You’ll find the butter scraper spoon in many older kitchens. It has a long curved shape and small metal fins located within the bowl area of what seems to be a typical spoon. When you see one lying in an old kitchen drawer, you likely think it’s some sort of oddity from the past.

But, let’s take a closer look at how it got to be in your kitchen today.

What is a Butter Scraper Spoon?
When you initially look at a butter scraper spoon, it appears to be a flawed design. Because the spoon part of it is curvaceous and the inside of the bowl is lined with multiple, parallel metal fins. Although not aesthetically pleasing, it serves a particular function.

The butter scraper spoon was developed to remove cold, hard butter from a block and divide it into smaller, softer portions that could be easily spread. The ridges act somewhat similar to a miniature grater. In order to curl or scrape off very thin layers of butter. When the butter is cold and hard from being stored in the refrigerator. Prior to margarine tubs and soft-spread butters, this was a helpful item to have in your kitchen.

A Tool from a By-Gone Era
Butter scrapers were most commonly found in the middle of the century in the United States . Primarily during the time that butter came in large, cold blocks rather than in precut sticks or tubs. People would use these items both at the dinner table and for preparation prior to baking. The ridged portion of the spoon made it possible to obtain the exact amount needed. Without having to cut it with a knife or wait for the butter to soften.

Even if you ask a grandparent, he/she will probably remember seeing a butter scraper spoon in a drawer somewhere, however, it is rarely seen in modern day kitchens. Many home cooks are unfamiliar with this type of utensil which makes it a true relic of the past.

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