Why I only bake with unsalted butter
The difference between salted and unsalted butter is obvious— one is salted and one is not. But what might not be obvious is why most baking recipes call for unsalted butter instead of salted, and why I only bake with unsalted butter.
The reason is that the amount of salt in salted butter varies from brand to brand, and there’s no way to really know how much salt you’re getting in a stick. So if you’re following a typical recipe that calls for both salt and butter, and you choose to use salted butter, you could be adding quite a bit more salt via the butter than the recipe requires.
To give myself full control over the amount of salt in my baking, I only buy and use unsalted butter. But if all you have is salted butter, can you substitute it in a recipe? In a pinch, yes. Reduce the amount of salt called for by half, and if possible, taste and adjust as necessary.
I’m always amazed at how many people will bake using salted butter without adjusting the amount of salt called for in the recipe. I think baking with unsalted butter is the best way to ensure a successful end result. But…I DO love salted butter on fresh, crusty rustic bread–you can’t beat the flavor!
This article is very interesting! Thanks 🙂
I’ve actually never thought about it one way or another. I have only bough unsalted a handful to times and have never reduced the amount of salt. I do like my salt though! But, thinking about what you’ve said makes complete sense and will change my perspective on salted butter baking!
I totally agree with this!!
Good one. I’ve also read (don’t know if this is accurate) that grocery stores keep salted butter on their shelves longer because the salt disguises the off flavor of old butter that has started to go rancid. (shudder) That is such a descriptive word. I don’t want to eat rancid things.
Amen, sister!!
There’s a crucial editing fail on this page – where it states “if you choose to use unsalted butter…” when it clearly means choosing to use SALTED butter…
I seldom bother with unsalted butter; I always taste before adding salt anyway, and have never found it an issue.
I bake and cook with u salted better to control the amount of salt in my diet. Restaurants use too much salt when they cook. On low sodium diet and I cook 99.9% of my meals from scratch.
We are in th works to adjust everything because of ckd so wondered if i can use a little unsalted butter in cooking