You know what they say, everything is better with butter. These bars are a versatile ingredient used in cooking and baking, especially if you want to add a little oomph of flavor in your dish. Spread it plainly on hot pan de sal or use it as a finishing touch for an extra kick in your meat dishes. Whatever your preferred use, we can all agree this is a staple in our fridge.
Nowadays, there is a multitude of butter options in the market, so it can get quite confusing. We've put together a buying guide, fact-checked and reviewed by registered nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales, to help you find the best butter for your needs. But before all of that, allow us to give you a list of the best butter brands!
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Every mybest article is crafted with hours of in-depth research and interviews with experts. Each month, we are continually expanding our database of products based on our research. By emphasizing user insight and reliable information, we deliver trustworthy content to readers.
Here are some key points to consider:
When picking out butter, check the ingredients list. We already know that real butter uses only butterfat, which comes from milk or cream as its ingredients. If it uses hydrogenated vegetable or plant oils, then it is a margarine or butter compound, which uses 50% butterfat and 50% vegetable oil.
The color should also tell you if it is butter or margarine. Butter has a natural pale yellow or sometimes off-white color, depending on the variety. Sometimes grass-fed can lean more yellowish. Margarine is usually a rather vibrant yellow color. This is because plant oils are colorless, so it makes use of food coloring to mimic butter.
Another easy distinction is that butter is often wrapped in foil packages while margarine is on paper. This makes it easier to spot, especially if butter, butter compounds, and margarine are all lumped together in the dairy section. This can also come in handy if the product does not specify what it is made out of and you cannot see its ingredients list.
When choosing butter, you also have to take into account what you are going to use it for. This may not seem like it matters much, but some varieties are better suited for specific purposes than others. Are you putting it as an ingredient? Are you using it as just a spread for bread?
Like what its name says, unsalted butter or sometimes called sweet butter, does not have added salt during its production process. This makes it fresher, but it also makes it easier to spoil. The presence of salt acts as a preservative, so it will have a shorter shelf life. At most, it will last you about a month in your fridge.
In terms of versatility, unsalted undoubtedly takes the cake. This will take you through most cooking recipes, from baking to sautéing, with no problem. This is because the salt content in salted butter varies across different brands, so it will definitely impact your food’s taste.
Having unsalted butter gives you free reign to season your dish to your heart’s content without having to worry about the salt level. Most recipes call for unsalted butter as well.
Salted butter adds salt to the production process. The salt acts as a preservative and extends the butter’s shelf life. However, the amount of salt content varies between brands with about ¼ teaspoon per 1 stick of butter that is why this butter is not advisable for baking.
The good thing is that the salt also enhances the butter’s flavor. This makes it a great spread for breads and muffins, and other cooked dishes. It is handy if you want to easily achieve a malinamnam taste in your food items.
Clarified butter is the process of removing water and milk solids by boiling them off. This leaves you with a clear amber-colored liquid called butterfat. It is also the reason why it has less lactose content than regular butter, which makes it an excellent butter substitute for those with lactose intolerance.
This makes it have a more stable shelf life than regular butter. It also gives it a higher smoke point, making it ideal for searing meat and vegetables as well as a finishing butter. Ghee, which is widely used in Indian cuisine, is a notable type of clarified butter.
Organic butter comes from cows, which are raised without antibiotics or growth hormones. To qualify for organic, cows must graze on feed without pesticides or fertilizers.
Grass-fed butter makes use of cows that feed on grass instead of corn or soy-based feeds. This results in a higher nutrient profile and a richer taste. Grass-fed butter could also be organic. If you prefer your butter to have that distinct and strong butter taste, you could go for grass-fed ones.
If you're feeling adventurous, then we suggest you give flavored butter a try. These are also known as butter compounds, and they involve ingredients added to butter, such as garlic, herbs, and spices.
You might come across a savory herb or garlic flavored butter and use it to coat roast chicken or beef. Perhaps you prefer a sweeter one such as maple or honey for delectable toasted bread or muffins.
