#HealthyHowTo: Soften Butter Without the Wait

“Add softened butter.”

It sounds so simple. So unassuming. But anyone who has ever cooked anything knows how frustrating it can be to arrive at that step in a recipe. That’s because softening butter is something of an art. Sure, you can microwave it. But oftentimes that ends in a liquidy mess that can compromise the quality of your recipe. Or, you can opt for the let-it-melt method. Just be prepared to clear your calendar because waiting for rock-hard butter to break down can take quite a chunk of time.

The next time a recipe calls for softened butter, let the worry melt away. Try our simple method to speed up the wait time while preserving the quality of this culinary staple.

Grab a cheese grater and grate the butter onto a cutting board or into a bowl. Wait five minute and it will softened up and be ready to use!