408595 Tue Jun 05 19:18:12 -0700 2007 7 41 Cookware 0 2633400 I've been storing my butter in my LC butter crock which allows you to keep the butter at room temperature for some time. It operates via a system where you add water on the bottom of the crock to create a vacuum seal to preserve the butter. You're supposed to change the water every 4 days. I forgot to change the water for about a week. When I opened the crock to get some butter for my dish, there was some green mold on the top. Was it due to cross-contamination or did it happen due to not changing the water? Currently I'm keeping the butter in the fridge in my crock. Here's a link to the crock I have: http://www.distinctive-decor.com/le-creuset-stoneware-butter-crock.html Tue Jun 05 19:18:12 -0700 2007 10763 Miss Needle 1 2638310 I don't have one of these butter crocks, but my parents (and grandparents before them) kept butter in a regular ol' butter dish on the countertop, no refrigeration. Of course, they go thru a stick every 8-10 days, so it never hangs around for a long time and it is always covered. Not many kinds of mold like pure fat/butter, so I'd wager it was from toast particles or other substances getting into the butter. Thu Jun 07 08:37:29 -0700 2007 2633400 12023 Hungry Celeste 2 2638603 I have a crock similar to yours and I change the water e/o day. Sometimes we get sloppy and I find a crumb or two in it, but it has never gotten moldy. Thu Jun 07 09:54:23 -0700 2007 2638310 81731 foodstorm 1 2639344 I have the Butter Bell, and love it. No mold, doesn't the butter slip out of your crock if it's in the fridge? Or maybe it's a different set-up. Anyway, in hot weather we change water frequently, but even when it goes a number of days butter is sweet and perfect. I had to replace one when my cat jumped on the counter and knocked it off (so sad)...but I couldn't do without it. Someone makes a new spreadable butter that has a bit of canola oil in it that is also great. Thu Jun 07 12:47:11 -0700 2007 2633400 99062 archangelcat 1 2639632 Sounds ilke it just got dirty and the lack of a water change let something grow. I'd bet you cleaned it thoroughly and if you go back to changing the water you won't have repeat issues. Thu Jun 07 14:10:20 -0700 2007 2633400 80141 ccbweb 1 2641805 I have a similar crock that I use, only because it was a gift. I never change the water in it until I'm washing it to put in a new stick of butter (every 2 weeks or so) and never a mold problem. Prior to the crock I kept a stick of butter on a butter dish in the cupboard, same as my grandmother for 80 years. Never a bit of mold. Either something got on your butter or it was bad butter to begin with. Fri Jun 08 08:38:09 -0700 2007 2633400 20522 gourmanda 1 2641992 Thank you for all of your responses! I think it was probably due to cross contamination (probably toast crumbs from my knife). I'm actually thinking about keeping the crock in the fridge because I noticed that we use a lot less butter. Fri Jun 08 09:23:15 -0700 2007 2633400 10763 Miss Needle 2 2648674 If you put the crock in the fridge, you don't really need to bother with the water. The fridge will keep it fresh. Mon Jun 11 08:40:46 -0700 2007 2641992 12023 Hungry Celeste