Stick Butter substitute?

imvossey09
imvossey09 Posts: 24
in Food and Nutrition
Do you know of a "better" butter brand out there, in particular for baking or recipes?
«13

Replies

  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    What's wrong with butter?
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,220 Member
    Better, what does that mean? I haven't found anything yet.
  • imvossey09
    imvossey09 Posts: 24
    Sorry, my grammar was horrible above!

    I just meant the best butter to use with the least amount of fat/calories; there are so many brands to choose from, wasn't sure if anyone had a brand they would recommend.
  • schmenly
    schmenly Posts: 57 Member
    You can try coconut oil, but butter is not bad...
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,220 Member
    Sorry, my grammar was horrible above!

    I just meant the best butter to use with the least amount of fat/calories; there are so many brands to choose from, wasn't sure if anyone had a brand they would recommend.
    Gotcha. Well, they're all about the same as far as calories go unless you go with whipped or manufactured lower fat. Whipped has suspended air added for volume, therefore using less butter, but if your baking, this could be a problem. The lower fat ones are basically just a marketing strategy design for the dieting industry, normally water is used to lower the fat content. Again the melting proprieties will be effected and the moisture content will be different. Portion control is your best bet to maintain a decent product.
  • kristinglori
    kristinglori Posts: 9
    In my experience, most things that I bake call for oil or butter. You can use mashed bananas or applesauce in place of butter & oil with baking. I'd recommend going one of these routes because then you know what you're putting in your body. Not some chemically processed junk that's been made to taste like butter. I've baked with bananas and applesauce and I really don't notice a difference in taste or texture over using oil or butter.

    Maybe you'll find this helpful:

    http://greatist.com/health/healthy-baking-fat-swaps/
  • TheRealPDouble
    TheRealPDouble Posts: 153
    unless you are against eating dairy, what is the problem with butter...?
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
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  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    Sorry, my grammar was horrible above!

    I just meant the best butter to use with the least amount of fat/calories; there are so many brands to choose from, wasn't sure if anyone had a brand they would recommend.

    I'm not a baker, but am friends with a pastry chef. The type of butter used varies with the dish and some gourmet butters have a lot of butterfat.

    I do Intermittent Fasting, which allows me to mix in a small amount (1 TBS or less) of butter into coffee during the fast. The healthy fat helps to suppress the appetite. The brand they often recommend for making this "Bulletproof Coffee" is Kerrygold Grassfed Unsalted.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,220 Member
    675874.jpg],size[733x733],qual[80]&call=url[file:std.image]
    I use DF all the time, I've got 2 250g tubs in the freezer. Nothing like it, or butter for that matter.
  • lisavirani
    lisavirani Posts: 117 Member
    I just go without butter. It's not really necessary for anything... Are you looking for substitute when cooking? baking? eating on bread? Butter IS bad for you when you eat more than just a little bit. The sat fat is through the roof. Just in my opinion though :) Good luck with a substitute that satisfies you :)
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I just go without butter. It's not really necessary for anything... Are you looking for substitute when cooking? baking? eating on bread? Butter IS bad for you when you eat more than just a little bit. The sat fat is through the roof. Just in my opinion though :) Good luck with a substitute that satisfies you :)

    Your opinion isn't very well informed :drinker:
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    I just go without butter. It's not really necessary for anything... Are you looking for substitute when cooking? baking? eating on bread? Butter IS bad for you when you eat more than just a little bit. The sat fat is through the roof. Just in my opinion though :) Good luck with a substitute that satisfies you :)

    There is nothing wrong with real butter unless you have issues with cassein. Saturated fat is not bad for you. so unless you have some underlying dairy allergy - butter is healthy for you.
  • AlayshaJ
    AlayshaJ Posts: 703 Member
    I just go without butter. It's not really necessary for anything... Are you looking for substitute when cooking? baking? eating on bread? Butter IS bad for you when you eat more than just a little bit. The sat fat is through the roof. Just in my opinion though :) Good luck with a substitute that satisfies you :)

    Your opinion isn't very well informed :drinker:
    :flowerforyou:
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    I use Earth Balance...I don't know how it stacks up nutritionally, but it tastes just like butter and is vegan.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    There is nothing wrong with real butter unless you have issues with cassein. Saturated fat is not bad for you. so unless you have some underlying dairy allergy - butter is healthy for you.

