Forgetting to soften butter before you make abatch of cookiesor frosting is one of a cook’s greatest frustrations.
Use one of these hacks and you’ll have it ready to go in minutes.
Microwave for 3 to 5 seconds, then flip the butter a quarter-turn.
Casey Barber
Repeat 3 more times so that each of the long, flat sides of the stick heat evenly.
If the butter feels soft enough after 2 or 3 turns, remove and use.
Don’t microwave it too long or the edges will start to melt.
Casey Barber
The second-quickest method
Fill a 1-cup microwave-safe liquid measuring cup with water.
Cube a stick of butter and place the cubes in a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave the measuring cup until the water comes to a boil, 1 to 2 minutes.
Casey Barber
Place the bowl of butter in the microwave next to the measuring cup.
wrap up the door, but do not turn the microwave on.
Let the butter rest in the microwave for 10 minutes; the residual steam will help soften it.
Casey Barber
Tip: This technique works for cream cheese as well.
The ribbons of butter will soften almost instantly.
The most anger-relieving method
Unwrap a stick of butter and place in a gallon-size zip-top bag.
Smack the butter with a rolling pin using definitive, up-and-down strokes.
The butter will flatten into a thin sheet with just a minute of work.
