Softening Butter the Right Way

For as long as I have been cooking, I always knew there was a reason I should be softening butter before using it. However, I have always had this cognitive dissonance with this task — I am impatient.

So, if I needed to soften a stick of butter, what would I do? Stick it in the microwave. Oftentimes, I wasn’t careful about the time in the microwave. Then, before I knew it, the butter was bubbling.

Now, that’s not to say that you can’t soften butter in the microwave. You can. It’s just there is a right way and a wrong way to to do it.

Also, it’s not the only way. So read on for the best ways for softening butter.

Why You Need To Use Softened Butter in Baking

We all love butter, but let’s face it, when you’re ready to start baking and discover your butter is hard as a rock, it’s, well, a pain in the butt…er. Not to worry, we tested several methods for how to soften butter quickly and came up with five of the fastest and easiest options.

You know what I mean, right? You’re just about to whip up a batch of cookies or you’re in the middle of baking a cake when you realize you forgot to take the butter out of the refrigerator or freezer. Or, you’re sitting down to breakfast and watching your toast get cold while you wait for the butter to soften.

The role soft butter plays in recipes

When it comes to baking, using soft butter is key. Have you ever tried to cream together cold butter and sugar? It’s nearly impossible.

The best first step for softening butter? Bringing it to room temperture. Here’s why.

One, softened butter is dreamy for creaming with sugar. It creates that perfect fluffy base for your cookies and cakes. This is particularly important for recipes that rely on the creaming method, like chocolate chip cookies or classic yellow cakes. It’s what gives these desserts that tender crumb and delicate texture.

Two, using soft or room-temperature butter makes your batter or dough a consistent texture throughout. Cold butter can cause small pockets of butter to remain in the dough, which can lead to uneven baking. Soft butter will mix more evenly and consistently with the other ingredients, resulting in a more uniform texture.

Three, using soft butter in baking gives cookies and cakes more rise. Cold butter can slow down the chemical reaction between the baking powder or soda and the other ingredients in the recipe. This can result in a denser final product. Soft butter, on the other hand, can help to speed up this reaction, resulting in a higher, fluffier cake or cookie.

Overall, when a recipe calls for it, using softened butter or butter at room temperature will ensure that your cakes and cookies have the right texture and taste. It makes the dough easier to mix, resulting in a more uniform consistency and a better rise, it also leads to a more delicate and tender crumb. 

The methods for softening butter

We’ve found that there are five ways that are the best ways for softening butter. One of them we’ve already mentioned but perhaps not clearly enough.

So, let’s outline the best ways to get butter to the consistency you need it to be for baking. Note: many of these are designed for last-minute, OMG-I-forgot-to-take-the-butter-out-of-the-refrigerator moments. In other words, you needed the butter softened hours ago and you have to bake right now, such as you’re making no bake chocolate icebox cake

Microwave Method

This is probably the most well-known method, and for good reason. It’s quick and it works like a charm, as long as you don’t leave it in the microwave for to long. Of this, I am guilty.

All you need is a microwave-safe dish and a microwave, plus the butter. Here’s what you do:

• Cut the butter into small cubes or slices.
• Place the butter in the microwave-safe dish.
• Microwave the butter on low power for about 10–15 seconds. It’s very important to use the low-power option on your microwave here or you’ll end up with a pool of melted butter.
• Check the butter after 10 seconds, if it’s not quite soft yet, give it another 5–10 seconds.
• Be careful not to melt the butter, you just want it to be soft and spreadable.

Hot Water Method

This method is a little bit more hands-on, but it’s still pretty easy. All you need is a bowl and some hot water. Here’s what you do:

• Cut the butter into small cubes or slices.
• Place the butter in a bowl.
• Fill a saucepan with hot water and place the bowl of butter on top of the saucepan, making sure the bowl is not touching the water.
• The heat from the hot water will soften the butter. It should only take a couple of minutes.
• Once the butter is soft, remove it from the bowl and it’s ready to use.

Rolling Pin Method

This method requires a rolling pin (or in a real pinch, use something else like a wine bottle or a large jar), but it’s a great option if you’re in a hurry and don’t have access to a microwave or hot water. Here’s what you do:

Place the butter on a cutting board or a clean surface. 

• Using a rolling pin, gently press down on the butter, rolling back and forth.
• The pressure from the rolling pin will soften the butter.
• To keep the cutting board and rolling pin clean, you can lay a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap both under and on top of the butter before rolling it.

The Grater Method

If you’re in a real hurry and all else fails, this is your last resort. All you need is a box grater. Here’s what you do:

• Take the butter and grate it using the large holes of a box grater.
• The small pieces of butter will quickly come to room temperature and they’ll be soft and ready to use.

Room Temperature Method

Finally, the gold standard method of getting butter to room temperature. Sure, this method takes a little bit longer, but it’s perfect if you’re planning ahead. All you need is some time and a cool room. Here’s what you do:

• Take the butter out of the fridge and leave it on the counter for about 30 minutes to an hour.
• The butter will gradually soften as it comes to room temperature.
• Once it’s soft, it’s ready to use.

Ways to use Softened Butter

There are a million ways to use softened butter. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Use in recipes that call for room temperature butter, like cookies, cakes, and enriched breads like this Chocolate Orange Babka.
• Sprinkle it over popcorn for a delicious and buttery treat.
• Mix it into mashed potatoes or cauliflower — it will melt and blend in quickly for an extra rich and creamy side dish.

Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.