Culinary connoisseurs in various parts of the world certainly know that butter is one of the ingredients that must be used to make various types of snacks and main dishes. Before processing, generally butter must be softened first. So, what if you forget to leave the butter at room temperature so that the texture is still frozen when you use it? Don't worry, there are actually a few tips you can apply to soften butter quickly. Most importantly, do not heat it with a temperature that is too high so that the butter does not melt, yes!
Step
Method 1 of 5: Chopping Butter in Small Sizes
Step 1. Measure out the required portion of butter
Cut and measure the butter before softening so that the remaining butter doesn't change shape. To find out how much you need, read your recipe carefully and measure out the butter with the help of a measuring spoon or kitchen scale.
If the butter is still in the package, an accurate guide on how much butter should be listed there
Step 2. Cut the butter to a thickness of 2.5 cm using a very sharp knife
Make sure that each piece of butter is the same size so that it softens evenly throughout. Separate each piece of butter so it doesn't stick together, especially since doing so can slow down the softening process.
Increasing the surface area of the butter will make it soften faster
Step 3. Let the butter sit at room temperature for 10-20 minutes
Place the butter pieces on a plate and cover the surface with a baking sheet or aluminum foil to prevent contamination. Keep the butter out of direct sunlight so it doesn't melt! Let the butter sit for about 20 minutes until it's really soft and easy to spread.
Tip:
If you want, you can soften one stick of butter at a time so you don't have to worry about needing it again at a later date.
Method 2 of 5: Grind Butter
Step 1. Place the butter between two sheets of wax paper
First, spread a piece of wax paper on the kitchen table, then place as many pieces of butter as needed in the middle. Then, spread the second sheet of waxed paper back over the butter and press down firmly to keep it from shifting. Make sure the two sheets of paper are the same size so that the butter is evenly distributed.
If you want, you can also cut the butter into squares before rolling
Step 2. Beat the butter with a rolling pin 3 to 4 times to flatten it
Keeping the wax paper in position with your non-dominant hand, then beat the butter with a rolling pin with your dominant hand 3 to 4 times to flatten it. Make sure the thickness of all the butter is the same, yes!
Warning:
Beat the butter as soon as you take it out of the fridge or freezer, as the softened butter will splatter in all directions when you beat it.
Step 3. Roll out the butter with a rolling pin
Once the butter is slightly flattened, hold the rolling pin with both hands, then roll out the butter as if rolling a dough. Try to produce butter that is 0.3 to 0.6 cm thick to maximize its surface area. Once the butter has been rolled, remove the wax paper covering the surface.
Step 4. Let the butter sit at room temperature for 5 minutes
The butter should feel really soft after rolling. However, keep it at room temperature for 5 minutes to maximize the softening process. Once the butter has softened completely, remove the wax paper covering it and mix the butter with the other ingredients.
Since softened butter may stick to the surface of the wax paper, try scraping it off with a knife to remove it
Method 3 of 5: Grate Butter
Step 1. Measure out the amount of butter required in the recipe
To find out the right amount, try looking at the instructions on the butter package and then chopping the butter with a very sharp knife. If the butter has been removed from the package, or if the dosing guide isn't listed on the butter package, try measuring with a measuring spoon or kitchen scale.
Step 2. Grate the butter into a bowl
Use the side of the grater that has the largest hole size so that the results are easier to process into various snacks. Hold the grater with one hand and the piece of butter with the other over a clean bowl so that the grated can fall straight into the bowl. After that, press the butter into the cross section of the grater, then move it up and down until it is completely grated.
- Just move the butter up and down instead of moving the grater. Trust me, the method will feel much easier to practice.
- Butter will be easier to grate if it has just been removed from the refrigerator or freezer.
Tip:
If you don't want to get your hands dirty, grate the butter without opening the entire package.
Step 3. Wait for the butter to soften, about 5 minutes, before turning it into a variety of snacks
Leave the butter in the bowl and place the bowl at room temperature for 5 minutes. This method is effective in softening the butter and making it easier to mix with the other ingredients.
- Grated butter works best for crumble toppings or shortbread because it mixes very easily with the other ingredients.
- If desired, you can grate the butter directly into a bowl containing the other ingredients requested in the recipe.
Method 4 of 5: Using the Double-Boiling Method
Step 1. Heat 500 ml of water in a saucepan
Pour the water into a saucepan and heat it over medium heat until the steam comes out. Once the steam has formed, reduce the heat.
The water does not need to be boiled so that the temperature is not too hot
Step 2. Place a glass or metal bowl in the pan
Make sure that the size of the bowl matches the diameter of the pot so that the heating process is perfect. Then, heat the bowl for 1-2 minutes until it's warm to the touch.
If there is a special double boiler pan, use it
Step 3. Put the butter in a bowl to soften it
Place as much butter as needed in the bowl and monitor the condition. In particular, the very hot steam from the pan will heat the bowl quickly. As a result, the butter will gradually soften. To check the texture, try pressing the surface of the butter with a spoon. If the butter crumbles easily when touched with a spoon, immediately remove the bowl from the pan.
Remove the bowl before the butter starts to melt
Warning:
Because glass or metal bowls can be very hot, remember to wear heat-resistant gloves when touching or handling them.
Method 5 of 5: Heating Butter in the Microwave
Step 1. Cut butter cubes to a thickness of 1.3 cm
First of all, cut the butter according to the amount requested in the recipe. After that, use the same knife to cut squares of butter to a thickness of 1.3 cm so that it softens faster. Place all the butter pieces in a microwave-safe container.
Butter doesn't have to be chopped, although doing so can make it soften faster in the microwave
Step 2. Heat the butter in the microwave for 5 seconds
Place the bowl of butter in the center of the microwave and heat for 5 seconds. Monitor the process to make sure the butter doesn't melt! After 5 seconds have elapsed, check the texture of the inside of the butter by pressing it with a spoon or your fingers.
In most microwaves, the texture of the butter will not completely soften after 5 seconds of heating
Tip:
If you can change the intensity or temperature of the microwave, try setting it on the lowest setting to prevent the butter from melting.
Step 3. Reheat the butter in 5 second intervals until the butter is completely soft, but not melted
If the butter is still firm after the first 5 seconds, try reheating it for another 5 seconds until it's completely soft and ready to use.
Since butter melts very easily in the microwave, turn off the microwave immediately when the butter is really soft
Tips
- Place a stick of butter at room temperature so that the softened butter is readily available whenever needed.
- Use unsalted butter so as not to affect the taste of the snack.
