Turning the breakfast struggle around: practical tips to quickly spread hard butter

It's hard to imagine a sandwich without butter; I reckon I'm not the only one. Yet, spreading a firm bar of butter on fresh bread can be challenging and potentially sour your mood first thing in the morning. Here's a helpful hint my mom shared for the forgetful about making this task more accessible, and it's not about heating.

Some people suggest popping it in the microwave, while others recommend resting it on a radiator, which emits significant heat during winter. However, it's easy to overdo, resulting in the butter melting excessively and becoming liquid—rendering it unsuitable for spreading. Moreover, such butter can quickly turn rancid and potentially cause food poisoning. It's safer not to risk it. The trick of using a hot glass or bowl is also widespread. It involves pouring boiling water into it, waiting until it gets hot, emptying the water, and then bringing the glass near the butter.

Hard butter can alternatively be grated. This reshapes the butter, making it easier to spread on a sandwich. Another method is to leave the butter out of the fridge overnight, although this could cause it to spoil quicker and lose its properties.

A handy technique to spread hard butter involves simply taking a block of butter, peeling back some foil, and gently rubbing the butter onto the bread. This effective method allows you to apply a thin or thick layer of butter to a sandwich.

Is there another way? This may seem self-evident, but not everyone remembers to do it. After removing the hard block from the refrigerator, grab a knife and cut it into smaller pieces or slices. The smaller the surface area, the quicker it will heat and soften. This way, you can prepare breakfast sandwiches without any major hindrances.