In the United States? Yes. Every standard stick you grab at the grocery store—Land O'Lakes, store brand, the fancy European stuff—they all follow the same rule. Each stick is wrapped with markings right on the paper. Look closely. You'll see little lines for tablespoons and cups.
That quarter cup? It's usually the third line from the end. Or just slice the whole stick in half, then cut that half in half. Boom. You've got four perfect little butter pats, and one of them is your quarter cup. It's like edible geometry.
But what about "half of a stick"?
I know, I know. That sounds weird. You can't just toss a half-stick of butter into a recipe and call it a day. But you can! Most butter wrappers already show you the half-stick portion. It's usually the second line from the end. If you're feeling lazy—and who isn't?—just cut it right there.
And yes, that half-stick is exactly four tablespoons. Another fun fact: a quarter cup is also four tablespoons. So, if your measuring spoons are MIA (they always are, right?), just use the butter's own wrapping as your ruler. The butter wrapper is a tiny, delicious map.
1/4 Cup Butter Is How Much Of A Stick | Detroit Chinatown
