PrintTotally Unnecessary But Awesome Gadget: The Automatic Butter Spreader
[Photographs: Tressa Eaton]
This past weekend's New Amsterdam Market in New York was packed full of people and delicious products. Booth upon booth featured artisanal and handmade products like kimchi, jams, local wine, and ice cream, all laid out for sampling and buying before a hungry crowd.
By the time I got to the front of the Luke's Lobster line, I was more than ready to chow down on a buttery lobster roll. But then I got so distracted by the discovery of the existence of automatic butter spreaders that all I wanted to do was stand and watch the magic happen. The employees behind the Luke's table were cranking out lobster rolls at a ridiculous pace, aided by this very special gadget.
The butter spreader in action
Before being put on the griddle to brown, and then being stuffed full of lobster, each roll got a leisurely swipe over the wheel, ensuring an even layer of butter and maximum griddled perfection.
I started to think of all the ways such a gadget could be used at home: Spreading butter on your toast in the morning. On hamburger buns. On hot dog buns. On your pancakes. On hot, fresh corn. Almost anything going on a griddle could benefit from a trip over this wheel of deliciousness. The possibilities are endless.
The finished product
The butter spreader that the folks at Luke's use can be purchased from Nemco Food Equipment. It comes in two versions: a non-electric model for $120 and an electric model for $150 and can hold up to 1 pound of butter. The electric model will keep your butter soft even if you've got your butter spreader sitting on a cold countertop.
Do you need this thing to make a quality lobster roll? Absolutely not. Is it cool? Absolutely.
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10 Comments:
necessary for diners and obviously luke's lobster.
just not at home.
travpard at 10:56AM on 10/27/09
I saw this being used at a Burger King at a rest stop off the Jersey Turnpike recently while picking up coffee. I too thought it was ingenious but agree with travpard (unless you're the Duggards).
Jacquie at 11:35AM on 10/27/09
i'd do straight to tongue action on that puppy. lol
gastronomeg at 11:57AM on 10/27/09
Dunno about the electric model, but similar rotary butter spreaders are common in diners and foodservice operations. If you've eaten buttered bread at a large, busy diner, they likely used a butter spreader like this.
Lorenzo at 12:27PM on 10/27/09
these are pretty standard at restaurants. 120 bucks is way too much, though. the kind in the picture doesn't have any holes in the "wheel" part, the ones that have holes work better. picture a rolled up cheese grater.
pcsanwald at 1:16PM on 10/27/09
That's fantastic! I'm surprised the American Infomercial market hasn't picked up on this yet.
Eating The Road at 1:39PM on 10/27/09
Shake Shack uses them too!
Pretty standard appliance in diners and burger joints.
It'd be great for parties. Not sure exactly why, but I'd be willing to bet that if you throw a hot butter roller into a room full of drunk people, some form of entertaining hijinks would ensue.
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt at 5:19PM on 10/27/09
Chik Fil-A uses those.
FryPrayEatPassOut at 8:05PM on 10/27/09
Butter Porn in its lustiest expression.
chanterelle at 10:06PM on 10/27/09
I've always lusted after a continuous oven used in manufacturing. It has a long belt that materials needing heat treatment (ceramics, metal products) are placed on and then they slowly pass through an intense oven.
I imagine repurposing it to make pies, pastries, bread. This butter spreader will make a great part of my fantasy.
chascates at 5:43PM on 10/28/09