The butter squishy went viral for one reason: it looks exactly like the block of butter in the fridge. It is a pale yellow rectangular stick with rounded edges, printed in dark blue with SALTED BUTTER and a 4 oz / 113 g label, the way a real wrapper would be. Put it on the kitchen counter and most adults will reach for a knife before they realise.

That printed weight is part of the joke, not a measurement. The toy itself is soft slow-rising PU foam and weighs far less than a real block of butter, which is exactly why it feels so strange in the hand the first time you pick it up.

The foam is the reason it has stayed popular after the novelty wears off. Press a thumb into it and the dent stays for a few seconds before the surface slowly fills back in. Bend it into a wave with both hands and it holds the curve, then straightens itself out. Children find that slow recovery hypnotic, and so do a lot of office workers who keep one next to the keyboard.

Because it is a long stick rather than a ball, it offers more ways to play than most squishies: fold it, twist it, squash one end, stand it on its end on a desk. It is quiet, so it is easy to fidget with in class or during a video call.

Slow-rising foam does not like heat or sharp nails. Keep it off a sunny windowsill, press with fingertips rather than digging in with nails, and it will keep its smooth surface much longer. A damp cloth removes dust; do not soak it, because wet foam takes a long time to dry.

Why this product is worth considering