Butter

It's no secret that butter has been a popular cooking agent and baking ingredient for centuries. Made by churning cream to separate butterfats from buttermilk, butter consists of approximately 80% butterfat and 15% water.

Most often in the United States, butter is made from pasteurized cream and referred to as sweet cream butter. Pasteurization helps to preserve the butter longer.

Salted and Unsalted Butter

Butter may be salted or unsalted. Salt acts as a preservative, allowing for a longer shelf life and also intensifies the mild, delicious flavor of butter.

Unsalted butter, however, is often preferred in baking recipes as it allows the cook to more accurately control salt content.

Natural variation in color and consistency occurs due to differences in the animal's feed and production method. However, butter is often manipulated during manufacture to achieve the desired color.

Other Types of Butter

Spreadable butter is softer at colder temperatures making it desirable as a spread on bread and baked goods. This consistency is achieved by manipulating the butter chemically or by adding vegetable oils.

Whipped butter has been aerated with nitrogen gas (one of the major components of air), which also results in a more spreadable butter.

Butter Uses

Butter is often used in sautéing and frying but is also an important ingredient in many foods. Many French sauces like hollandaise, beurre blanc, and béarnaise contain butter.

As a matter of fact, there aren't many cuisines that do not incorporate butter as an ingredient in some way or another.

Lastly, we need not mention (but we will) that butter contributes texture and taste to our favorite cakes, pies, cookies, and other baked goods.

Order Butter

When you need your next butter order, contact our ingredients experts.

With eight strategically located warehouses throughout the U.S., we can deliver your butter needs faster and for less.

Contact us for details.