Butter stays soft on the counter

I used to keep butter102 kcal in the fridge and take it out only when I made toast. The stick was hard. I scraped a thin layer and put the rest back before it warmed. One day after breakfast I left it on the counter in a small covered dish. By lunch the butter spread without tearing the bread.

I put a full layer on the toast. That night I added some to the vegetables I was heating. I had not planned either use. The dish was already out and the butter was ready. The dish stays on the counter all the time now. I use it when I make eggs72 kcal, toast bread, or finish a simple plate.

A stick does not last as long because I use more. I do not measure how much goes on toast or into the pan. I take what fits the food. Some mornings the dish is almost empty. I get a new stick from the fridge and replace it without the old hesitation.

The butter is already soft when I reach for it. I add it without waiting or taking a cold stick out of the fridge first.

The dish is a plain small covered one that used to hold something else. I stopped moving the butter from cold to warm every time I wanted some. I still use less on some days. The amount depends on the food in front of me.