How to Soften a Stick of Butter Quickly. Chef David Alvarez shared this easy tip on his Cook Like a Pro YouTube channel, which first calls for filling the lid portion of a butter dish with hot water.

Failing which, the instructions from my old Panasonic Dimension 4 Cookbook have never let me down: Microwave 1 stick of butter, unwrapped and on a plate, on low (or 30% power) for 30–45 seconds.