What do you do when you have leftover melted butter?
If you’re like most people, you probably just toss it in the trash.
However, there are a few other things that you can do with it that are both useful and tasty.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some practical ways to use up your leftover melted butter.
Let’s take a look.
A quick note
To use melted butter, first, make sure the container isn’t warm.
Warm butter will quickly spoil, which could lead to food poisoning.
If warm or at room temperature, place the butter in the fridge for an hour before using it.
Since melted butter is mostly fat and water, it spoils much more easily than solidified butter because there are fewer preservatives once it starts to melt.
High-fat content leads to high bacterial activity, so you should treat melted butter as fresh rather than safe even if you’ve kept your container refrigerated.
You can also look at the ‘best by’ date on the packaging of your butter — typically, try to use up any opened sticks within 5 weeks of this date (if stored properly).
Unopened sticks last longer but should be used up within 2 months after this ‘best by’ date.
Use it in other recipes
If you want to use melted butter in a recipe, heat the butter gently without letting it boil or simmer.
While stirring slowly and continuously, heat the butter over very low heat until it’s warm but not hot, which means around 104-113 F (40-45 C) on an instant-read thermometer.
You can take your butter off the stove once it reaches this point and then adds in any ingredients like herbs or spices that might be in your recipe before placing it back onto the stovetop to finish cooking.
Do NOT add uncooked flour to melted butter; when cooked together, they form lumps that cannot be fully dissolved even by prolonged whisking or beating with an electric mixer.
The lumps are worse if you use a roux, which is flour cooked in fat to make it less thickening.
Use the following alternatives instead:
– Mix together 1 tablespoon of tapioca or corn starch with 2 tablespoons of water and then stir this into your melted butter.
Heat gently until thickened before adding other ingredients.
– To thicken at the end of cooking, take out some of the liquid (1 cup liquid = about 1/4 cup milk) from whatever you’re cooking and whisk it into your melted butter off the heat until fully thickened, then return it to the dish you were preparing for additional cooking time to allow flavors to blend.
Add back as much liquid as you originally took out later on when you’re ready to eat.
Make clarified butter
If you’d like to make clarified butter (butter with the proteins and sugars removed), this process removes even more moisture than melting by heating it at a lower temperature for longer periods of time.
To clarify your butter, place the stick in a heavy saucepan over low heat for about fifteen minutes until it separates into three layers — foam on top, clear watery liquid below, and chunks of white solids at the bottom.
Strain off the first layer through cheesecloth or paper towels until only the yellowish-brown fat is left behind.
Discard any solids that remain after straining off all the floating milk solids and watery layers; these will not taste good if added back into other recipes.
How to get rid of it properly
If you’re trying to get rid of leftover butter, don’t pour it down the drain because the fats will build up over time and cause major blockages in your pipes.
Instead, try using it on skin or hair — melted butter is a great moisturizer for dry skin and can be used as a lip balm too.
It works best if combined with other oils like olive oil and vitamin E oil to soften and soothe even the roughest locks.
Get creative by adding some essential oils for fragrance or try mixing melted butter with salt, sugar, flour, cocoa powder, coffee grounds, oatmeal, or cornmeal for homemade exfoliating scrubs.
Or add honey or peanut butter if you want a richer mask that softens and moisturizes even better.
Can melted butter be reused?
Yes.
When the melted butter is cold again, it will be solid again.
How long can you keep melted butter?
You can keep it for one to two days, but you’re safer keeping it in the refrigerator. (source)
Can you put melted butter back in the fridge?
Yes, if the butter has cooled off, you can put it in a container and store it in the fridge.
The butter will last as long as it usually does in your fridge. (source)
Can I refreeze melted butter?
Yes, you can refreeze melted butter.
But there are many factors to consider when you do this, for example, how the butter was defrosted.
When the butter is defrosted, bacteria might be forming.
You can also refreeze melted butter but the shape and taste will be different once it is defrosted. (source)
How do you get melted butter back to solid?
You can get melted butter back to solid by adding more butter.
And you can revive over-softened butter by putting it in an ice bath.
How do you fix melted butter?
Partially melted butter can be fixed by adding ice cubes and stirring.
The butter will quickly cool and return to a solid form. (source)
What is the white stuff in melted butter?
When it is heated, the different layers separate.
The bottom will have a white cloudy substance.
That substance is actually the milk solids and water.
What do melted butter and brown sugar make?
When you melt butter and brown sugar together, you get a delicious syrup that is perfect for adding sweetness to cakes or fruit.
This syrup is especially good when it is made with a little bit of cream, which gives it a richer flavor. (source)
How long does it take for melted butter to cool?
It can take anywhere from 1 – 5 minutes for melted butter to cool.
This is because the hotter the butter was when you melted it, the longer it will need to cool.
Is melted butter bad for you?
There is no right answer to this question because it depends on how much butter you eat and if it is being eaten with other healthy foods.
Some people think that high-fat dairy products, like butter, can help reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity, and heart problems.
But, butter is high in calories and saturated fat so it is best to enjoy it in moderation.
It’s a good idea to mix up your healthy fats by eating things like avocado, olive oil, seeds, nuts, and fatty fish. (source)
Can you use melted butter instead of room temperature?
Yes, but it is not recommended.
Melted butter does not incorporate air into the batter like room-temperature butter does, which will result in cakes and cookies that come out flat. (source)
Conclusion
Melted butter is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many different ways.
Whether you are looking for a new way to cook with butter or want to find an alternative use for it, the tips I’ve shared with you above will show you how to make the most of this delicious kitchen staple.
Have you tried any of these recipes?
What was your favorite?