12 Ways You Didn’t Know You Could Use Butter
Updated: Jan. 31, 2019We bet you never thought of using this kitchen staple for anything other than cooking.
Zap ink stain on doll’s face
Uh-oh, one of the kids used a pen to draw a new smile on that favorite doll’s face. Try eliminating the marks by rubbing butter on them and leaving the doll’s face-up in the sun for a few days. Wash it off with soap and water. Check out these other weird things that can remove stains.
Cut sticky foods with ease
Rub butter on your knife or scissor blades before cutting sticky foods like dates, figs, or marshmallows. The butter will act as a lubricant and keep the food from sticking to the blades.
Prevent pots from boiling over
You take your eye off the pasta for two seconds, and the next thing you know, the pot is boiling over onto the stovetop. Keep the boiling water in the pot next time by adding half a tablespoon of butter or rubbing the butter around the top of the pot. Here are 25 more brilliant kitchen shortcuts you’ll wish you knew sooner.
Help the medicine go down
If you have a hard time swallowing pills, especially large ones, coat them lightly with butter first. This should help the pill slide down your throat.
Fix a squeaky door
Butter makes a surprising but effective substitute for WD-40 when you’re looking to take the squeak out of a noisy door. Simply rub the butter on the door hinge. This lubricates the metal to stop the squeak.
Get gum out of hair
You’ve undoubtedly heard that peanut butter can get sticky gum out of hair, and its peanut-less cousin can work the same magic. Rub the butter over the gum, letting it absorb into the hair before trying to slide the gum out. Check out these other natural home remedies that really work.
Remove stubborn rings
Whether your fingers have swelled up from the heat or you just wanted to wear a cute ring that you know doesn’t quite fit, you’re now stuck—literally—with a ring that won’t budge. Cover the ring with butter before carefully sliding it off your finger.
Treat dry hair
If your hair has turned dry and brittle, a small amount of butter can return it to its glossy shine. Massage the butter into your hair, then cover your hair with a shower cap for about a half hour. Shampoo as usual, and rinse all the butter out.
Make ghee
Ghee is butter that has been clarified, so only the pure butterfat remains. Since the milk solids have been removed, you don’t need to refrigerate it. Try this Test Kitchen-approved recipe for ghee, and you can use it as a butter substitute in slow-cooking recipes and high-heat dishes, since it has a higher smoke point than regular butter or cooking oils. Some even use ghee as a skin moisturizer and lip balm. Here are 7 more butter hacks you didn’t know you needed.
Upgrade your coffee
Odd as it may sound, some coffee drinkers add butter to their coffee instead of milk or cream. It’s particularly popular with people on the keto diet, which stresses high-fat, low-carb meals. Some nutritionists are skeptical, but others say the fats in the butter can actually help keep you fuller longer. Don’t miss these 43 more extraordinary uses for household staples you already own.