To keep butter fresh for a long time, it should be stored in the refrigerator. However, this also has the disadvantage that the cold butter is quite complex and cannot be spread straight away. If you don’t take it out in time before breakfast and let it warm up a little at room temperature, it can at least not be used to smear bread. However, there are a few useful tricks you can use to soften butter quickly.
Soften the butter very quickly – this is how it works
To soften butter, all you need is a more giant bowl than the butter container, pot holders or cotton cloth, a saucepan or kettle, water, and the butter. And you’re ready to go!
- Bring the water to a boil either on the stove or in the cooker.
- While the water is heating up, you can position the bowl in the sink.
- As soon as the water is hot enough, you use it to rinse the bowl.
- Now pot holders or cloths are used: They should protect your hands from burns when you lift the bowl out of the basin. Now you only have to put the hot rinsed bowl over the butter for about a minute. Complete!
Soften the butter for baking
If you only need the butter for baking and don’t have to arrange it nicely on the table, there are two other ways to soften it.
1. Cut butter into small pieces
Cut the large, hard block of butter into small cubes and place it in a warm place. The small pieces heat up faster and can then be used more quickly.
2. A rolling pin as an aid
Alternatively, you can soften the butter with a rolling pin. Put the piece in a sealable plastic bag, place it on the table, and roll over it with the rolling pin. After a short time, the butter is flat and soft.
Defrost frozen butter faster
Butter that has been frozen in the freezer is particularly hard. But this butter can also be softened faster – if you know how to do it. There are the following options:
- Frozen butter can be softened quickly in the microwave. However, you shouldn’t wait too long if you don’t want to meet them completely. First, let thaw on one side for 10 seconds, then turn over and warm up for another 10 seconds.
- Frozen butter can also be sliced with a cheese grater. This works fine as long as the butter is still hard. The flakes have a larger surface area, which means that the butter can soften more quickly. Ideal for cooking and baking!
Can you freeze-thawed butter again?
If you don’t fully use thawed butter, many wonder whether you can freeze it again. Yes, it is possible – but only if it has not already been heated. If this is the case, you can unfortunately no longer freeze it, even if it is cold again.
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