Reminiscent of overcooked microwave popcorn, burnt butter smells pungent and slightly metallic. Burnt butter will have black debris floating in a sea of brown liquid. While this may be difficult to detect in dark or coated pans, you will see it quickly by pouring the butter into a clear or light colored heat safe dish.
How to Fix Burnt Brown Butter – Kitchen Conundrums with Thomas Joseph
FAQ
Is it okay to burn butter?
What happens to butter when you burn it?
What does burnt butter do?
What happens if you overcook butter?
What happens if you accidentally burn butter?
If you accidentally burn the butter you might actually be better off just tossing it out and starting over. Once your butter hits that dark brown color, you need to remove it from the heat immediately. In fact, you rarely need it to actually turn dark brown.
Is butter bad for health?
In small and controlled quantities, butter is not bad for health. However, due to the saturated fat content they have, it would not be healthy to consume these type of fats daily and/or in big portions. Maximum recommended quantity depends on each individual’s needs, but it is a common factor that saturated fat should be limited in the diet.
Why does butter burn if you don’t stir?
Without stirring, the butter has more potential to cook unevenly, and the milk solids can stick to the bottom of the pan and eventually burn. Follow this tip: As the butter melts, it’s important to stir regularly to ensure it cooks evenly.
What if butter doesn’t have a burnt flavor?
You might try giving it just a quick sniff or a little taste. If it doesn’t have a burnt flavor, you can save it. If the butter itself doesn’t take burnt or bitter, you can totally still use it! You just need to strain the burnt milk solids out of the butter to be able to use it.