Woman Shocked at Backlash After Revealing Toast Habit: 'Should Be in Jail'

Newsweek

7 hours ago

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A woman's unconventional toast-buttering method has sparked fierce debate online after her viral video amassed millions of views on TikTok.
Marf May (@marfmaay), 28, shared a clip showing herself skipping the knife entirely and instead rubbing a cold stick of butter directly onto her slices of warm toast. The method, which she claims is more efficient, split opinion on the app—earning her 46,000 likes, 2.1 million views, and a flurry of conflicting reactions.
"It just feels like the easiest way to do it when the butter is cold from the fridge, it's a nightmare to spread with a knife when it's cold!! And I don't own a butter dish, I was not expecting it to be so controversial, so many people saying it's genius and loads saying I should be in jail for such a crime," May told Newsweek.
In the video, May elaborates on her system, telling viewers she uses one butter stick for general cooking and a separate one just for toast.
A split image showing Marf May's unconventional way of buttering her toast.
A split image showing Marf May's unconventional way of buttering her toast.
marfmaay/marfmaay
She explains that rubbing the cold stick directly onto the warm bread helps it melt quickly, even if a few crumbs get left behind. She asked her followers, "Does that offend people or what's our thoughts?"
While some viewers applauded her approach, others were horrified.
"If you use butter daily, get a butter bell... and keep it on the counter," said TikToker Blair Norsand, referencing a ceramic container designed to keep butter fresh and spreadable at room temperature.
But concerns about hygiene cropped up repeatedly. "The crumbs going mouldy scares me," said Grace.
Another user added: "I'm celiac and will not be eating at your home. But as we don't know each other that's fine."
Others embraced the method. "Guys get a butter bell. I asked for one for my 35th birthday and it's my fav thing. Pack that baby with Lurpak and enjoy life," said one. "IT'S GENIUS and I don't care what anyone else thinks," said Tessa. But others were less convinced, with Jess exclaiming, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING," and Amy admitting, "I applaud you but it also makes me feel uneasy."
"I love it and I hate it, how does that work," Josie summed up.
According to Cornish dairy brand Trewithen Dairy, the proper way to butter toast starts with using real butter at room temperature, ideally stored in a covered dish.
The dairy advises that warm toast is key, as it helps the butter melt evenly without tearing the bread. For best results, they recommend slicing the butter thinly or using a butter curler before applying it with a knife—an approach that keeps things hygienic and avoids crumb contamination.
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