5 from 60 votes
How to Soften Butter (4 ways)
This guide presents four distinct methods for softening butter: microwaving at a low power with turn intervals, cubing butter and leaving it on the countertop, using residual steam under a warmed cup, and pounding the butter thin with a rolling pin before resting it. These approaches facilitate softened butter suitable for baking or spreading without melting it.
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings:
8
servings
Calories:
101 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Ingredients
- 1 tick butter
Instructions
Microwave
- Place unwrapped butter in 200W microwave and set power level to 5 or 50%
- Cook for a total of 35 seconds, stopping and turning the butter ¼ turn every 10 seconds. Remove from the microwave and use as desired.
Cup of Yum
Countertop/Cubed
- Unwrap butter and cut into cubes. Allow to sit out for 30 minutes on the countertop before using.
Steaming Cup
- Place water in a microwave safe glass and heat it for about 1 minute. Pour the water out of the cup and place the cup over the unwrapped stick of butter.
- Allow 5 minutes to soften the butter and then leave the butter out on the countertop for 10 more minutes before using.
Countertop/Pounded
- Unwrap butter and place into a large ziploc bag or sandwich between two pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper.
- Using a solid wood rolling pin (not a rolling pin with handles as it could break) pound the butter until it is ½ to ¼ inch thick. Allow to sit out for 10 minutes on the countertop before using.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1 TBSP
Calories
101kcal
(5%)
Carbohydrates
1g
(0%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
11g
(17%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Cholesterol
30mg
(10%)
Sodium
101mg
(4%)
Potassium
3mg
(0%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
353IU
(7%)
Calcium
3mg
(0%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 101
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 TBSP | |
| Calories | 101kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 1g | 0% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 30mg | 10% |
| Sodium | 101mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 3mg | 0% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 353IU | 7% |
| Calcium | 3mg | 0% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.