Hard butter can be softened and ready to spread in minutes by placing one item over it, without using a microwave. The method involves pouring boiling water into a large heatproof glass, such as a Pyrex jug, and leaving it for five minutes to absorb the heat.
After that, the water is tipped out and the empty glass is upturned over the stick of butter, using a tea towel or oven gloves to protect the hand. American content creator and chef Nick DiGiovanni flagged the tip in a video on his YouTube channel, using hot water from the tap rather than boiling it.
How the hack works
DiGiovanni said the method leaves butter nice and soft after five minutes, though the trick may need to be repeated once more if the butter is not as soft as desired by that point. The hack has proved popular on social media and is said to give perfectly soft butter, though it is not quite as quick as a microwave.
Viewers shared their own methods for softening butter in the comments. One person wrote: "I'd personally use the microwave just cus I'm lazy. Still, great tip. Thanks nick." Another wrote: "I always put the butter on a plate, cover it with a bowl, and microwave it for about 10 to 20 seconds. Works every time."
Alternative methods
A third added: "Put it in the microwave and flip a quarter turn every 5 seconds. Perfect soft butter with no melty bits in under 30 seconds." For those with extra time, leaving butter on the counter to melt is an option, while microwaving for a few seconds can risk a runny mess if the timing is not right.
