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Several sticks of butter softened on wood cutting board with one stick showing indention.
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How To Soften Butter FAST (6 Ways!)

Learn How To Soften Butter fast with these 6 easy methods! From grating to simple countertop tricks, get perfectly softened butter in minutes for your favorite cooking or baking recipes.
Author Tawnie Graham of Kroll's Korner

Ingredients

  • Butter

Instructions

Cut It Into Small Cubes

  • Cut butter into small cubes (about ½-inch pieces)
  • Spread butter out on a plate or just leave it on the wrapper is fine, too!
  • Let it sit at room temperature for ~10-20 minutes Start Timer. The increased surface area helps it soften much faster than leaving the stick whole.
    Six images showing how to soften butter quickly but cutting it into small cubes.

Warm Glass Method

  • Fill a glass or measuring cup with hot water.
  • Let it sit for 1 minute Start Timer.
  • Pour out the water.
  • Place the warm glass upside down over the butter and allow it to sit for ~5 minutes. Start Timer
  • If it’s not soft enough, repeat the process again, but be sure it doesn’t get too warm for your recipe.
    Three images showing how to soften butter with warm glass.

Grater, Cheese Slicer, or Potato/Vegetable Peeler

  • Use the large holes of a box grater and grate the cold butter onto a plate, allowing it to sit for ~5-10 minutes Start Timer. The small pieces soften very quickly so this is a great method (especially if your butter is frozen!)
  • You can also use a cheese slicer or potato peeler to make thin ribbons that soften very quickly. I grate over a plate, and allow to sit a few minutes until softened.
    Six images showing how to soften butter by grating it with a cheese grater or vegetable peeler.

Rolling Pin and SMASH!

  • Place butter between two sheets of parchment paper or in a ziplock baggie.
  • Pound and smash that butter until malleable. Also satisfying to get any frustrations out! haha
  • Allow to sit ~5 minutes. Start Timer
  • A large surface area brings the butter to room temperature more quickly.
    Six images showing how to soften butter with rolling pin.

Sweatpants (LOL trust me)

  • Okay, so it doesn’t have to be sweats, but take the wrapped butter and tuck it in your waistband for ~10-15 minutes Start Timer. I do this quite often, while I am gathering all my other ingredients for the recipe, the butter is softening thanks to my body temperature. Check it every few minutes and flip the stick if you need to!

Microwave (not my favorite but it does work!)

  • Microwave in short 5 second bursts, flipping between bursts.
  • This method is just a little risky which is why it’s not my favorite!

Notes

Butter should be ~65-68°F for perfectly softened butter. Your finger should leave an indentation when you press on it, it should bend without breaking, and not feel warm. Too warm butter will look greasy or shiny.