Are you one of those who leave butter on the kitchen counter at room temperature, or are you in the camp that prefers to keep it in the fridge? If you’re one of those people who stores butter in the fridge at all times, you’ll appreciate a way to soften it quickly afterwards so it’s easy to work with.

Some people simply take the butter out of the fridge early and let it soften at room temperature. Others put it in the microwave and hope it doesn’t get too hot, and still others grate it on a grater. There are also people who try to roll it out with a dough roller. And quite possibly there are other ways. Which of these ways is the most reliable? And why is it necessary to soften the butter in the first place?

I don’t think there’s any need to make a big deal out of buttering a roll. But it’s worse if you’re using the butter for baking. Many recipes for cakes, pastries or biscuits require softened butter. Its different consistency could make a lot of mischief when it comes to the dough and subsequent baking. It’s just one of those details that can make all the difference.

What about the temperature of the butter?

What does softened butter actually mean in terms of its temperature? Softened butter is butter that is a cool 16 degrees Celsius, but sometimes the ideal temperature is two degrees higher. However, we can certainly talk about the fact that if softened butter is needed for a recipe, it should be between 15 and 19 degrees.

How to soften butter

All you need to soften butter effectively is a jar and water. And, of course, the butter itself. You can, of course, use a whole cube of butter or weigh out the amount you’ll need for the recipe. Then pour the tap water into the glass bowl. Choose a bowl that you can put in the microwave. Once heated, the steam from the hot water is then the key to softening the butter quickly.

Just pour two cups of water into the bowl and then heat this water in the microwave for three minutes. The important thing is that it starts to steam. Then you won’t need the water. It has played its role perfectly and you can pour it out. Be careful not to let the steam scald your face. Next, place the butter in the wrapper on the line and place the inverted bowl on top of the butter. The steam will help the butter to soften. However, it won’t do so right away. You will have to wait ten minutes.