Ah, butter! It's one of those essential ingredients that we just love in cooking—and don't even get us started on all the butter used in our favorite holiday treats. In fact, stocking up on butter before Christmas is practically required for all those cookies and pies. But wait—did you remember to take out the butter to soften it?
When a recipe calls for softened butter, you might start to panic when you realize that your butter is still hanging out in the fridge! Don't worry, because we're here to help with some quick and easy tricks for softening butter.
But first—why exactly do you need to know how to soften butter? If your butter is too cold, you'll have a hard time mixing it in with the rest of the ingredients, which could result in a lumpy, uneven dough. If it's too melted, your baked goods will wind up (gasp!) dense and flat. Softened butter is somewhere in between cold butter and melted butter.
So, what's the best way to soften butter quickly? There are a bunch of tricks on the internet these days, but deciphering which ones work and which you should avoid isn't always easy. Luckily, The Pioneer Woman test kitchen weighed in on the matter and found the best ways to soften butter quickly.
1. Plan ahead.
This one might seem obvious—and it may not be the quickest one on the list—but leaving your butter out on the counter only takes 30 to 60 minutes for it to soften. You’ll know you've reached the ideal softness when the butter is easily indented when pinched with your fingers without losing its shape.
2. Dice the butter.
This method will help speed up the process of softening your butter on the counter. Simply cut the stick of butter into small cubes to allow it to soften at a quicker speed.
3. Grate it.
Using the large holes of box grater, you can grate your stick of butter to create shavings that will soften in minutes! This method also works if you're dealing with frozen butter.
4. Hit it with a rolling pin.
Looking to relieve some stress? Try taking it out on your butter by pounding the cold butter with a rolling pin! Just be sure to place the butter between two pieces of wax paper, then flatten the butter by hitting it or rolling it with your pin.
5. Use a cup of hot water.
This technique is one you might have seen on TikTok—and our test kitchen confirmed, it really does work! Here's how to do it: Microwave water in a glass (alternatively, boil water in a kettle, then pour into a glass). After you fill up the glass, pour it out. Then, set the hot glass over your stick of butter. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes and the butter will soften.
6. Use the microwave.
In a pinch, you can microwave your butter so long as you follow a few simple rules: It's best to microwave at 20 to 30% power, in five to 10 second intervals. (This will prevent the butter from melting too quickly.) Rotate the stick of butter to a new side on all four sides, after each interval. Once you can leave an indent in the butter when pinched or pressed, it's ready.
