How to Soften Butter

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Quick and easy tricks that will show you how to soften butter in minutes.

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• How To Soften Butter Quickly
• 1. The Microwave Method (it's not what you think)
• 2. The Warm Glass Method (my personal favorite)
• 3. The Rolling Pin Method
• 4. The Box Grater Method (fastest method)
• More Helpful Baking Tips

How To Soften Butter Quickly

As we all know, butter is an extremely important part of almost any baked good. It adds flavor, moisture, texture, and so much more! However, too many people take softened butter as a recipe suggestion rather than a requirement.

If you’ve ever tried substituting softened butter in a recipe for butter that is either way too cold or, on the flip side, half melted, then you’ve seen the baking catastrophes that can occur if your butter isn’t the perfect temperature! Thankfully, I have 4 quick and easy tricks that will soften butter in minutes.

1. The Microwave Method (it's not what you think)

Step 1: Fill a microwave-safe cup or bowl with about 2 cups of water.

Step 2: Microwave the water for 2 minutes until it’s steaming hot. Meanwhile, get your butter ready to go by chopping it into small pieces and placing it in a heat-resistant bowl.

Step 3: As soon as the water is done heating, remove it from the microwave and place the butter inside. Promptly close the microwave door. (Complete this step quickly to trap in as much heat as possible.)

Step 4: Let the butter sit in the closed microwave for 8-10 minutes until soft.

2. The Warm Glass Method (my personal favorite)

Step 1: Stand your stick of butter up on a plate or other flat surface.

Step 2: Fill a tall glass (big enough to cover your butter stick) with water and microwave for 2-3 minutes until boiling. Let the glass of water sit in the microwave for 5 minutes.

Step 3: Remove the glass from the microwave and empty the water from the glass. Immediately place the heated glass over the stick of butter.

Step 4: Let sit for 5-10 minutes until you get perfectly softened butter.

3. The Rolling Pin Method

Step 1: Cut butter into small cubes and place between two pieces of wax paper.

Step 2: Use a rolling pin to roll out or pound the butter flat. Continue this process until the butter is soft.

4. The Box Grater Method (fastest method)

Step 1: Using a box grater, shred your butter using the side with the largest holes onto a plate or piece of wax paper.

That’s it! After grating, the butter will be softened enough to use in your recipe.

More Helpful Baking Tips

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