Kitchen query? Here’s how many tablespoons are in a stick of butter, plus bonus tips and tricks! While butter adds unbeatable flavor and a rich, tempting aroma to your favorite recipes, remember to enjoy it in moderation as part of a balanced eating pattern.
Understanding US Butter Sticks
Butter in the US is most commonly sold in 1-pound packs containing four sticks. Each stick is ¼ pound, or 4 oz.
The sticks are individually wrapped and labeled with tablespoon measurements.
How Many Tablespoons is a Stick of Butter?
One stick of butter equals 8 tablespoons.
Butter Conversions: Sticks, Cups, and More
- 1 stick of butter = 8 tablespoons (½ cup)
- 2 sticks of butter = 1 cup
- 1 stick of butter = ¼ pound = 4 ounces = 113 grams
- 1 pound of butter = 4 sticks = 2 cups
| Butter in Sticks | Butter in Tablespoons (TBSP) | Butter in Teaspoons (TSP) |
| 4 sticks | 32 tablespoons | 96 teaspoons |
| 2 ½ sticks | 20 tablespoons | 60 teaspoons |
| 2 sticks | 16 tablespoons | 48 teaspoons |
| 1½ sticks | 12 tablespoons | 36 teaspoons |
| 1¼ stick | 10 tablespoons | 30 teaspoons |
| 1 stick | 8 tablespoons | 24 teaspoons |
| ⅔ sticks | 5 ⅓ tablespoons | 16 teaspoons |
| ½ stick | 4 tablespoons | 12 teaspoons |
| ¼ stick | 2 tablespoons | 6 teaspoons |
| ⅛ stick | 1 tablespoon | 3 teaspoons |
The Best Way to Soften Butter: Tested!
Need softened butter but forgot to take it out of the fridge? We tested four popular methods to find the best one:
- Microwave: Cut butter into tbsp-size pieces. Microwave on 10% power in 5-second bursts until softened (about 20-30 sec total).
- Countertop: Cut butter into tbsp-size pieces. Let sit at room temp for 30 min.
- Warm Glass: Put stick in a glass, fill with hot tap water. Let sit 5 min. Pour out water, cover butter with the warm glass, inverted. Wait 5-10 min.
- Beating: Cut cold butter into small chunks. Beat with a mixer until smooth, 2-3 min.
The microwave method was fastest, but risked melting. The countertop and glass techniques gave a nice, evenly softened texture. Beating worked but left the butter slightly greasy.
💁🏻♂️Our pick? The inverted glass – softens without melting and is faster than waiting on the counter. Here’s a visual of the process:
Try This: Easy 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies
Perfect for using exactly 1 stick of butter!
Mix 1 stick softened butter, ½ cup powdered sugar, and 1 cup flour until a dough forms. Press into an 8-inch square pan and prick all over with a fork.
Bake at 325°F for 30-35 minutes until lightly browned. Cool completely and cut into squares.
FAQs
How do I measure 3 tablespoons of butter?
Find the 4 tablespoon mark on the wrapper and cut off 1 tablespoon.
My recipe calls for 1/3 cup butter – how many sticks is that?
1/3 cup is 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon, or 2/3 of a stick.
What’s a quick way to get 6 tablespoons of butter?
Cut a stick in half right on the wrapper’s middle line – each half is 4 tablespoons. Then just cut 2 more tablespoons from one half.
Conclusion
As a chef, I always recommend using real butter for optimal flavor, especially in baking. Renowned pastry chef Stella Parks agrees: “Butter’s low moisture content is crucial to creating tender, flaky layers in croissants and puff pastry. Substitutes simply can’t compare.”
I hope these butter basics help make your cooking and baking adventures a little easier and a lot more delicious! For more kitchen tips and tasty recipes, visit www.boatbasincafe.com.