What is the difference between regular butter and unsalted butter?

Answer 1

Butter in the package has a composition close to 80.0% milk fat, 1.2-1.5% salt, 17.5-17.8% water, and 1% milk solids. If butter is salt-free, the moisture and fat contents are adjusted to a slightly higher value to compensate.

Answer 2

Absolutely. And (anticipating the usual next question) no adjustment to the amount of salt used in your recipe is necessary.

I would say no adjustment is necessary only if you like to eat overly-salty foods! You most certainly wouldneed to adjust the amount of salt if you substituted salted butter for unsalted in any recipe, but especially in baked goods. For example, can you imagine how salty your Chocolate Chip Cookies would be if you didn't make any changes?? Therefore, it is recommended that you either omit the added salt, or only add 1/4 to 1/2 the amount called for in the recipe. Personally, I would add 1/4 of the amount, then taste to see if more is necessary.

Answer 3

Salted butter is sweeter, but is unhealthier

A different answer:

Salted butter is saltier than unsalted butter.

Salt acts as a preservative, so unsalted butter must be fresh, and therefore "sweet," whereas salted butter could be older and stale. It is difficult to know how much salt has been added to salted butter, which could effect the taste of the final dish.

Gourmet cooks and professional chefs insist on unsalted butter not only to guarantee freshness but to control the amount of salt in their cooking and baked goods. However, in home cooking, most people have difficulty telling the difference.

Answer 4

less salt is better for you, and they have different tastes

Answer 5

Yes, but only the traces naturally present in the original cream.

Answer 6

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