We can all agree that butter made in Europe is considered one of the best. This is further verified by the AOP (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) or the product of origin label, which guarantees that the production of the butter passed strict standards, from the production of milk down to the manufacturing of butter. AOP also acknowledges the destination origin of the butter.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Salt Content | Intended Use | Specialty Type | Packaging | Net Weight | |||||
1 | Queensland Butter | ![]() | Offers Smooth Creamy Texture | Salted | Cooking、Baking、Spreading | Grass-Fed | Tin can | 175 g | |
2 | Arla Unsalted Butter | ![]() | Crafted for Pure Flavor | Unsalted | Cooking、Baking、Spreading | Grass-Fed | Foil wrapping | 200 g | |
3 | Lurpak Unsalted Butter | ![]() | Delivers Soft, Fresh Taste | Unsalted | Cooking、Baking、Spreading | Grass-Fed | Foil wrapping | 200 g | |
4 | Arla Salted Butter | ![]() | Brings Rich, Balanced Flavor | Salted | Cooking、Baking、Spreading | Grass-Fed | Foil wrapping, 2-pack | 200 g | |
5 | Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter | ![]() | Known for Exceptional Quality | Salted | Cooking、Baking、Spreading | Grass-Fed | Foil Wrapping | 454 g | |
6 | Lurpak Salted Butter | ![]() | Perfect for Everyday Cooking | Salted | Cooking、Baking、Spreading | Grass-Fed | Foil-wrapped blocks in branded cardboard box, 2-pack | 200 g | |
7 | Leila Pure Ghee Clarified Butter | ![]() | Rich in Tradition | Unsalted | Cooking、Baking | Organic | Glass jar or tin | 400 g | |
8 | Elle & Vire French Butter Unsalted | ![]() | Combines Flavor and Convenience | Unsalted | Cooking、Baking、Spreading | Grass-Fed | Foil wrapping | 200 g | |
9 | Elle & Vire French Butter Salted | ![]() | Adds Gourmet Touch | Salted | Cooking、Baking、Spreading | Grass-Fed | Foil wrapping | 200 g | |
10 | Emborg Unsalted Butter | ![]() | Provides Freshness and Purity | Unsalted | Cooking、Baking、Spreading | Grass-Fed | Foil wrapping | 200 g |
Salt Content | Salted |
---|---|
Intended Use | Cooking、Baking、Spreading |
Specialty Type | Grass-Fed |
Packaging | Tin can |
Net Weight | 175 g |
Salt Content | Unsalted |
---|---|
Intended Use | Cooking、Baking、Spreading |
Specialty Type | Grass-Fed |
Packaging | Foil wrapping |
Net Weight | 200 g |
Salt Content | Unsalted |
---|---|
Intended Use | Cooking、Baking、Spreading |
Specialty Type | Grass-Fed |
Packaging | Foil wrapping |
Net Weight | 200 g |
Salt Content | Salted |
---|---|
Intended Use | Cooking、Baking、Spreading |
Specialty Type | Grass-Fed |
Packaging | Foil wrapping, 2-pack |
Net Weight | 200 g |
Salt Content | Salted |
---|---|
Intended Use | Cooking、Baking、Spreading |
Specialty Type | Grass-Fed |
Packaging | Foil Wrapping |
Net Weight | 454 g |
Salt Content | Salted |
---|---|
Intended Use | Cooking、Baking、Spreading |
Specialty Type | Grass-Fed |
Packaging | Foil-wrapped blocks in branded cardboard box, 2-pack |
Net Weight | 200 g |
Salt Content | Unsalted |
---|---|
Intended Use | Cooking、Baking |
Specialty Type | Organic |
Packaging | Glass jar or tin |
Net Weight | 400 g |
Salt Content | Unsalted |
---|---|
Intended Use | Cooking、Baking、Spreading |
Specialty Type | Grass-Fed |
Packaging | Foil wrapping |
Net Weight | 200 g |
Salt Content | Salted |
---|---|
Intended Use | Cooking、Baking、Spreading |
Specialty Type | Grass-Fed |
Packaging | Foil wrapping |
Net Weight | 200 g |
Salt Content | Unsalted |
---|---|
Intended Use | Cooking、Baking、Spreading |
Specialty Type | Grass-Fed |
Packaging | Foil wrapping |
Net Weight | 200 g |
Not sure what to gifts to give for the holidays? It doesn't have to be that expensive. You could always try making baked goods. It will cost you less than having to purchase them. It also adds a more personal touch, which will be appreciated by the recipient!
Author: J. Cuizon
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Queensland|Butter
No. 2: Arla|Unsalted Butter
No. 3: Lurpak|Unsalted Butter
No. 4: Arla|Salted Butter
No. 5: Kerrygold|Pure Irish Butter
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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