melt the butter

Meaning

This phrase means to heat solid butter until it turns into a liquid. This is a common step in baking recipes, making sauces, or preparing popcorn. It is a neutral kitchen instruction.

Examples

• First, melt the butter in a small pan over low heat.

  First, melt the butter in a small pan over low heat.

• You need to melt the butter before adding it to the cake mix.

  You need to melt the butter before adding it to the cake mix.

• I always melt the butter in the microwave for thirty seconds.

  I always melt the butter in the microwave for thirty seconds.

• Melt the butter and pour it over the warm popcorn.

  Melt the butter and pour it over the warm popcorn.

• Be careful not to burn it when you melt the butter.

  Be careful not to burn it when you melt the butter.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please dissolve the butter in the pan.

  ✓ Please melt the butter in the pan.

  'Dissolve' is used when a solid mixes into a liquid (like sugar in water). 'Melt' is used when a solid turns to liquid due to heat.

• ✗ The recipe says to liquid the butter.

  ✓ The recipe says to melt the butter.

  'Liquid' is a noun or adjective, not a verb. Use the verb 'melt'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To make cookies, you must first ___ in a saucepan.

  💡 Turn the solid yellow fat into liquid with heat.

  Show answer

  melt the butter

• Don't use high heat when you ___, or it will burn.

  💡 Liquidize the dairy product.

  Show answer

  melt the butter