This simple browned butter recipe will answer your browned butter questions and give you easy tips to get it just right! No burnt butter here, just depth of flavor!
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What is browned butter?
Honestly, it is exactly what it sounds like! It is butter that is melted, then cooked slightly until a beautiful golden brown!
What does browning butter do?
What happens to the butter when browning is that, after melting, the butter begins cooking. And in this process, some moisture evaporates from the butter.
The delicious part is that in this cooking process, the milk solids sink to the bottom and turn into golden-brown, caramelized bits of nutty flavorful goodness!
How long does it take to brown butter?
Browning butter can take anywhere from 5-10 minutes but it should not take much longer than that. It just requires being watchful because you can go from browned butter to burnt butter very quickly.
Brown butter vs burnt butter
The difference between browned vs burnt butter, is the color and flavor. The butter will smell and taste burnt. The butter will be a very dark amber-black in color.
Can I brown butter in a microwave?
Yes! Use a microwave safe bowl. Cover because the butter will splatter. Microwave for 2 min, then, for an additional 1-5 min in 30 second increments depending on how much butter and the power of the microwave.
Heat until the butter is golden brown. The perfect brown butter color is an amber to dark amber color depending on flavor preference.
What does brown butter taste like?
Though it does have caramelized milk solids, it certainly does not taste like it sounds! It has a very nutty and toasty flavor. This complex flavor profile adds a depth of flavor to any recipe you add it to. My family’s favorite is our browned butter chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Can you brown salted butter?
Yes! You can use salted or unsalted butter, depending on what your recipe calls for.
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Is brown butter healthy?
Although brown butter is considered to be healthier than regular butter, I could not find reliable scientific research to support this claim.
Browned butter Ingredients
- One stick of butter, salted or unsalted
How to make brown butter?
- Place the butter in a heavy bottom pan to melt. This will evenly distribute the heat. I use my small cast iron skillet.
- Melt the butter stirring occasionally. It will begin to crackle as it transitions from melting to cooking the butter.
- Continue stirring and listen for the crackling to stop.
- Once the crackling stops, stir occasionally and watch carefully because butter can burn easily
- Cook until it smells nutty and looks golden brown.
- remove from the heat and transfer to a container to stop the browning and for storage.
- It is ready to add to your recipes!
How to store brown butter?
To refrigerate:
Place in a glass jar and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks!
Note: it will re-solidify.
To freeze:
Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once completely frozen, place individual browned butter cubes into a freezer safe bag for later use. It will keep for 2-3 months.
Note: Be sure to stir your browned butter in between pours so that every cube gets some of the flavorful browned bits!
Simple Browned Butter Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Place the butter in a heavy bottom pan to melt. This will evenly distribute the heat. I use my small cast iron skillet.
- Melt the butter stirring occasionally. It will begin to crackle as it transitions from melting to cooking the butter.
- Continue stirring and listen for the crackling to stop.
- Once the crackling stops, stir occasionally and watch carefully because butter can burn easily
- Cook until it smells nutty and looks golden brown.
- remove from the heat and transfer to a container to stop the browning and for storage.
- It is ready to add to your recipes!
Video
Notes
More posts you will love:
Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Homemade Honey Butter Recipe
Easy and Quick Dinner Rolls Recipe
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