Brown Butter
What is brown butter and how do you make it? Well, brown butter is ordinary butter cooked until it melts and the milk solids in it turn a golden brown. This cooking process brings out deeper, more complex flavors and aromas in the butter.Brown butter has been around for centuries in French cuisine, where it is known as “beurre noisette.” It is used in savory dishes, baking, and as a finishing touch for pasta and vegetables. Recently, it's become more popular in the United States as both chefs, and home cooks discover its versatility and delicious taste. Bill has used brown butter to top his homemade butternut squash ravioli.Browning butter is incredibly easy and only takes a few minutes. All you need is a pan, some butter and a little bit of patience.It is easiest to see the butter change color if you use a light-color pan for browning. And salted butter is more likely to burn, so use unsalted butter.
Equipment
- 1 Skillet Choose a light-colored skillet, such as the ones we have from All Clad.
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter Always choose unsalted butter as the salted kind burns more easily.
Instructions
- Cut the butter into pieces. Since a stick of butter has eight tablespoon, cut into eight pieces.
- Place the pieces in the pan over medium heat.
- Stir as it melts and begins to foam.
- It will get less foamy as it cooks, and the butter will turn golden brown. This will take 5–8 minutes.
- Once the butter has reached a nice golden brown color and has a nutty smell, take the pan off the heat and immediately pour it into a bowl. If you leave it in the hot pan, it will continue to cook and it might burn.
Notes
The butter is browned as soon as you start to see brown specks in it. It will have a nutty, toasty scent and a deep golden brown color.
Once the butter is properly browned, immediately take the pan off the heat and continue stirring. The butter will burn if overcooked. If the butter burns, it will be bitter and you’ll need to toss it in the bin. The bitter flavor will ruin any dish you add it to.
The main difference between these two types of butter is the flavor. Brown butter has a bold, deep, toasted flavor that ordinary butter lacks.
Brown butter can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, but it's best when used within a few days.
Nutrition
Calories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 0.01gProtein: 0.1gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 2mgPotassium: 3mgSugar: 0.01gVitamin A: 353IUCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.003mg
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values, if included with the recipe, are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability/substitution and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!