How do I soften butter quickly without melting it?

[GreatGooglyMoogly]

Please - I forgot to get it out of the fridge!

grate it with the fine part of the cheese grater

lowest setting on the microwave in ten second bursts and keep an eye on it

for future reference, you need one of these

Thanks!

Spread it on something plastic, and kind of fold it so you keep going over it.

I just did that! 1 minute in microwave on low (it was a big 250g block). Worked a treat.