The Clever Butter Trick We Wish We’d Known About Sooner

We’ve all been there—midway through a recipe, ready to add a bit of butter, only to realize you haven’t cut it yet.

And slicing a solid stick of butter can be tricky. Too often, we end up with pieces that are too big, too small, or not quite the right shape.

Luckily, an easy butter trick making rounds online can save you time and frustration, especially during the busy holiday season.

This clever method is back in time to make holiday cooking and baking more accessible, thanks to Real Simple!

Why Pre-Portioned Butter Makes Life Easier

Instead of keeping your butter in one large stick and struggling to slice off what you need each time, this trick lets you pre-portion it.

By slicing the butter into ready-to-use portions, you can quickly grab just what you need—without any hassle. Not only is this efficient, but it also helps with more accurate measuring, a lifesaver for those precise baking recipes.

How to Pre-Portion Your Butter Like a Pro

Here’s what you’ll need to start:

One stick of butter (or more if you use a lot)
Long strips of parchment paper
A chef’s knife

1. Get the Parchment Ready: Place your butter stick on a cutting board, then lay a piece of parchment over the knife’s sharp side. The parchment separates each butter pat, making them easy to grab later.

2. Cut the Butter: With the parchment in place over the blade, cut through the butter, creating small, evenly sized pieces. Most people slice into tablespoon-sized pats, which work well for most recipes. However, feel free to adjust the size depending on your needs. Smaller portions are significant for melting over veggies, while larger ones might be better for spreading on bread.

3. Follow the Wrapper Lines for Accuracy: If you’re worried about measuring perfectly, use the wrapper’s printed lines. Each stick of butter typically has markings for eight tablespoons. Cut the stick in half to portion it quickly, then slice each half into four, giving you eight equal portions.

Ways to Use Pre-Portioned Butter

Pre-measured butter can make cooking and baking faster and less stressful. Here are some of the top ways to use it:

Quick Cooking: Toss a pat or two in a pan to sauté veggies, make a pan sauce, or scramble eggs. I am having pre-portioned pats ready to speed up the process.
Baking: Whether you’re making cookies, muffins, or cakes, accurately pre-measured butter makes following recipes a breeze. Just grab the number of parts you need and add them to your mixing bowl.
Topping Toast and Rolls: This trick is ideal for those who love buttered toast or warm rolls. Instead of struggling with a cold butter stick, you can grab a pat and spread it on your toast in seconds.
Entertaining Made Easy: If you’re hosting a holiday dinner, place pre-portioned butter pats on a small dish so guests can quickly grab one for their rolls, mashed potatoes, or other dishes.

This method also works great with cream cheese. Pre-portioned slices will save you time in the morning rush if you love a bit of cream cheese on your bagel or toast.

Extra Butter Tips and Tricks

Now that you’ve mastered pre-portioning butter, here are a few more butter hacks to make your holiday cooking smoother.

1. Softening Butter Quickly

Need softened butter in a hurry? You can place a stick of butter in the microwave on low power (about 30-40%) for a few seconds. Be careful not to melt it—soften it! Alternatively, you can place the butter stick between two warm bowls for a few minutes.

This warms it up without microwaving.

2. Using Frozen Butter for Flaky Pastries

Try freezing your butter first if you’re making pastries, scones, or biscuits. Cold or frozen butter creates flaky layers when baked.

Grate the frozen butter into the flour mixture for even distribution without overworking the dough, which results in a tender, flaky texture.

3. Making Compound Butter

Compound butter—flavored butter with added herbs, spices, or other ingredients—can elevate any meal. To make it, soften some butter, mix in herbs (like rosemary, garlic, or chives), roll it into a log using parchment, and refrigerate.

You’ll have a delicious, ready-to-use flavored butter for meats, veggies, and breads.

4. Storing Butter Correctly

Butter can absorb odors from the fridge, so store it in a tightly sealed container or wrapped in parchment and then a plastic bag. If you buy butter in bulk, consider freezing it.

Frozen butter lasts up to six months and retains its flavor when thawed.

5. Clarified Butter for Higher Heat Cooking

Clarified butter (or ghee) is butter with the milk solids removed, making it ideal for high-heat cooking. To make it, melt butter over low heat until the solids separate and sink to the bottom.

Skim the clarified liquid on top, store it in a clean jar, and you have butter that won’t burn as quickly in the pan.

Why Pre-Portioning Works for Busy Cooks

Pre-portioning butter is a small effort that saves time when you’re in the middle of a recipe. It’s a step that requires only a few minutes but pays off big time during cooking or baking. Plus, it’s great for reducing waste. When butter is pre-cut, you’re less likely to grab more than you need.

This trick is helpful for holiday cooking and a great time-saver year-round. Once you try it, you may never use full sticks of butter again.

Try This Trick Today

Even if you don’t use butter daily, this small prep step can make cooking and baking less stressful, especially when juggling multiple dishes.

So, try this butter trick before the holiday rush sets in. Whether prepping for a big family meal or wanting to make your weekday meals a bit easier, pre-portioning butter is a simple yet genius hack to add to your kitchen routine. Your future self will thank you!