How to Whip Butter

Whipped butter has many culinary uses, including being a popular ingredient in baked goods. Its easy spreadability makes it ideal in food recipes that require cooking and those that don't. Whipping butter can even postpone the butter's expiration date.

Instructions

1. Place sticks of butter on a kitchen counter. Let them soften for a few hours at room temperature.

2. Assemble beaters on a hand-held electric mixer.

3. Spread a cloth on the kitchen counter.

4. Set a heavy bowl on the cloth to guard against slipping.

5. Unwrap the sticks of butter and place the butter in the bowl.

6. Plug in the electric mixer and hold it in the bowl.

7. Turn on the electric mixer to medium speed.

8. Whip the butter for a few minutes. Add a bit of olive oil or milk to the butter if you'd like to change its consistency or if you are making a specific type of whipped butter.

9. Allow the butter to incorporate air bubbles.

10. Stop the mixer.

11. Scrape solid butter pieces off the bowl's sides with a spatula and continue mixing with the electric mixer until no solid butter is left and the butter is light and fluffy.

12. Spoon the whipped butter into airtight containers. Using airtight containers ensures that the whipped butter doesn't absorb the flavors and odors of neighboring food.

13. Cover the containers and place them in your refrigerator.

14. Use whipped butter in your recipes.

15. Find new ways to use whipped butter. Include a thin layer on your sandwiches to keep liquid fillings from drenching the slices.

Tips & Warnings

• To use whipped butter as a substitution for regular butter, weigh the whipped butter before adding it to the recipe. Whipped butter can have an overly-voluminous appearance as air bubbles incorporate with the butter. If you don't have access to a scale, use 1/3 to 1/2 more whipped butter than the solid butter measurement that is specified in the recipe.

• Do not turn on the electric mixer while it is outside of the bowl. Doing so could result in splattering.