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How to Soften Butter Quickly

Does your recipe call for softened butter but you forgot to take the butter out of the fridge?  Or may be, it’s still in the freezer — “oh là là”, what to do?  No problem, we have a solution for you that is quick (no need to leave the butter on the kitchen counter for a while) and will not unevenly heat up the butter — as would the microwave for example (which can be an issue with some recipes).  Although, we typically have softened butter in the cupboard (soft enough to butter our tartine in the morning for breakfast), we have been in this situation before and this old tip works like a charm!

Baking Tip: How to Soften Butter Quickly 

This baking tip will soften butter just enough so you can use it in any recipe that calls for room temperature butter or softened butter. So check Art of the Home tip below on how to soften butter quickly and bring the “softer side” of your butter stick!

Easy Tip on How to Soften Butter Quickly

Grand Fermage: French sea salt butterFrench Salted Butter with Seal Salt from the Island of Noirmoutier in Vendée, France

Art of the Home Tip: How to Soften Butter Quickly

To quickly get softened butter, grab your butter stick (or the piece of butter you want to soften) with a piece of aluminium foil.  Grate the butter with your cheese grater/lemon zester.  You will get soft butter flakes that will be ready to be used in any cake or cookie recipe.  Et voilà!


    

Comments

  1. Darlita says:
    September 22, 2011 at 8:05 am

    Interesting. I couldn’t tell you the number of time I’ve been in this situation of having to soften butter quickly. I’ll try this next time.

    Thanks for the tip:)

  2. Art of the Home says:
    September 22, 2011 at 8:30 am

    Sure Darlita. We’ve been in that situation also quite a few times and although we do use the microwave too when it it doesn’t matter if the butter is heated unevenly or even melted, for some recipes (e.g. kneading butter and flour to make dough, creaming butter, etc.), it just doesn’t work, so then we turn to our grater/zester, love it!

  3. Deborah says:
    September 22, 2011 at 9:25 am

    Great tip! I usually try to soften it in the microwave and end up with half melted butter that changes the texture of my baked goods ~ Thank you!

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