Forgot to get your butter out?

By Madison Coiner

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Forgetting to get butter out or wanting to spontaneously make something is a huge problem. You could always put the butter in the microwave but then it may soften too much or begin to melt which can ruin what you’re planning on making.

The ever annoying half melted butter– Photo by Madison Coiner

Something that I’ve found that can help soften butter faster than just leaving it out but not melt it is a warm glass. It sounds strange, but it works. You run hot water over the sides of the glass, then into the glass. Let the hot water sit for a while before dumping it out and covering the butter with the glass. It’ll soften in maybe ten minutes.

“It’s weird but it does really work,” said Lee Anne Coiner about this method.

If you don’t want to wait that long, you can try to soften it with the microwave CAREFULLY!! Set the butter in there and heat for five seconds. Flip the butter to another side and heat for another five seconds. Repeat until the butter is soft enough but not melted.

Depending on how efficient your microwave, the amount of flips will vary. For my personal microwave, it’s about two or three flips. Four if I’m feeling risky.  You should check the butter between intervals before flipping to be safe.

A similar method to the microwave is the double boiler. Place a pot of water on the stove with a bowl that can be safely heated on top of it. Once the water begins to bowl, place the stick of butter in the bowl. In a few minutes, the butter should be soft enough to work with. Again, keep a close eye on it. The butter could melt if left too long, and melted butter could ruin a recipe.

If you do have more time to kill, butter left out in a room will soften in half an hour to an hour. This process can be sped the slightest amount up by cutting the butter into chunks

Good luck on your baking adventures, however you choose to soften you butter. Stay tuned for more recipes, tips and tricks, reviews, and more!