If you use your microwave to quickly soften butter for baking, you know that the difference between "perfectly soft" and "melty mess" is a matter of seconds. But before you grab a fresh stick to start over, check out America's Test Kitchen's great tip for reviving overly soft butter — all it takes is a couple minutes and a few ice cubes.
To save partially melted butter, place it in a bowl with a few ice cubes and stir. In less than a minute, the butter will quickly cool and solidify to the soft texture you are looking for. Simply remove the ice cubes and proceed with the recipe. (The small amount of water that has melted into the butter won't affect the finished product.)
Keep in mind this method won't work with completely melted butter, so if you are looking at a puddle at the bottom of the bowl, it's best to save that butter for another use and start again with a fresh stick.
Do you have any tips or tricks for saving overly soft butter?
Related: What Is the Best Way To: Soften Butter?
(Image: nastiakru/Shutterstock)
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Well that's a neat trick. Even though I generally prefer to let my butter sit out to soften, my sister's microwave has a button for softening butter and cream cheese. It does the trick in a pinch.
I've never had luck softening butter in the microwave. I prefer to cut it into small chunks and leave it on the counter. It doesn't take too long to soften if it's already cut up.
Also, grating by hand with a cheese grater or in the food processor helps. Increased surface area = faster temperature change (and easier integration too)!
Just add garlic to your over melted butter, throw in the fridge and re-melt when making garlic toast, sauteing vegetables, etc...