Margarine or butter

fatmom12018

Which is healthier, margarine or butter? Or is something non-dairy better? Nuttelex or almond butter or something else?

kommodevaran

Butter is healthier than margarine, but for some baked goods (certain cookies etc), you need margarine. You can get dairy-free margarine, but if you have to ask, you don't need that. Nut butter is something completely different and used for different purposes.

kathleennf

Butter is healthier. I bake a lot, and I don't know of anything that "needs" margarine- but I could be wrong. I've been (successfully) using MFP for about 10 months now to lower my cholesterol by eating less saturated fat- and for that reason have been using a lot more oil (soy oil and olive oil, depending...) and less butter. Having said that, I did my Christmas baking with real butter!

Overall, it's better to go with natural things and use them judiciously, avoiding "fake" things like margarine.

JeromeBarry1

Margarines made with trans-fat are to be avoided. This is because trans-fats do, and are scientifically proven to, harm you. Some margarines are made with olive oil and are quite healthful, such as Smart Balance. I've even seen my local Wal-Mart offer ghee, which has the texture of a semi-liquid butter and is a refined form of butter, good for you.

Evamutt

margarine is one molecule away from plastic. It was originally made not to be eaten but used for different things in industry. Company didn't want to lose $, so they added color & flavor

JeromeBarry1

It's not so much about "didn't want to lose $", as during wartime, government was sucking up all the agricultural resources for the war effort. The white oleomargarine was originally sold with a packet of dye which the consumer added and mixed at home to make yellow.

Oh, and "one molecule away" is true for many good and safe things. As a rhetorical device, it works on the ignorant.

TonyB0588

Apart from baking, I use spreadable margarine on my toast, whereas my wife always uses butter.

RodaRose

Butter tastes better

TonyB0588

Anyone remember this from childhood days??

Betty Botter bought some butter
But she said the butter's bitter,
"If I put it in my batter
It will make my batter bitter,
But a bit of better butter
Will make my batter better."

So she bought some better butter
Better than the bitter butter,
And she put it in her batter
And her batter was not bitter,
So 'twas better Betty Botter
Bought a bit of better butter.

JeromeBarry1

That's a first for me @TonyB0588 .

lucerorojo

TonyB0588 wrote: »

Anyone remember this from childhood days??

Betty Botter bought some butter
But she said the butter's bitter,
"If I put it in my batter
It will make my batter bitter,
But a bit of better butter
Will make my batter better."

So she bought some better butter
Better than the bitter butter,
And she put it in her batter
And her batter was not bitter,
So 'twas better Betty Botter
Bought a bit of better butter.

Yes, I remember it. I always use BUTTER. It takes so much better and margarine is not healthier.

lemurcat12

Hearts_2015 wrote: »

@fatmom12018
I use Butter & feel it's much healthier than margarine for our bodies, I don't eat a ton of it but I prefer the taste of it and would definitely buy it over margarine. I know in the past I've read articles that talked about margarine containing ingredients that our bodies can't digest. You'd have to look those up, it's been awhile since I referenced those, there may be something in the MFP archives?

What I use most frequently is Earth Balance brand it comes in stick or a container, which I use. I buy the one with Olive Oil. Earth Balance also carries a yummy Olive Oil mayo it's definitely my go to!

This bit is confusing, as I think Earth Balance is technically a margarine, and certainly it's not butter.

You can't generalize about which is healthier, as margarines vary a lot. I'd avoid any with transfats, as those are bad for you, no question, but I think few are made with transfats these days.

That said, I never use margarine, as I think butter is not bad for you (in moderation) and has a superior taste, and it's not like I use it much anyway. Pretty much just for baking, where margarine is not a great substitute, and for a very few dishes (like skate in brown butter) where I think butter's taste is needed and olive oil (or avocado oil or coconut oil) won't work.

I don't really use spreads, and like olive oil for most of my savory cooking. But if someone enjoys margarine and doesn't use a transfat one, I think it's fine (or I would suggest reading the ingredients for that particular product, anyway). I believe there is a poster here who makes her own margarine at home.

lemurcat12

(That said, I'm in the middle of making mashed potatoes, and I'm going to use butter in them.)

paperpudding

I know it is popular to say butter is better and margarine is the devil - but I use margarine and am quite happy doing so.
It is cheaper and it spreads easier and tastes fine to me.

Use whichever you prefer - in the context of your overall diet, i doubt it matters.

I certainly dont think it matters in mine - I use little anyway - a 500g container lasts my husband and I a couple of months.

saintor1

I prefer butter but I typically go with Becel light margarine just because of low calorie. Technically margarine has this little "problem" as coming with trans-fat but overall, assuming a relatively low consumption in either case, it is hair-splitting.

TonyB0588

JeromeBarry1 wrote: »

That's a first for me @TonyB0588 .

It's actually a "tongue twister", and we used to try to say it very quickly.

fatmom12018

Thanks to everyone who replied.
That has been very helpful and given me plenty to think about and more of a sense of direction

kimny72

Very few margarines still contain transfat, so just check the label and avoid partially hydrogenated whosywhatsits.

Land o Lakes has a spreadable butter/olive oil blend that I use most of the time. When I was little and I was sick or sad, my mom would spread margarine on saltine crackers for me and let me have a little cup of soda with it, so I have a sentimental soft spot for margarine.

Honestly, unless you use a lot of it, I think either is fine, just avoid the transfat.

jgnatca

There is no difference health wise so I use the best product for the job. I use Becel on my toast as it melts delightfully. Butter is used in baking, sometimes half and half with shortening.

If you want to try non dairy I suggest you try a vegetable oil.


https://lifehacker.com/bake-the-best-chocolate-chip-cookies-by-knowing-what-to-1593805654

AudreyJDuke

Very helpful info here!!!

ljmorgi

I use butter because I like it better. Earth Balance was invented at my alma mater, though!