Vol. IV  ·  the pantry

Brown butter.

10 min

Cook butter until the milk solids are the colour of toasted hazelnut and smell like one. Pour through a sieve into a clean jar; it keeps for weeks and turns most things it touches into something better.

1 serving
  • 250 g unsalted butter cut into cubes
  1. 01

    Set a wide, light-coloured pan over medium heat. Add the butter; it will melt, then foam.

  2. 02

    Swirl the pan as the foam subsides. The milk solids will sink and brown; watch the colour against the metal of the pan.

  3. 03

    Pull off the heat the moment the solids are the colour of toasted hazelnut and the kitchen smells nutty — about 6–8 minutes from melt.

  4. 04

    Strain through a fine sieve or muslin into a clean jar. Cool, lid, refrigerate. Use within a month.