Butter is a popular ingredient used in cooking and baking for its rich flavor and velvety texture. When following recipes, it’s important to accurately measure butter, whether chilled and shaped into sticks or melted into liquid form. This article will provide a detailed answer on how much a 1/3 cup of melted butter equals in common household measurements like tablespoons, grams, ounces, etc. Having this information handy helps ensure your recipes turn out perfectly every time.
What is Butter?
Butter is a dairy product made from churning cream, the fatty portion of milk. It is semi-solid at room temperature and composed of approximately 80% fat and 15% water. The remaining 5% contains milk solids like proteins, sugars, and minerals. Butter has a rich, creamy flavor and smooth, spreadable texture, making it a versatile ingredient in cooking and baking.
The most common form of butter in the United States is sweet cream butter. This type is made from pasteurized fresh cream. Salted and unsalted varieties are available, with salted containing around 1% salt. European-style butters have a higher butterfat content, up to 86%. Popular types include Irish butter and French butter. Clarified butter, known as ghee, is another form where the milk solids have been removed.
Melting Butter
Butter melts at around 90-95°F, the average body temperature. At this point, the solid butter fat softens into liquid oil. Melted butter has a thinner, more fluid consistency compared to solid butter. It can be measure smoothly and poured easily.
To melt butter:
– Cut chilled butter into tablespoons or cubes. Smaller pieces melt faster.
– Place butter pieces in a small bowl or glass measuring cup. Microwave at 50% power for 30-60 seconds, stirring periodically, until completely melted.
– Alternatively, melt butter pieces gradually over low heat in a small saucepan, stirring constantly. Remove from heat once fully melted.
– Avoid overheating or burning the butter, which impacts its taste and browns the milk solids.
– Let melted butter cool slightly before measuring if the recipe calls for room temperature butter.
How Much is 1/3 Cup of Melted Butter?
Now that we understand exactly what butter is and how it melts, let’s determine the actual amount of 1/3 cup melted butter in various common measurements:
Tablespoons
| 1/3 cup melted butter | = 5 and 1/3 tablespoons |
There are 16 tablespoons (tbsp) in 1 cup. Dividing a cup into thirds, each 1/3 portion equals around 5 1/3 tbsp.
So if a recipe calls for 1/3 cup melted butter, you would measure out 5 full tablespoons plus a little over 1/3 more tablespoon.
Grams
| 1/3 cup melted butter | = 76 grams |
One US cup contains 236 ml by volume and 236 grams by weight.
Dividing 236 grams by 3 (to get 1/3 cup), equals approximately 76 grams of melted butter.
Ounces
| 1/3 cup melted butter | = 2.6 ounces |
With 16 ounces (oz) in 1 cup:
– 1/3 of 16 oz = 5.3 oz
– Rounded to the nearest 0.1 oz = 2.6 oz
So 1/3 cup melted butter equates to about 2.6 ounces.
Pounds
| 1/3 cup melted butter | = 0.16 pounds |
Since 1 cup equals 0.5 pounds (lb):
– 1/3 of 0.5 lb = 0.17 lb
– Rounded to the nearest 0.01 lb = 0.16 lb
Thus, 1/3 cup melted butter equals 0.16 pounds.
Sticks
| 1/3 cup melted butter | = 0.66 sticks |
One stick of butter equals 1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons.
With 1/3 cup being 5 1/3 tbsp:
– 5 1/3 tbsp / 8 tbsp per stick = 0.66 sticks
So 1/3 cup melted butter equates to just a little over half a stick.
Summary
To recap, for reference in recipes and cooking:
– 1/3 cup melted butter = 5 1/3 tablespoons
– 1/3 cup melted butter = 76 grams
– 1/3 cup melted butter = 2.6 ounces
– 1/3 cup melted butter = 0.16 pounds
– 1/3 cup melted butter = 0.66 sticks
Knowing these simple butter conversions allows you to accurately measure portions for baking, cooking, and other kitchen needs!
Tips for Measuring Melted Butter
Here are some helpful tips for smoothly measuring melted butter:
– Lightly coat measuring cups or spoons with nonstick spray before adding melted butter. This prevents sticking.
– When measuring tablespoons, fill and level off with a flat-edged utensil for an accurate amount.
– Weigh melted butter on a digital kitchen scale for precise gram measurements.
– Opt for oven-safe glass or silicone cups and tools, which allow seeing the measurements.
– Pour melted butter into the appropriate measuring device. Don’t scoop solid portions which may compact.
– Measure over a bowl or pan to catch any spills or drips.
– Grease all equipment afterwards for quick cleanup.
