How to Brown Butter

Step 1

Browning butter is pretty quick, so don’t leave the stove unattended. Have a heat-proof bowl next to the stove ready to go for step 3.

Step 2

Place the pieces of butter in a light-colored pan over medium heat. Medium heat ensures the butter cooks evenly, an important factor in this process. Stir the butter the entire time to keep it moving. Once melted, the butter will begin to foam and sizzle around the edges. Keep stirring. In about 5-8 minutes from when you started (depending on the amount of butter you used), the butter will turn golden brown. Some foam will subside and the milk solids at the bottom of the pan will be toasty brown. It will smell intensely buttery and nutty.

Step 3

Immediately remove the pan from heat and pour the butter into heat-proof bowl to stop the cooking process. If left in the hot pan, the butter will burn.

Step 4

Use as desired.