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Need softened butter in a pinch? With just ten minutes and my methods for how to soften butter quickly, you can bring even the coldest of butter to room temperature fast.
How many times have you opened a recipe, gathered all your ingredients – and discovered you needed softened butter? For me, it’s more times than you can count. Luckily, getting softened butter doesn’t mean waiting around for an hour – there’s an easier way. With just a bowl, a plate, some water, and your microwave, you can save time with this amazing kitchen hack.
How to soften butter quickly
The Bowl Method: Unwrap your butter, cut it into even slices, and place it on a plate. Add a cup of water into a heatproof bowl, then place in the microwave and heat for 2 minutes until the bowl has started to steam. Take it out and let it sit for 30 seconds.
Then, pour away the water, put the warm bowl over the plate with the butter, and leave for ten minutes. The heat from the bowl will soften the butter! If you’re softening sticks of butter, you can use a tall glass instead of a bowl with the same method!
The softened butter is now ready to use. My favorite way to transform it is to make garlic herb compound butter. You might also need it for baking recipes like pineapple cake, coconut cake, pinwheel cookies, or frosting recipes like this vanilla buttercream.
FAQs
The most obvious difference is the form it takes – softened butter remains as a solid whereas melted butter is a liquid. Using melted butter in a recipe produces a particular consistency in the finished food, so it’s not a replacement.
Technically, yes, but be careful. It doesn’t take long for butter to melt in the microwave – sometimes, less than a minute. Do it in 2-3 second bursts, checking the butter each time. I recommend using the above bowl method rather than just putting butter in the microwave.
You should be able to slice through the softened butter easily with a knife, and when you push it with your finger, it should leave an indent.
Yes, but you may find it softens the butter too much. Butter left at room temperature for a long time can spoil it and cause it to gather dirt and dust. Try these quicker methods to keep your butter clean and ready to use.
If you use this method to soften butter, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
The Best Way To Soften Butter Quickly
Equipment
- Bowl
- plate
Ingredients
- 1 pack butter or as needed
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Slice your butter into equal slices and place them on a plate.
- Add a cup of water to a bowl and microwave for about 2 minutes until the water is hot. Leave to stand for 30 seconds, then pour away the water.
- Cover the plate with the butter with the warmed bowl and leave for 10 minutes to soften the butter.
Thanks for the tip!