There is a long standing debate about which butter is better- salted or unsalted. We are finally uncovering the truth behind butter and it may completely change how you cook and bake. You may be surprised by what you learn about butter!
Salt and butter are Both Key Ingredients in Baking
Butter adds essential fat, moisture, delicious rich creaminess, and decadent flavor to recipes. Salt enhances that flavor; too little salt can make things taste a little bland or overly sweet.
But too much salt can completely ruin a dish. So, should you use salted or unsalted butter in baking? Keep reading for my guide full of all the essential information and my expert advice.
The Main Difference Between Salted Butter and Unsalted Butter in Baking
So, what is the difference between Salted vs Unsalted Butter?
Butter is a dairy item produced using milk that comprises butterfat, milk proteins, and water. It is made by churning cream or milk to isolate the fat until it transforms into a partially solid emulsion. Remember that you can also make butter at home, just read our homemade butter recipe!
Salt is a preservative, meaning that salted butter can be left out on the counter for 1-2 days in temperatures up to 70°F (21°C), whereas unsalted butter should always be refrigerated. Salted butter also has a longer shelf life than unsalted butter. Both unsalted and salted butter can be frozen.
Butter in baking recipes
Check our Pie crust recipe.
As a general rule, if you are making French pastries, Puff pastries, Pie crusts, or even cookies and brownies, which traditionally contain a lot of butter (yum), it is better to use unsalted butter simply because the amount of salt in salted butter might be overpowering.
Also, as the total amount of added salt in the butter varies hugely depending on which brand you buy, it is very difficult to plan ahead and know whether you need added salt or not.
When to Use Unsalted Butter
Find your new favorite sweet treat among our cookies and brownies recipes.
We always recommend using unsalted butter in baking. Butter is a major ingredient in lots of baking recipes. Therefore, it is important that you know exactly how much good quality salt has gone into the recipe. So, we would definitely use unsalted butter in these cases.
When to Use Salted Butter
Suppose butter is a minor ingredient in a baking recipe and there are many other ingredients to compensate. In that case, most of the time, it should be fine to use salted butter if unsalted butter is unavailable.
But overall, salted butter is best for spreading on items like toast or banana bread. It will bring out the other flavors and taste delicious!
You might use salted butter when cooking savory dishes, as it is easier to taste along the way. What's more, depending on your preference, you can season further at the point of service.
How to substitute salted butter for unsalted butter
When it comes to substituting unsalted butter with salted butter in baking, it is still one of the best substitutes as they work identically. The properties they bring to a bake are exactly the same. It is only the saltiness that is different.
However, if your recipe demands unsalted butter and you only have salted butter, then you'll need to adjust the quantity of any additional salt. It is hard to give a precise amount, as I have stated already that salted butter brands all differ. Therefore, always try to buy unsalted butter and use salted butter for savory dishes.
As a general rule, add ¼ teaspoon of salt per ½ cup of butter.
How to substitute unsalted butter for salted butter
To substitute salted butter for unsalted butter, you also do not need to make any changes to the weight/volume of butter. However, you will need to adjust how much additional salt you put in the recipe and add slightly more to compensate for the lack of salt in the unsalted butter.
As I have explained, it is tricky to give a set formula for the amount of salt you'll need to add when substituting unsalted butter for salted butter. But I'd recommend being cautious, as too much salt will ruin the result.
As a general rule, reduce ¼ teaspoon of salt per ½ cup of butter.
How to substitute butter in baking
Butter contains around 20% water and 80% fat, so it is important to compensate for both these qualities when searching for a replacement. Some common butter substitutes include oil, vegetable shortening, Greek yogurt, and lard.
For example, for a cup of unsalted butter, use a cup of vegetable shortening. The conversions vary depending on the butter alternative so make sure to check out our butter substitutes article where we cover all these details.
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