This Method Makes Browning Butter Even Easier

The French call it beurre noisette, Americans call it brown butter. No matter what you call it, however, it's a deliciously fragrant twist on the yellow stick sitting in your fridge. With a bold, nutty flavor and a rich brown hue, brown butter is an easy way to add more depth to any dish, whether you're using it to sear scallops, folding it into a batch of chocolate chip cookies, or drizzling it over a big bowl of popcorn. 

The typical way to make brown butter is by melting it in a pan on the stove. While this process isn't particularly difficult, it can be somewhat finicky. You have to make sure the butter is evenly melted, that the temperature of the pan isn't too hot or too cold, and that you stir it consistently. Fortunately, there's an easier method of browning butter that takes less effort and less time. Bonus: It's almost completely error-proof.

The next time you go to brown butter on the stove, wait — there's an easier and quicker way to do it. According to Kitchn, you can actually brown butter in the microwave. All you have to do is chop up a stick of butter, put it in a microwave-safe bowl (with a lid to prevent splatters), and heat it for about ten minutes. The Kitchn writer who tested this method notes that if your butter is browned to your liking after ten minutes, pop it back in for a minute or two at a time. They also say that not only is this a "set it and forget it" process, but they've never burnt their butter in the microwave (a common complaint when using the stove).

Epicurious also recommends browning butter in the microwave, explaining that it's a trick that even celeb baker Christina Tosi of Milk Bar swears by. They advise to check your butter every few minutes to see its progress, and that you'll know your butter is browned when you smell that nutty aroma.