Butter Wrapper Markings Decoded: Visual Guide to Measuring Exactly 1/3 Cup
By Alexander Ross
Geography affects how you view these increments across North America. East of the Rocky Mountains, standard butter adheres to the "Elgin" format: long, slender sticks measuring roughly 4.8 inches long and 1.3 inches wide. West of the Rockies, dairy plants historically used "Western stubby" or "squat" packaging: shorter, thicker blocks measuring 3.1 inches long and 1.5 inches wide.
Both shapes weigh exactly 113.4 grams (4 ounces) and contain 8 tablespoons. However, the spacing between individual tablespoon tick marks on a Western squat stick is nearly 35 percent narrower than on an Elgin stick. Slicing that extra 1/3 tablespoon increment requires greater knife control on Western sticks. A sharp, straight-edged chef knife should be used rather than a serrated blade, which tears the paper and drags cold dairy fat across the cutting board.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
