Or is this a HUGE no-no??

Just trying to get moving. I'm a newbie and had to run out and buy my butter today.

Thanks,
Krisy

**Giving the Buttercream Dream a try...I have never made my own frosting before. Well except for some major basic sugar cookie frosting.

I wouldn't do it for something like that. You'd have to be VERY careful to get the butter soft but not melted.

Yes! I do it all the time!

My formula is 1 minute per pound on power level 2 (Defrost), turn over, and 1 more minute per pound on power 2. If I'm doing less than a pound, say 1 or 2 sticks, I'll do 30 seconds per side on power 2. Just be careful not to get it too soft .

Amber

MAYBE on 40-50% power for a few seconds at a time. I've heard of people grating their cold butter on a cheese grater if they don't have time to sotfen it, but haven't tried it myself.

I agree with mbelgard - very tricky. Better not to risk it. I've found that if I preheat my oven (I have a range) the top part between the burners just gets slightly warm and I can speed up the process of getting butter to room temperature if I put the sticks on it - just like a minute on each side. Sounds weird but in a time pinch, it works!

I use my defrost button.........I usually do 1 min. for 2 sticks........30 seconds, flip 30 seconds.......depends on how cold it is too.........so take it easy, every microwave is different too.

I do the same as Awolf24. I tried to mic it once and it got too soft.
Good luck!

Yes you can def do this!
I work for a company who manufactures microwaves and our suggestion for melting butter in the microwaave is place the butter on a dish, cover with plastic wrap and microwave at 10% power for 10-20 seconds per tablespoon

I did this very thing on Monday night when I made the Buttercream dream.

I placed one stick of butter in the microwave for 30 seconds at 50% Power. I checked it every 10 seconds. I poked it with a fork to see the texture.

It worked for me

Just keep your eye on it!!

Thanks ladies.
I put it on the lowest setting and kept poking it.

Thanks again!

I do it all the time. I put the sticks in for 3 seconds then turn them over if needed and do another 2 seconds.

I also do this all the time I put them in for 15 seconds then check them and roll them over and keep doing it until they feel soft

I microwave my butter all the time. Sometimes I get it right, and then other times, I leave it in too long and it gets too melted. I sometimes have to put it in the freezer for awhile, but sometimes it still makes my bc too soft. Just be very careful and keep a watch on it. Thanks for all the tips everyone!

Instead of microwaving it...I speed the process along by cutting each stick into pats....like probably 20 or so per stick so that they are very thin and then can warm up faster.......

It really doesnt take that long for it to soften up that way....

Pound it a few times with a rolling pin. I learned this from Julia Child.

you would have to watch it really well. what i do is put the butter in the mixer bowl and fill it with tap water. im in jamaica so my tap water is not cold like in the states. it softens the butter pretty quickly.

I always put the butter & shortening into a plastic bowl & mike for 29 seconds. Each & every time! No problems!

I never use the microwave to soften my butter... it's just too scary for me to attempt!! (and I refuse to have a microwave in my house when I move out...too much scary stuff)

I cut up my butter into small cubes, like 2cm x 2cm, and leave them on the counter for a bit. If I'm pressed for time, I cut the butter into cubes again, put them in a plastic zip-lock bag, and immerse them in a bowl of warm water.

can I ask why you are afraid of a microwave?

It's another form of radiation that we expose ourselves to, and I choose to eliminate that from my life. Clearly, I do use and own a computer, but I do limit my usage. It's really scary all the stuff that's 'floating' around in the air these days. To some, it may seem a little eccentric, but I'm an eccentric with a physics degree

but from someone who works with microwaves on a daily basis I can tell you that it is safe. Our engineers do all kinds of microwave leakage tests so it's not something to be scared of.

I soften butter in the microwave all the time, mostly because I forget to take it out of the freezer. The butter I use has a paper wrapper on it so I leave that one and zap it at 10 seconds at a time. It works pretty nicely and keeps it from splattering.