'ButterTok' Is The Corner Of The Internet You Never Knew You Needed

Important question: Does butter truly make life better? To many, the answer is probably "absolutely yes." One of the most frequently consumed dairy products on the planet, butter is rich, creamy, slightly salty, and subtly sweet. The pale yellow churned spread makes just about every dish it touches even more savory and adds a velvety quality to each bite. Butter is a versatile ingredient that is used to amplify the taste and texture of a variety of foods, including baked goods, meats, sautéed veggies, and simple slices of toast.

NPR spoke with Elaine Khosrova, who penned "Butter: A Rich History." According to her book, people have been cooking with butter for millennia, possibly as far back as 8,000 B.C. And the number of recipes that call for butter — ranging from a single tablespoon to several cups — is seemingly endless. With so many of today's consumers turning to social media and blogs for meal inspiration, it's easy to become overwhelmed with the options. But if you have TikTok installed on your phone, there's a particular butter-centric hashtag you may soon become quite infatuated with.

Most social networks consist of various user communities, which can often be discovered via clickable hashtags. For TikTokers who enjoy spending time in the kitchen and/or get a kick out of watching others prepare unique eats on camera, it's easy to spend hours scrolling through the app for culinary inspiration. And if you happen to be seeking new ways to spruce up your butter, look no further than #buttertok — a series of videos demonstrating colorful, flavorful, buttery goodness. With well over 200 million collective views, it's safe to say that people love butter.

Bakers, home cooks, and professional chefs from around the globe show their audiences how to churn butter from scratch; how to trial different blends of herbs, spices, and other flavors you can add to butter; how to properly slice and store it, and so many more hacks. For example, as one viewer declared, this wild garlic butter recipe from @thomas_straker "looks incredible." Another butter admirer even remarked, "I come back and watch this every 25 mins." Also, you have yet another reason to use your stand mixer, thanks to @al.brady's how-to for homemade butter. Exploring the #buttertok hashtag may also introduce you to shrimp, chili, and seaweed butter flavors to name a few, not to mention the many recipes for mouthwatering baked goods. Fair warning: Videos may cause instant hunger. You're welcome.