep reading to find out more about each type of butter knife, including what their key features are and when the optimal time to use them is.
Serrated butter knife
The serrated butter knife is among the most common knives found in the kitchen. It features a toothed edge that allows the knife to slice through butter and soft cheeses, but it can also be used to cut bread if needed. This flat blade of the butter knife is made from stainless steel, which is known for its durability. It typically has an ergonomic handle that’s often another material, such as wood or plastic, and the sleek design of the handle doesn’t make it look out of place in various designs of kitchens.
While most commonly used when dealing with refrigerated butter, the serrated butter knife is ideal for using with other types of spreads such as peanut butter and jam. It’s a very versatile knife for kitchen use, and it’s perfect for breakfast preparation or making sandwiches.
Spreader knife
A spreader knife features a flat, wide blade with rounded edges that’s designed to evenly distribute butter and other soft spreads. It’s generally made from stainless steel to ensure its durability, but it’s common for the handle to be a different material, such as wood or plastic, so the hand is more comfortable.
These handles can be custom-made with an elegant finish so the user has a nice gift to use at home that eliminates spreading hassle. Some designs will also incorporate a collapsible handle into it for added storage convenience during everyday life.
The broad surface of this butter spreader makes it perfect for preparing sandwiches and toast or spreading preserves on pastries. It’s an effortless version of a butter knife for everyday use in the kitchen, and it can also help to spruce up cheese and butter platters for special occasions or dinner parties.
Some people will have collections of cutlery that include a spreader knife with a high-quality stainless steel blade that’s only brought out when company comes around for dinner. The spreader knife screams sophistication, so it’s not uncommon for it to come with a container or carrier to store it in separately once it’s taken out of the package.
Traditional butter knife
Although similar to a spreader knife, the traditional butter knife has a few distinguishing differences worth noting. It has a narrow shape with a rounded, dull blade, so it’s used for spreading butter and other soft spreads with ease rather than cutting them. The traditional butter knife is made from exceptional quality stainless steel and often features a decorative handle made from another material.
This type of small butter knife can often be found at dining tables where buttering bread is common, so it’s a good choice for formal and casual settings. Since it doesn’t contain sharp edges like dinner knives, both kids and teens can use it without parents worrying about them cutting themselves. It’s a simple but very effective butter knife that’s found in almost every household.
Heated butter knife
The heated butter knife is somewhat new to the butter knife scene, and its modern design is meant to create effortless spreading, even with cold butter. The built-in warming technology uses an internal heating element that’s powered by batteries or USB charging. It’s a useful tool when using hard butter, as the warmth generated along the blade helps the butter to glide over the food it’s being spread on.
To avoid a slippery mess, careful handling of the heated butter knife on the counter is recommended for the best results. This ensures that the spreadable butter doesn’t slide off of the knife before making it to the slice of bread or other type of food.
Although heated butter knives aren’t found in every household, this new variation of more traditional butter knives is ideal for people who frequently use butter directly from the fridge. Special editions of the heated butter knife also make great gifts for home cooks and for people unable to shop for themselves due to health reasons.
Final thoughts
When choosing the best butter knife for kitchen use, there are a number of important features that customers should take into account. The simplicity of the traditional butter knife or the spreader knife offers effortless spreading, while the serrated butter knife has the benefit of additional functionality. There’s also the heated butter knife, which uses modern heating technology to allow people to use butter straight out of the fridge without fear of ripping the bread.
Consumers should invest in a butter knife that offers the highest quality and that’s dishwasher safe. Regardless of what type of butter knife is bought, having the right one in the kitchen will ensure an easy butter-spreading experience every time.
