Block of butter and a butter knife in the air
Food - Drink
The Crucial Tip For Never Burning Butter Again
By CC GOURDEAU
Browned butter with caramel in a jar
Brown butter is a delicious ingredient created when the right amount of heat is carefully applied to butter, revealing more depth and imparting a distinct nutty flavor profile.
Square of butter on toast
Making brown butter can be difficult due to how easy it is to burn. Run-of-the-mill butter will burn at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, while clarified butter can go up to 450 degrees.
Lemon juice in drinking glass and lemons on rustic blue textured background.
To avoid burning your butter, make sure to have a bit of lemon juice or cold water on hand. Adding a cool liquid will take the temperature of the butter down immediately.
Block of butter with a butter knife
For another preventative option, you can also add a teaspoon of neutral oil to your butter before you begin cooking it.
Knob of butter melting in frying pan on a grill
Since brown butter can burn so easily, it's important to watch your pan. First, start off with a cold, ideally light-colored pan, and cold butter to ensure even cooking.
Overhead view of knob of butter melting in frying pan
If your butter does start to burn, take your pan with the butter off of the heat source immediately. You can then use a coffee filter to strain out any burnt bits.