A butter curler is a tool used to sculpt butter into shapes and curls, often used for formal dinners. It has a hooked, serrated metal blade that can also be used for shaving chocolate and making wax shavings. When selecting a butter curler, look for a smooth, solid handle and avoid handles with holes.
A butter curler is a kitchen gadget designed to help cooks sculpt butter into imaginative shapes and curls. It’s often included in an array of garnishing tools that might include other goodies like lemon peels and melon dancers. While most cooks won’t need this utensil, the device can be quite useful, especially for formal dinners. Carved butter garnishes at the table can add an elegant look, and many restaurants use butter curlers for this purpose.
Weird looking tool
The construction of a butter curler might seem slightly bizarre to someone unfamiliar with the tool. It has a long handle attached to a hooked, serrated metal blade. With practice, a cook can drag the blade across a stick of cold butter to generate thin butter shavings, tightly wrapped butter florets, and other garnishes. This utensil can also be used to create delicate textured patterns in butter.
How it is used
Working with a butter curler can take a few tries before a cook succeeds. As a general rule, the butter is chilled and the curler is heated before use. Different amounts of pressure produce different types of curled butter. If the butter breaks or flakes, it is too cold and should be allowed to warm slightly before the cook tries again.
After the butter contours are sculpted with a butter curler, they should be held in ice water or refrigerated so that the shape does not collapse. If the butter will be presented in a large bowl at a table, it can be chilled in the bowl and the cold surface of the bowl will help the butter stay firm during table service. Adding a garnish like parsley can add visual interest to your presentation.
other uses
There are other potential uses for a butter curler. The device can be used to shave chocolate, for example. When you need to melt foods such as chocolate and butter, you can use a butter curler to make small and easily melted chips, which will shorten the time required for the melting process. Some crafters use butter curlers to make wax shavings, which can be decorative when fitted around candle bases.
Shopping tips
When selecting a butter curler, a consumer should look to find one with a smooth, solid handle made of metal or plastic. Handles that have holes in them should be avoided because holes can be a place for small bits of food and even host bacteria to collect. This utensil tends to get greasy, so one that can be washed in an electric dishwasher may prevent a person from washing it by hand.
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