    I'm not sure if you actually know the OP and their medical history and speaking only to them, but as a general statement there are a lot of nutrition scientists and doctors who would disagree with this.
  • giggitygoo
    giggitygoo Posts: 1,978 Member
    You can replace butter and oil with unsweetened apple sauce in baking. It works particularly well in denser baked goods like cornbread or brownies.

    it's a 1 to 1 replacement. Easy.
  • jessihoover
    jessihoover Posts: 63
    greek yogurt or applesauce!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    675874.jpg],size[733x733],qual[80]&call=url[file:std.image]

    Food porn!
  • bakenatj
    bakenatj Posts: 36
    Nothing wrong with butter, your body needs fat in a well balanced diet. Stop listening to the fat haters.
  • Alford96
    Alford96 Posts: 70
    I have found that for baking, butter is the best way to go. I don't have any particular brand that I use but for baking, real butter is the way to go. If I'm cooking (sautee'ing, etc...) I find that olive oil works well but the taste is just slightly different. I used to use Smart Balance, which to me tasted the best and wasn't as watery but now I just use butter or olive oil. Occasionally canola or veggie oil but usually only when I'm frying or baking cake mixes that call for oil. For spreading, I sometimes use the Land O' Lakes butter/oil blends, but that's usually at work and only because it spreads more easily. Were I you and no medical issues, I'd just go with butter and use portion control.
  • _Elemenopee_
    _Elemenopee_ Posts: 2,665 Member
    Butter is better
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    I've never found a good substitute for butter for baking. Just cut your portion size down on the finished product and fit it into your calories for the day, and you'll be fine.
  • Quasita
    Quasita Posts: 1,530 Member
    The general consensus is that real butter is better than margarine. However, it should be used in moderation. If you are looking for subs for baking, I would use alternative items such as suggested above.

    If you are talking about for frying and that sort of deal, I have switched almost 100% to cooking with extra virgin olive oil for everything... from eggs to steak to greasing baking pans. A little goes a long way.

    Another thing you can do to minimize butter but still have the consistency and taste is to use Chia seed. Chia makes a gel when in contact with liquid, and will absorb the flavor as well. You can substitute a substantial amount of butter in your baking with Chia gel, and it's a bonus because it also adds amino acids, fiber, antioxidants, and other super healthy nutrients. Using it allows you to have real butter without the guilt.
  • AEcklar813
    AEcklar813 Posts: 184 Member
    when I bake I use no sugar added applesauce instead of oil or butter.
  • crrc78
    crrc78 Posts: 207 Member
    In my experience, most things that I bake call for oil or butter. You can use mashed bananas or applesauce in place of butter & oil with baking. I'd recommend going one of these routes because then you know what you're putting in your body. Not some chemically processed junk that's been made to taste like butter. I've baked with bananas and applesauce and I really don't notice a difference in taste or texture over using oil or butter.

    Maybe you'll find this helpful:

    http://greatist.com/health/healthy-baking-fat-swaps/

    I bake A LOT... I usually use real butter (salted sweet cream butter) for 1/2 of the amount, and then depending on what I'm making I use unsweetened apple sauce or pure pumpkin puree for the rest.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Nope. Real butter = yum and not that bad for you. I went through an anti butter phase, but I used olive oil instead which has a good amount of calories too.
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member
    Eat real butter. It's usually not the butter that's the issue, it's the food you use the butter in or with that presents the problems many people reference.
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    Betty bought a bit of butter, but, said she, "this butter's bitter. If I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter."

    So she bought a bit of butter better than the bitter butter, put in in her bitter batter, made her bitter batter better.
  • hollyk57
    hollyk57 Posts: 520 Member
    Stick with real butter... the butter substitutes, no matter how healthy they say they are, are just a bunch of oils and additives.

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