Pretend you’re all set to cook or bake something, and are scanning the recipe in question. All of a sudden, you realize that your recipe calls for softened butter. This may not initially seem like a big deal, until you remember that you forgot to take the butter out of the fridge that morning. You don’t have time to wait hours for the stick of butter to become soft, and zapping it in the microwave will result in a melted puddle, which changes the consistency of the recipe.
So, what do you do? Well, actress Jennifer Garner has the answer. Jennifer Garner is not only one of America’s most beloved actresses, but as it turns out, she also knows her way around the kitchen. She often features hilarious videos on her Instagram page that she labels as her “pretend cooking show.” Her videos are particularly awesome because she doesn’t act like a perfect celebrity, but showcases that she’s a real person, just like everyone else.
In one particularly funny video, Jennifer explains that when baking, she tries to set everything out the night before. But oftentimes, things don’t work out that way. And that’s exactly where her butter hack comes in. When you forget to put out butter to soften, Jennifer explains that all you have to do is grate the stick of butter like you would cheese. This results in a “softened-like” butter that won’t affect the integrity of the dessert or dish you’re preparing.