All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (2024)

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (1)

Whether you’re baking, cooking, or spreading, Canadian butter makes everything better.

Butter is a delicious and versatile ingredient, and a staple on every cook’s grocery list. Butter truly makes every dish better. Learn more about the different types of butter, how it's produced here in Canada, and how it gets from the farm to your table.

Whether you’re cooking or baking, we've also got tons of useful kitchen tips, including articles on how to measure butter, how to soften butter, and more – plus, dozens of butter-themed recipes. Because in the words of Julia Child, “With enough butter, anything is good.”

All kinds of Butter

  • All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (2)

    Salted butter

    Also known as churned butter, this is the traditional butter, which is made by churning pasteurized cream and then salted.

  • All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (3)

    Unsalted butter

    Made the same way as salted butter but without the salt, unsalted butter is often used in baking.

  • All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (4)

    Light butter

    This butter is like traditional churned butter to which is incorporated air and water. With typically 25% less butterfat than regular butter, it is best used as a spread.

  • All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (5)

    Cultured butter

    Also called old-fashioned or antique butter, cultured butter is made from cream that is cultured with active bacteria (similar to those added to yogurt). It has a distinctive and slightly tangy taste.

  • All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (6)

    Organic butter

    This butter comes from cows that are fed with organically grown feed and get more grazing time in pasture. You’ll find an organic certification logo on its package.

  • All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (7)

    Grass-fed butter

    Canadian grass-fed dairy standards are under development. In Canada, this butter typically comes from cows that are feed a minimum of 75% grass or forage.

How to make the most of it

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (8)

Melt butter better

To keep butter from separating or burning, melt it on Medium-Low heat – never on High. When it looks ¾ melted, remove it from the heat and stir until completely melted.

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (9)

Keep butter’s fresh flavour

Butter keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 weeks in its original wrapper. In the freezer with an extra layer of foil, unsalted butter keeps well for 3 months, salted butter for a year.

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (10)

A better butter for frying

Once clarified, butter can resist higher cooking temperatures, making it ideal for pan-frying. See our next tip to clarify it yourself. (And, save the milk solids for soups or mashed potatoes.)

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (11)

DIY clarified butter

In a pan over low heat, melt butter (1 cup of butter yields up to 3/4 cup of clarified butter). Skim off the froth and discard. A clear yellow layer (the clarified butter) will form over solids. Pour it through a sieve into a clean container. That’s it!

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (12)

It starts with Canadian milk

The best butter comes from naturally delicious milk. It’s collected at the farm and brought to the creamery.

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (13) All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (14)

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (15)

Just the cream of the crop

The milk is pasteurized to eliminate any potentially harmful bacteria, and also keep the milk and butter fresh longer. Milk is spun to separate the cream from the skim milk.

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (16) All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (17)

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (18)

Whipping up the perfect blend

The cream is beaten vigorously in a churning cylinder. As it whirls, it thickens and separates. The liquid, buttermilk, is drained from the solids, which are butter. The butter is blended and sometimes salt is added.

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (19) All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (20)

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (21)

All wrapped up and ready to go

To meet the standard, butter must consist of at least 80% fat. Once weighed, cut, wrapped, and chilled, butter is ready to grace the shop display as well as your favourite dishes.

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (22) All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (23)

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (24)

For Canadian goodness,
look for the logo

You might also like

Article

How to Measure Butter

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (25)

Article

How to soften butter

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (26)

Recipe

Lemon-Lime Filled Butter Cookies

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (27)

Recipe

Squash Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (28)

More dairy to love

  • Butter
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese
  • Cream
  • Ice cream
  • Milk

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (35) All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (36) All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (37) All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (38) All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (39)

Rewards too good to miss

Enjoy savings, recipes, contests and more with our More Goodness rewards program. Get a bonus welcome offer when you sign up now.

All about Butter | Canadian Goodness (2024)

FAQs

Can refrigerated butter go bad? ›

Refrigerated butter should last up to a month past the printed date if it's unopened. If the butter has been opened, it can last up to two weeks past that printed date. If you're storing the butter longer term, unopened butter stored in the freezer can last anywhere from nine months to a year past the date.

Is grass-fed butter inflammatory? ›

For example, grass-fed butter is higher in omega-3 fatty acids. These are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties and have been linked to many health benefits. One analysis found that grass-fed butter provides about 26% more omega-3 fatty acids than regular butter, on average ( 7 ).

What is the difference between country churned butter and regular butter? ›

Sometimes referred to as “European-style butter,” cultured butter is treated with live cultures and allowed to ferment before it's churned. This results in butter with a stronger, more lactic flavor. Cultured butter generally has a higher butterfat content (typically 82–85%) than standard American butter (80–82%).

