I have been baking for over ten years and just discovered that putting butter in warm water is the quickest way to soften it. I used to leave butter out on the counter for hours, but in winter it often didn’t soften enough. Using the microwave often melts it instead of softening.
Fill a glass or ceramic cup or bowl with hot water (so that it fits over your butter). After a few minutes, immediately cover your butter and drain the water from the container.
Hey Norine,There are various ways to soften butter based on your time frame:
Planning Ahead (30-45 minutes): Leave butter at room temperature on a plate for 30-45 minutes.
Faster Methods (10-20 minutes): Cut butter into cubes and leave at room temperature. Alternatively, use the microwave’s “Defrost” setting in short intervals, checking frequently.
Even Faster Methods (5-10 minutes): Grate cold butter or use a “hot water bath” by placing butter in a bowl over warm water for 5-10 minutes.
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To soften butter quickly, cut it into small pieces and spread them out on a plate for 10-15 minutes at room temperature. Alternatively, microwave the butter in 5-second intervals, rotating it frequently to avoid melting. You can also place the butter in a ziplock bag and submerge it in lukewarm water for a few minutes
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To soften butter, simply leave it out on the counter for 1-2 hours. The exact time depends on the temperature of your kitchen.
Hello Nathan, I appreciate your brief butter-softening advice. It sounds convenient to microwave it for brief periods of time or cut it into small pieces. It’s a terrific idea to use a ziplock bag filled with lukewarm water. I will definitely give these a try. Thank you for the guidance!