We know you’re in a hurry, but don’t skip this step.

For example, how to bring youringredients to room temperaturequickly.

But how exactly can you tell when your butter is ready to go?

butter in a plate isolated on a white background

Credit: Getty Images

Why Is It Important To Soften Butter?

(Note: Some recipes will call for melted butter and were developed with these properties in mind.)

How Long Does Butter Need To Soften?

To soften butter, we recommend leaving it on the kitchen counter for 30 minutes to an hour.

Keep in mind that the speed at which your butter will soften depends on the temperature of your kitchen.

Make cuts:To speed up the softening process, cut the amount of butter needed into small cubes.

The smaller pieces take less time to soften.

Cold butter:For very cold butter or butter that has beenfrozen,grate it with a box grater.

The shreds will take only minutes to soften.

Be careful not to go overboard with this method, as the butter can become too soft quickly.

Butter is at room temperature when you could gently press it and make a small indention with your finger.

Your touch should be light and should not sink in too far into the butter.

It should feel slightly cool still, not warm, and look smooth, not greasy.

Now, onto the bigger question: Should you usesalted or unsalted butterfor baking?