How to Bring a Stick of Butter to Room Temperature Fast

Hard butter is difficult to cream.

Melted butter and soft butter have two different consistencies and can't be substituted for one another in baking recipes such as making compound butters -- butters with fresh herbs-- or in a sauce. If you're making a recipe that calls for soft, or room temperature, butter and you've forgotten to take a stick of butter out of the refrigerator, there are two ways to soften it quickly.

Things You'll Need

• bowl
• knife
• microwave
• fork

Instructions

Microwave

1. Place the stick of butter into a glass bowl. Put it in the microwave.

2. Turn the microwave on high for five seconds.

3. Remove the bowl. Slide a knife into the butter. If the butter isn't soft and yielding put it back in the microwave for an additional five seconds. Continue to pulse until the butter spreads easily with the knife.

Without Microwave

1. Cut the butter into 1/2 inch chunks. Place a knife under very hot water and use it to cut the butter in 1/2 inch slices, then into chunks. The heat of the knife helps bring the butter to room temperature. Spread out the chunks in a bowl.

2. Mash the butter with the back of a fork you've heated by holding it under hot water. Dry it off before mashing the butter.

3. Keep mashing the butter until it is soft. Reheat the fork as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Butter goes from soft to melted very quickly in a microwave. Only microwave for five seconds at a time.

• Don't soften the butter in the oven. The outside will melt before the inside is soft.