What is the difference between butter and compound butter? ›

So, compound butter is butter combined with at least one additional ingredient. However, most compound butter recipes will include several ingredients. Depending on the ingredients you add, you can make your compound sweet or savory.

Is butter good for the skin? ›

Calcium also helps prevent diseases such as osteoporosis, a condition that makes bones weak and fragile. It can help make your skin healthier. Butter also has vitamin E, which plays a role in skin health. The nutrient reduces damage from UV sun rays, eases skin inflammation, and helps skin wounds heal.

How can I tell if butter is bad? ›

How do you tell if butter is bad? Check for changes in the butter's look, feel, smell, and taste. Any visible discoloration, change in texture, bad smell, or bitter or sour taste indicates bad butter.

Can I use 2 year old frozen butter? ›

In the freezer, well-wrapped butter can last up to a year, after which its flavor and quality will be compromised. It may also develop freezer burn. In the refrigerator, well-wrapped salted butter can last up to five months without spoiling.

What is the healthiest butter to eat? ›

Butter can absolutely fit into a healthy diet, says registered dietitian Abbey Sharp, and grass-fed butter is the healthiest butter money can buy.

What is the best butter for high blood pressure? ›

We found an association of shea butter consumption with lower BP, which provides the rationale for investigation through rigorous study designs to evaluate the benefits of shea butter consumption for prevention of hypertension and improved cardiovascular health.

What brands of butter are 100% grass-fed? ›

In alphabetical order, here are the 15 best grass fed butters:
  • Clover Sonoma.
  • Kalona SuperNatural.
  • Ivy's Reserve.
  • Kerrygold.
  • Lewis Road Creamery.
  • Maple Hill.
  • Minerva Dairy.
  • Nellie's.

Is tillamook butter good quality? ›

This is a good brand. Have been using rolled butters, this is up to par with any of them. We like Tillamook cheese so much, we named our dog after it. :) The butter is no slouch either.

What is the best butter to use for cookies? ›

The best butter for your baked goods depends on what type of recipe you're whipping up. Unsalted, American-style butter works well in goods like cookies, pound cakes and pancakes that require the high-fat content of conventional butter and more flexibility with salt and flavor content.

Why is Irish butter better? ›

Because the remaining percentage in butter contains mostly water, it takes away the flavor and creaminess of the butter. Even though the butters can be used interchangeably, Irish butter has a higher fat and lower water count than American butter, so it has a better taste and makes it a better choice for baking.

Should I refrigerate compound butter? ›

Compound butter can be kept refrigerated for several days. They can also be frozen for several months by being wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in plastic freezer bags.

What grades of butter are the best to buy? ›

Grades AA and A are typically found in grocery stores, while Grade B butter is more often found in industrial settings. Here's the breakdown: Grade AA butter is the highest grade and “possesses a fine and highly pleasing butter flavor.” It's smooth, creamy, easy to spread and made of high-quality cream.

What form of butter is best? ›

The best butter for baking is unsalted butter. Whether that unsalted butter comes in sweet cream, European-style, organic, grass-fed, cultured, plant-based, Amish, or browned butter, any of these options that remain unsalted are great for baking.

What happens if we eat butter daily? ›

Although butter has many health benefits, it is chiefly composed of fats which can cause many undesirable problems if consumed in excess. These include obesity, hypertension, heart disease and cancer.

Does butter have healing properties? ›

Saturated fats in butter have strong anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties. Butter contains conjugated linoleic acid, which is a potent anti-cancer agent, muscle builder, and immunity booster. Vitamin D found in butter is essential to absorption of calcium. Protects against tooth decay.

Can you use butter 2 months out of date? ›

Butter is generally safe to eat up to a month after its printed expiration date, but check for certain giveaways like its color, smell, and taste to see if it has spoiled beyond redemption.

What does rancid butter taste like? ›

With the help of your senses, it should be fairly clear when your butter has gone rancid. Spoiled butter will have a sour, bitter taste, and may also change in color and give off a subtle, unpleasant odor.

How long can refrigerated butter sit out? ›

Should You Leave Butter on the Counter? According to the USDA, butter is safe at room temperature. But if it's left out for several days at room temperature, it can turn rancid causing off flavors. The USDA does not recommend leaving it out more than one to two days.

How long does butter last at room temperature in the fridge? ›

It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour for refrigerated butter to soften to room temperature. Speed things up by cutting the butter into 1-inch cubes: Take a stick of butter and halve it lengthwise. Flip the butter on its side and halve it lengthwise again.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Eusebia Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 6163

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Eusebia Nader

Birthday: 1994-11-11

Address: Apt. 721 977 Ebert Meadows, Jereville, GA 73618-6603

Phone: +2316203969400

Job: International Farming Consultant

Hobby: Reading, Photography, Shooting, Singing, Magic, Kayaking, Mushroom hunting

Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.