– Allow melted butter to slightly solidify before leveling for the most accuracy.
Why Accurately Measuring Butter Matters
Precision matters when cooking and baking recipes for optimal taste, texture, appearance, and consistency. Measuring the right butter amount impacts the outcome. Here’s why:
– Butter contains fat, which tenderizes baked goods. Too much can make items dense or greasy. Too little may yield dry, crumbly results.
– Butter contributes moisture as it melts, helping create light, fluffy texture. Incorrect amounts affect moisture levels.
– Butter provides richness and flavor. Deviating from the recipe alters the intended taste.
– Creme butter at varying temperatures. Chilled versus melted impact mixing and incorporation.
– Butter assists in food browning. Varying the amount affects baked good coloration.
– Substituting butter with oil or other fats requires adjustment of other ingredients to achieve desired qualities.
So for best results following any recipe relying on butter, take care to precisely measure the specified amount. Investing in quality liquid and solid measuring tools allows home bakers to accurately portion melted butter and other baking fats.
Common Uses for Melted Butter
Melted butter is handy to have on hand for numerous cooking and baking applications:
– Greasing pans and dishes – Brush melted butter over baking forms for even coverage without tearing baked goods.
– Enhancing flavor – Whisking melted butter into sauces, gravies, soups, and more infuses rich taste.
– Glazing breads – Brushing melted butter atop loaves, rolls, muffins, etc creates golden color and crisp crust.
– Sauteing foods – Cooking meats, veggies, and more in foaming melted butter evenly cooks and tenderizes.
– Making roux – Cooking butter and flour together forms a thickening paste for soups, stews, and sauces.
– Binding ingredients – Melted butter helps bind mixtures in doughs, batters, and fillings.
– Softening foods – Warm melted butter gently melts chocolate or ice cream when making desserts.
– Enriching texture – Folding melted butter into cakes, cookies, and pastries gives a smooth, velvety crumb.
– Adding moisture – Melted butter’s water content hydrates dry ingredients like flour.
– Promoting spreadability – Melting solidifies butter into a pourable, spreadable form.
So don’t be afraid to melt some butter for enhanced cooking and baking! Starting with an accurately measured 1/3 cup portion allows you to reap all of its benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about measuring melted butter:
Why is my measured melted butter amount off?
If your measured amount of supposedly 1/3 cup melted butter seems too little or too much, a few factors could be to blame:
– Inaccurate measurement tools: Invest in quality tools like liquid cups and solid butter knives.
– Not leveling: Make sure to level off the melted butter at the measurement line.
– Partial melting: Fully melt chilled butter for most accurate portions. Melting unevenly can displace the volume.
– Spillage: Melted butter can drip or spill outside of measuring tools. Take care when transferring.
– Incorrect temperature: Very hot melted butter expands in volume. Allow cooling before measuring.
– Old/frozen butter: Fully defrost and melt very cold or frozen butter bricks.
– Compacting: Do not scoop and pack melted butter into cups. Pour smoothly.
Can I use melted butter in place of solid butter when baking?
Melted butter can be used in place of solid butter in most baking situations. However, it may impact the texture and shape of doughs or batters. Melted butter more readily coats dry ingredients like flour. Take care not to over-mix or overheat items with melted butter. Chilling doughs made with melted butter before baking can help ensure optimal results.
How long does melted butter last?
Melted butter lasts for 2-3 months in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container. The milk solids can settle and separate over time. Give melted butter a good stir or re-melt to reincorporate if needed before use. Discard melted butter if it smells rancid or sour. For longer storage, melted butter can be frozen for 6-9 months.
Is melted butter as healthy as solid butter?
Melted and solid butter have the same nutritional values and ingredients if coming from the same original source. The melting process itself does not degrade the quality or health profile of butter. Of course, butter and its health effects have some controversy, given its high saturated fat content. But consumed in moderation, butter can be part of an overall balanced diet.
Conclusion
Understanding how much a 1/3 cup of melted butter equals allows you to accurately measure this popular baking and cooking ingredient. Referencing the conversions, approximately:
– 1/3 cup melted butter = 5 1/3 tablespoons
– 1/3 cup melted butter = 76 grams
– 1/3 cup melted butter = 2.6 ounces
– 1/3 cup melted butter = 0.16 pounds
– 1/3 cup melted butter = 0.66 sticks
Taking care to precisely measure melted butter helps recipes of all kinds turn out perfectly. Melted butter can be smoothly incorporated into a variety of dishes thanks to its fluid state and versatile nature. So next time your recipe calls for it, use this guide for measuring success!
