How to Soften Butter Quickly

Simple Tip: Soften Butter on the Stovetop

April 26, 2010

If I'm too lazy to grate butter, but need it to be softened for a recipe, I turn to the oven for help. I have a gas stove and when the oven is on, the stovetop gets pretty hot, too. I place the wrapped butter sticks on the stove. The heat from the oven softens the butter in just a couple of minutes. Don't forget to rotate the butter, so it gets evenly softened on all sides. Voilà! Instant soft butter.

What's your trick for rapidly softening butter?

11 Comments

laurenot 3 years 3 weeks

always place the seam side up!

GummiBears 3 years 4 weeks

I do this all of the time, I thought it was just me being so lackadaisical about butter.

3 years 4 weeks

I do that gas top thing all the time!

Spectra 3 years 4 weeks

I put it on a stoneware plate and set it on the preheated oven so it doesn't melt too quickly. If it's for a recipe that doesn't involve the stove, I put it in a bowl in the mic for 10 seconds.

POPSUGAR Food 3 years 4 weeks

I do this all the time, and never realized that anybody else ever did it!

RoaringSilence 3 years 4 weeks

I've never NOT forgotten about it and had to wipe it off the counter :/

bofangels 3 years 4 weeks

When i make cookies, i always melt my butter completely. I like the texture better. So it doesn't matter if it's frozen.

limelindsey 3 years 4 weeks

I put mine in the microwave. I use the "bread" setting, which is 10 seconds on medium (I'm pretty sure anyway - I know it's not high). I do 1 bread, then flip the butter cube over and do another bread. Perfectly softened! Might not work for all microwaves but it works for me!

girlA 3 years 4 weeks

This is also a great place to allow bread to rise.

3 years 4 weeks

Another method is to cut the butter into thin slices/pats - it only takes about 10 minutes to soften, and no dirty grater or overly melted butter. :)

courtneyd 3 years 4 weeks

Just don't forget to rotate and move the butter, otherwise you'll have a puddle in the wrapper :-) which I've often done. I either use this method, or grating the butter, to get it to soften quickly.

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11 Comments

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