Grocery
Unsalted Butter
What it is
This is a dairy product made from churning cream. It is a solid fat at room temperature but softens and melts when heated. This particular product is unsalted, meaning it does not have added salt. It is a staple in many kitchens for both cooking and baking.
How people cook with it
Butter is incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide variety of culinary applications.
- Baking cakes and cookies
- Sautéing vegetables
- Spreading on toast
- Sauce bases
In baking, butter provides richness, tenderness, and helps create flaky textures. It can be creamed with sugar to incorporate air, or melted and added to batters. For cooking, it adds flavor and helps prevent sticking when sautéing or frying. It can also be melted and used as a finishing element for dishes, adding a glossy sheen and smooth mouthfeel. The unsalted nature allows for precise control over the final saltiness of your creations.
How it differs from similar foods
Unsalted butter differs from salted butter by the absence of added salt. This allows the cook or baker to control the salt content of their final dish more accurately. Salted butter has a longer shelf life due to the preservative properties of salt.
Who it is for
Home cooks and professional chefs alike rely on butter for its essential role in flavor and texture.
How to keep the rest
To store the remaining butter, keep it tightly wrapped in its original packaging or in an airtight container. Refrigeration is recommended to maintain its freshness and firmness. It can also be frozen for longer-term storage.