There used to be a t.v. show called "The Liars' Club." On this show, four panelists were given an object and told a story about what it was and how it was used. Only one of the four really knew the truth. Contestants then had to figure out who was telling the truth and who was lying.

I think of that show everytime I see a butter curler. A butter curler looks like a miniature hand for Captain Hook. With its curved and serated edge, it certainly looks wicked. Or maybe it could be used for scratching a back. Or maybe it serves some kinky purpose.

In truth, a butter curler is used to make those lovely, light curls of butter that you sometimes find sitting in glass bowls or decorating platters at fancy restaurants. Those fancy curls and wisps of butter with the patterned surface are made by chilling butter and then dip the butter curler into warm water and drag it across the butter's surface. Voila! A butter curl. It's one of the easiest garnishes to make, and (for whatever reason) seems to impress people a great deal.

Besides curling butter, it is also possible to use a butter curler on wax or tallow. I don't keep tallow around, but I have used waxed curls. Unlike butter, wax needs to be slightly warmer to curl. Using the balls of curled wax shavings, I have made a beautiful candle centerpiece. I insert a tall white candle in the middle of a glass jar and then surrounded it with wax curls. It ends up looking like a candle of wax curls - very light and airy. Very pretty.


The Rosle 8" butter curler came as part of a food garnishing kit that I was given. The kit was an all "Rosle" kit and included fluted melon ballers, a ripple cutter and a couple of good knives. I've seen the individual elements of this kit selling for from $15 to $25 each. I have never seen the curler itself sold separately. Even at the Rosle web site, there is no price or way to order this item.

The head of the butter curler is made of stainless steel. It is well designed for getting beautiful ribbons of butter. The handle is also metal. Rosle tools are designed to be used with their own storage system and the uniform look of the handles is part of that system's look. However, lacking the racks and hooks, I toss mine in a drawer, and would prefer the functionality of a more comfortable rubberized handle.

The fact is that there are many butter curlers on the market. They all have the same basic construction and work the same way. These are all single piece items with no moving parts. There is nothing to break. Rosle is a good butter curler. So is every other one I have seen or used.

So how should you decide which butter curler to buy? Unless you are planning to leave this out on the counter, or unless you have the Rosle storage system, buy the least expensive curler you can get. I have seen top of the line butter curlers with fancy names like Sparschaler for $11. If you're willing to skip the label, you can get one for as little as $4 or $5 at Lechter's or a similar kitchenware shop.

If you're going to leave your butter curler sitting out on your counter, buy one that will match your kitchen. If you're going to leave it out, also decide ahead of time what you'll tell people who ask what it is.



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