Butter is an essential ingredient in so many recipes.
Starting from baking to main course food, butter is an important item that adds
taste to our food. You must have noticed two types of butter at the grocery
store- Salted butter and Unsalted butter. Salted butter contains added salt and
Unsalted butter does not consist of added salt. Unsalted butter is a type of
butter in its purest form.
Health is everyone's utmost priority. Everyone wants to lead a healthy life. Butter, if consumed in more quantity can be unhealthy. Also, the shelf life is unsalted butter is poor. So, why not use substitutes for unsalted butter when they are easily available in the market.
4 Substitutes for
unsalted butter:
1. Ghee
2. Olive oil
Olive oil is the best ingredient when you are looking for a
healthy diet. Olive oil is better for frying and it burns at 410 degree
Fahrenheit. Olive oil adds a nutty flavor to the dish whenever it is used.
Olive oil consists of a chain of lipids such as hydrocarbons,
sterols, aliphatic alcohols, tocopherols, and pigments. Olive oil also contains
fat and about 100 calories in a tablespoon but olive oil contains less
saturated fat and it does not increase cholesterol level.
The Health benefits of olive oil are that it contains
anti-inflammatory properties. It contains a large number of antioxidants. Olive
can be a substitute for butter because it is good for heart patients.
The downside of olive is that overheating of olive impacts its flavor badly. Olive oil is heat resistant and does not oxidize while cooking. Also, olive oil may not be able to give the flavor in baking items as compared to butter.
3. Salted butter
Salted butter can be a substitute for unsalted butter. It may very well be useful in baking items. Different butter contains different quantities of salt, so opt for the butter which has low quantities of salt. Reduce the quantity of butter to ¼th of a teaspoon every time butter is used.
Butter is 80-82 percent milk fat, 16-17 percent water, and
other solids. It is made by heating milk fat. Salted butter may consist of
added salt in varying amounts. Salted butter is very well able to give the
desired flavor and taste in baking items.
Butter contains vitamin D which is important for bone growth and development. It also contains calcium which is essential for bone strength. Salted butter also prevents osteoporosis-makes bones weak. As salted butter contains salt, it is bad for heart and cholesterol levels.
4. Vegetable Shortening
Vegetable shortening is a great substitute for unsalted butter
and is often used in baking and for greasing pans. It is solid at room
temperature and its texture is similar to butter but has no flavor and odor.
It is made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil, such as soybean, corn or cottonseed oil. It burns at a higher temperature than butter and margarine and is 100 percent fat. Unsalted butter contains milk solids. Shortening is just a substitute for unsalted butter which is able to give expected results in baking products. It has no nutritional value and is high in calories.
These are the 4 major substitutes for unsalted butter. These
items are easily available in the market and are cheap. If these substitutes are
used effectively in food items and consumed in proper amounts, will not hamper
the health of an individual.
