Do you ever find yourself melting butter for a recipe, only to have it solidify by the time you’re done cooking? It’s frustrating, but don’t worry – you’re not alone. This happens to a lot of people, and there are ways to prevent it from happening.
In this blog post, we’ll teach you how to keep melted butter from solidifying, why butter solidifies after being melted, and the most efficient ways to use melted butter in your kitchen.
How to Keep Melted Butter from Solidifying
A butter warmer is the best way to keep melted butter from solidifying. The warmer is able to keep the butter at a consistent temperature so that it stays warm enough to remain a liquid. This is best if you are using the butter for dipping or as part of a recipe.
Why Does Butter Solidify After Melting?
The chemical structure of butter is such that when it’s heated, the butterfat molecules begin to break down and separate from the water and milk solids.
This causes the butter to become a liquid consistency once it has been heated but in order to keep the butter liquid you must keep it at the same high temperatures.
When butter cools, those butterfat molecules will re-form and solidify but not all the butter will re-form. Instead, you’ll have patches of the butter that has solidified while other parts of the butter remain in liquid form.
You can actually cause your butter to solidify if you have melted too much of it that we will cover later in this article.
There are multiple ways you can avoid this happening if you need to use your liquid butter for a specific recipe or as a dipping sauce for your meal.
Best Ways to Keep Your Butter Melted
The easiest, but probably most expensive option, is going to be a butter warmer. This is a small appliance that you can purchase that will sit on your counter and keep the butter melted at a consistent temperature.
All you have to do is put the butter into the device and wait for the butter to start to melt and eventually it will become entirely liquid.
You may want to cut up the butter into several smaller pieces so that it can melt more evenly and you won’t have to wait as long as you would have if the butter were in one piece.
If you don’t want to spend the money on a butter warmer, there are still some things you can do to help keep your butter melted.
You can also use just warm food to keep the butter from solidifying as quickly. Dipping some hot crab legs will help keep the temperature of the butter warm so it doesn’t immediately start to solidify.
Clarified butter doesn’t solidify like normal butter does because the fat has been taken out of the butter which is what causes it to solidify.
You can make your own clarified butter at home by melting the butter and then skimming the top till the fat contents are almost gone.
This will alter the flavor of your butter though and your recipe might not taste the same.
You can also try using an immersion blender to blend the butter until it’s smooth and creamy which will help it to not solidify as quickly.
Can Liquid Butter Turn Back Into Solid Eventually?
If you were to leave your butter sitting at room temperature after it has been melted, eventually it will turn back into a solid.
This is because the butterfat molecules will re-form and will become solid once again.
This may take a good amount of time and your butter won’t look like it did when you first opened the package.
The butter will take the shape of the container you have it in and it will solidify faster if you stuck it in the fridge or even the freezer.
Because this process can take some time, It’s better not to melt your butter unless you are planning on using it right away or within the next few hours.
Are Certain Kinds of Butter Better for Melting?
The more fat content the butter has the more you’ll find it transforms from liquid to solid easily.
If you are looking for a butter that is really good at melting then you’ll want to use one that has very high-fat content.
Clarified butter is known for being really good at staying in liquid form because the water and milk solids have been taken out of it.
This leaves only the butterfat which is what helps to keep it melted for a longer period of time.
Butter is delicious no matter what form it’s in but sometimes you’ll need your butter to stay melted for a specific recipe.
By following these tips, you can keep your butter melted and avoid any clumps or chunks that might form when it starts to solidify.
Conclusion to How to Keep Melted Butter from Solidifying
Some recipes call for liquid butter and you’ll want to become very familiar with the tips above so you can keep your melted butter liquid at all times. This will help your butter from solidifying and changing the way your recipe looks and tastes.
Frequently Asked Questions on How To Keep Melter Butter From Solidifying
How Do You Turn Butter Into a Liquid?
Heating up any kind of butter will turn it into a liquid form. This can be done by using a microwave, stovetop, or even just letting it sit out at room temperature for a while.
How Do You Soften Hardened Butter?
If you have butter that has been kept in a fridge or freezer and you need to soften it quickly, you can cut the butter into smaller pieces and let it sit out on the counter at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.
Can You Resolidify Butter in the Freezer?
You can take liquid butter and throw it in the freezer and it will turn back into a solid form but this may take some time.