How to Brown Butter

4.73 from 11 votes

Brown butter adds amazing rich flavor to both sweet and savory recipes. We're answering all of your questions on how to make brown butter and what to do with it after it is made.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baking tips, browned butter

Servings:

Calories: 102kcal

Author: Julie Clark

Ingredients

2 cups unsalted butter (4 sticks)

Instructions

How to Make Brown Butter on the Stove:

Place a heavy bottomed saucepan on the stove.
Cut butter into 1 tablespoon chunks.
Place the butter in the saucepan and set the heat to medium.
Allow the butter to melt, stirring often so that it melts evenly.
As the butter melts it will start to bubble and "foam".
The butter will become cloudy.
Then as it continues to cook the butter will become clear.
At this point you'll see milk solids start to form on the bottom of the pan. As they turn golden brown, the butter will also turn to a golden color.
Butter is perfectly browned when it has a nutty, caramel aroma. As soon as you see the butter turn golden brown and smell nutty, take the pan off the heat and pour the clear browned butter into a clean jar or bowl.
If you'd like you can use a strainer or cheesecloth to strain any milk solids.
Use the melted butter right away or allow it to solidify. Refrigerate any leftovers.

How to Make Brown Butter in the Microwave:

Cut butter into 1 tablespoon chunks. (Use two sticks, or 1 cup, of butter. We find smaller amounts work best in the microwave.)
Place the butter in a microwave safe bowl. Make sure the bowl is large enough that the butter will not overflow while it cooks and bubbles up.
Place a microwave safe plate over the bowl.
Microwave for 3 minutes.
Open the microwave and look at the butter. Add more time if needed. The butter should have a nutty, caramely aroma as soon as you open the microwave. It should be golden brown with little brown specks (milk solids) on the bottom of the bowl.
Note: Ours takes almost 6 minutes to fully brown. The exact time will depend on the microwave you have and the bowls you are using. Be careful when removing the bowl from the microwave so you don't get burned.
Strain and store as described above.

Notes

The calories shown are based 1 serving being 1 tablespoon of butter. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition