10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (2024)

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Taylor Tobin

2019-04-11T20:29:08Z

10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (1)

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  • Some types of butter are better than others.
  • We talked to chefs and experts to see what they buy.
  • Among the favorites are Kerrygold, Trader Joe's Cultured Salted Butter, Land O'Lakes, and Goat Butter.
  • One chef also loved a flavored butter that's called Everything Bagel Butter.
  • Visit INSIDER.com for more stories.

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To quote one of the world's most celebrated chefs (and dairy enthusiasts) Julia Child: "With enough butter, anything is good."

We have to agree. And while pretty much any brand of butter will do the trick, pro chefs tend to gravitate toward especially creamy, rich, and flavorful versions.

We asked a group of experts for their top butter recommendations. Here are 10 decadent dairy products you can get at grocery stores and online.

When selecting a butter for baking, stick with a classic like Land O' Lakes.

10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (2)

Flickr/Mike Mozart

Plenty of luxe types of butter exist on the market, but time-honored supermarket staples like Land O'Lakes can totally get the job done, especially in a utilitarian baking context.

"Land O' Lakes butter is my go-to butter for baking," explained recipe developer Leah Klein of City Living Boston. "It always has the best results."

Klein told INSIDER the butter is her go-to for it's "neutral" flavor and consistency. Plus another major plus is its packaging.

"Some other brands don't include the lines on the packaging of each stick to help with measurements, or tell the customer if the stick is salted or unsalted," Klein said. "Being able to have a loose stick of butter and not play a guessing game is helpful."

For a delicious and authentic "jambon beurre" sandwich, opt for Beurre D'Isigny from Normandy.

10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (3)

Beurre D'Isigny/Cagette Canteen and Deli

Why pay extra for imported butter from France when the local goods can be bought for much less? Because French butter is unbelievably tasty, particularly when you're using this butter from the Normandy region.

Chef Dieter Samijn from Bar Boulud in New York City particularly favors Beurre D'Isigny, a butter from the Normandy region.

"[Beurre D'Isigny] is the best, and you can easily find it," Chef Dieter Samijn from Bar Boulud in New York City told INSIDER, adding to check your local Whole Foods or speciality grocery stores. "It's butter from grass-fed cows in Normandy, available with rock salt or unsalted."

The best version, according to Samijn, is the "beurre de baratte" that is slowly churned. Samijn suggests using it in a jambon beurre, a French sandwich made with Parisian ham, butter, and baguette.

Kerrygold Irish Butter sets all butter standards high.

10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (4)

Kerrygold

Easy to find in American grocery stores, Kerrygold Butter from Ireland has a higher fat content than its US-made counterparts. This gives it a creamy texture and a more developed flavor profile, making it a favorite among chefs like Judy Joo of Jinjuu in London, England.

"My all-time favorite butter is Kerrygold Irish Butter," Joo told INSIDER. "It tastes like what butter should be, with a very subtle buttermilk-esque tang. It's also 100% grass fed, so it's better for you than grain-fed butter, due to the amount of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)."

As for the best way to eat it, Joo suggests spread over a slice of toasted sourdough.

Californians can easily snag their own grass-fed butter from the Challenge brand.

10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (5)

Challenge Butter

Looking for a great grass-fed butter made right here in the States? Challenge Dairy Butter from California delivers on all fronts.

Mobile, Alabama, chef and co-host of "Sip & Chew with Mike and Stu" Stuart Reb Donald loves this butter, telling us that its partnership with family-run farms is why it's so successful.

"It's a California staple with an artisanal approach, as Challenge uses only milk from family-run, grass-only farms," Donald told INSIDER. "They've been partnered with most of these farms for almost a century. This approach is noticeable in every bite."

Trader Joe's Cultured Salted Butter brings an appealing tang to breakfast treats.

10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (6)

Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's is famous for its frozen foods and snacks, but it also knows how to make functional and flavorful kitchen staples. Case in point: the Cultured Salted Butter, a favorite of Los Angeles chef and author of "101 Asian Dishes You Need To Cook Before You Die" Jet Tila.

"The butter has an active bacteria (like yogurt), so it has a beautiful tanginess," Tila told INSIDER. "It's perfect on crusty fresh bread, rolls or pancakes. I like eating it over any fresh breads or pastries.Also, melted and slathered over some packed lobster or shrimp, this butter is amazing. You can use it for cooking as well, like mashed potatoes or sautéed anything!"

Goat butter is a great match for a fresh loaf of bread.

10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (7)

Meyenberg

Cow's milk butter isn't the only game in town. Savvy shoppers can find butter made from a variety of milks, like the popular Meyenberg Goat Milk Butter from California.

"When I'm looking for a more dimensional butter, Meyenberg Goat Milk butter is one of my all-time favorite favorites," pastry chef Zairah Molina of CUT by Wolfgang Puck in New York City told INSIDER. "It's easy to incorporate into recipes or to serve lightly-salted [as a] spread for crusty bread."

Plugra European-Style Butter spreads easily and brings a welcome richness to baked goods.

10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (8)

Plugra

A common complaint is when a cold stick of butter won't spread easily across a slice of toast. Schlow Restaurant Group's Director of Pastry Programs Alex Levin says the solution is Plugra European-Style Butter that spreads easily because of its fat content.

"My favorite butter is Plugra European-Style butter," Levin told INSIDER. "It has a slightly higherfat percentage (83% or higher sometimes) compared to other types of butter, which makes it more spreadable even when cold."

He also said the flavor is delicious, and perfect for making cookies, croissants, laminated Danishes, and scones. "It does the job the best, period," Levin said.

Vermont Creamery makes some of the best all-purpose butters in the United States, according to one expert.

10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (9)

Vermont Creamery

Whether you're looking for butter to spread on toast or a dairy product ideal for cooking, you'll find both with Vermont Creamery. This brand is a long-time favorite among chefs, and executive chef Craig Hopson of Farmhouse in Los Angeles, California, explained why.

"[My favorite] domestic butter would be from Vermont Creamery — very creamy, slightly tangy and rich, very 'French style,' and it's widely available," Hopson told INSIDER. "I also love the round log it comes in, which makes it very convenient to shave off thin slices."

Amish Country Roll Butter still churns its butter with traditional equipment.

10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (10)

Amish Country Roll Butter

When it comes to butter, the "old" ways tend to yield the best results. For the Amish Country Roll Butter team, that means traditional churning equipment.

"I absolutely love Amish Country Roll Butter," chef Jainine Jaffer of Shiraz Restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada, told INSIDER. "The reason this butter is so good is that it's made in a traditional old-fashioned butter churn and rolled in wax paper."

Jaffer says the butter is made with a combination of whey and sweet creams too, which amps up the flavor.

Plus, not only can you get this specialty butter in stores and online, but Jaffer says it lasts "forever."

"It has a printed shelf-life of one month, but I kept one roll of butter in my fridge for a good 6 months and it kept perfectly fine," Jaffer said. "I've used this butter to make biscuits, scones and savory tart shells, and they come out tasting amazing."

If you're worried about butter fatigue, jazz things up with a flavored butter.

10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (11)

Bennett's Butter Co

Although certainly delicious on its own, butter is also a prime canvas for creative flavors. It's easy to customize butter on your own, but if you'd rather buy a version with mix-ins already included, Bennett's Butter Co. has you covered.

Chef Matt Barth of T&Cakes in Boulder, Colorado, is a devoted Bennett's fan, and he's especially partial to one variety.

"I love cooking with compound butters (flavored butters) because they help elevate food to the next level of flavor with minimal effort," Barth told INSIDER. "My favorite is Bennett's Butter Everything Bagel Butter. It's the perfect mix of sweet and savory with a delicious blend of seeds and spices with a hint of honey. It goes great on everything from baked salmon and roasted sweet potatoes to homemade popcorn or kettle corn."

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10 chef-approved butters that belong in your kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What butter do top chefs use? ›

Many professional chefs and bakers will recommend using unsalted butter no matter what you're making, so that you have better control over seasoning and since the salt content varies among salted butters.

What butter do professional bakers use? ›

But when choosing butter for baking, I always use unsalted, and we recommend you do, too. Salt acts as a preservative and masks any potentially funky flavors, so salted butter often sits on grocery store shelves longer than unsalted does. To ensure you're using fresh butter, choose unsalted.

What brand butter to use for cooking? ›

One of our all-time favorite butter brands, Land O'Lakes is a classic for a a reason. It's perfect for baking, cooking, or just spreading on an English muffin for breakfast.

What is the best butter in the world? ›

  • Editor's Choice. Finlandia Unsalted. This creamy, rich butter—both the unsalted and salted versions—is premium in every way, from aroma to flavor. ...
  • Runner-Up. Isigny Ste Mère Unsalted. ...
  • Budget Pick. Breakstone's Unsalted. ...
  • Best for Baking. Land O'Lakes Unsalted. ...
  • Best Salted. Kerrygold Salted. ...
  • Best Cultured. Vermont Creamery Unsalted.
Nov 18, 2022

What butter does Gordon Ramsay use? ›

There, chefs baste the meat with Devonshire Butter, like you would a turkey on Thanksgiving day. You don't have to babysit the meat on the grill like that to take the technique to the next level, though.

What butter do French chefs use? ›

The first thing you notice when you unwrap a block of Bordier butter is its yellow, creamy surface. That — and its silky texture and savory flavor — make it a favorite among French chefs.

What brand of butter does Paula Deen use? ›

Southern Grilling Butter ("Garlic goes with everything.")

What butter does Ina Garten use? ›

"I often use Cabot unsalted butter, but there are many good brands of butters available," she shared on the Ask Ina section of the Barefoot Contessa blog. Cabot brand butter, however, isn't the only type of butter she uses.

What kind of butter does America's Test Kitchen recommend? ›

Our Favorite Unsalted Butter: Challenge Unsalted Butter

It had a “milky” “sweetness” and fresh dairy flavor. Its aluminum foil wrapper ensured that it tasted fresh and was free of off-flavors. For everyday cooking and baking, this convenient, affordable butter is our new top choice.

What is the number one brand of butter? ›

Best Butter for Everyday: Land O Lakes Salted Butter

What brand does our Test Kitchen reach for time and time again? That'd be Land O Lakes. This iconic butter brand is the one you'll find stocked in our Test Kitchen's refrigerators, and this blind test only confirmed its place on our shopping list.

Is Country Crock butter real butter? ›

Country Crock® is a spread made with oils from plants, whereas butter is made with milk or cream from cows. Country Crock® has less saturated fat per serving than dairy butter, but still has a delicious buttery taste.

What are the 5 brand of butter? ›

For our review, we picked seven popular butter brands in India (Salted butter) – Amul, Mother Dairy, Gowardhan, Nandini, President, Verka, and Patanjali.

What is the most popular butter brand in USA? ›

Parent Company: Land O'Lakes Inc. By far the most popular butter brand in America, you'd be hard-pressed not to find Land O'Lakes at your local grocery store. This brand was founded 100 years ago in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The name of the brand actually comes from the fact that Minnesota is known for its many lakes.

What is the oldest butter brand in the world? ›

Lurpak came into existence in October 1901 after a combination of several Danish dairy farmers decided to create and register a common brand and mark for butter to increase sales. Its logo is based on the lur, an ancient instrument once used in Scandinavia.

Does Paula Deen use butter? ›

With A Stick Of Butter Food Network star Paula Deen loves bacon, butter and, of course, Southern cooking. In her new cookbook, Paula Deen's Southern Cooking Bible, Deen explores the regional variations of Southern food.

What butter does Geoffrey Zakarian use? ›

French salted butter, according to AOL. So it's no surprise that the latter is the chef's not-so-secret ingredient, since he shared it with Food Network.

What butter do pastry chefs use? ›

European Style Butters: Plugra or Kerry Gold

Pastry Chefs love to use it when butter is the main ingredient. Like in pie crusts, croissants or other buttery doughs. But it can also be used in any recipe. It contains more fat than American butters, upwards to 86%, and has a rich, smoother mouthfeel.

What kind of butter did Julia Child use? ›

The butter Julia Child undoubtedly preferred was, of course, French butter. She'd learned virtually everything she knew in France where butter is king. French butter has a nuttiness and a tang that American butter just doesn't. There is a difference in the butterfat content of just 2 percent.

What is the popular butter in Paris? ›

The most famous AOC butter is from Isigny-sur-Mer on the northwest coast of France, at the D-Day beaches. Isigny, by the way, is also famous for other dairy products — its Mimolette and Camembert cheeses.

What is the most popular butter brand in France? ›

Leading brands of 'Butter/ Light Butter' in France based on the number of consumers are 'Président Beurre tendre' with 6,986,000 consumers, followed by 'Elle & Vire Beurre Tendre' with 6,294,000 consumers and 'Leclerc' with 4,956,000 consumers in 2021.

What brand is Amish butter? ›

The most common brands of Amish hand-rolled butter include Minerva Dairy, Amish Country Roll Butter, Alcam Creamery, Pearl Valley, and Troyer Country Market. Although Amish butter hasn't made its way to mainstream markets everywhere, many natural and specialty markets carry it.

What is the most expensive brand of butter? ›

The French Queen of Butters. Regarded as the world's most exclusive and expensive butter that shares the same appellation status as that of champagne. Comes in Demi Sel (Salted) 250g and 5kg variants as well as Doux (Unsalted) 250g.

What is the best French handmade butter? ›

PDO Charente-Poitou Butter is the best-known. Its fine yet elastic texture and full melt-in-your mouth flavor make it a favorite among pastry chefs.

What type of butter is President Butter? ›

President butter is a rich, creamy European style butter crafted from cultured cream in the heart of Normandy. This region is considered as the Grand Cru among French and other European dairy regions, thanks to its oceanic climate and rich grass.

Why does Gordon Ramsay use so much butter? ›

He knows that butter is a powerful versatile ingredient and a stick of the stuff is always in the top of his tool box. To a chef, butter is more than a tasty spread for your breakfast toast. It's a flavorful lipid that has hundreds of uses in the kitchen.

What is the healthiest fake butter? ›

Best Health-Conscious Butter Alternatives
  • Ghee. Ghee is butter that goes through a clarification process to eliminate all the water which, we should note, creates a higher smoke point while cooking. ...
  • Greek Yogurt. ...
  • Pumpkin Puree. ...
  • Earth Balance Pressed Avocado Oil. ...
  • Pureed Coconut. ...
  • Olive Oil. ...
  • Avocado. ...
  • Mashed Bananas.
Jun 21, 2020

Is Blue Bonnet real butter? ›

Blue Bonnet is a butter substitute made with vegetable oil. It is available in sticks or in tubs. It does contain salt. Blue Bonnet is not real butter, it is a vegetable oil spread.

Is Land of Lakes butter real butter? ›

Since the concept of squeeze spread isn't new, we found a way to make LAND O LAKES® Soft Squeeze butter spread stand out: It contains real butter. And that plays well with our target consumer segment.

Is Land O Lakes Spreadable butter real butter? ›

Made with LAND O LAKES® Butter, canola oil, salt, LAND O LAKES® Spreadable Butter with Canola Oil addresses the number one consumer need in the butter category: the taste and wholesome, simple goodness of real butter with the convenience of a spread.

What happened to Country Crock butter? ›

It made and marketed margarine (beginning in 1945) and Shedd's peanut butter as well as salad dressing and prune juice. It merged in 1959 with Beatrice Foods before they sold the Shedd's business to Unilever in 1984 following Beatrice's merger with Esmark.
...
Country Crock.
IndustryFood
OwnerUpfield
3 more rows

Is Aldi's butter good? ›

It tastes like pure, churned cream. And it's perfect for toast. I did add a bit of flakey salt to the toast to make it even better.

What is the best grade of butter? ›

Grade AA is the highest possible grade; Grade AA butter must achieve a numerical score of 93 out of 100 points based on its aroma, flavour, and texture. Salt (if present) must be completely dissolved and thoroughly distributed. Grade A butter is almost as good, with a score of 92 out of 100 points.

Where is the best butter in the world made? ›

The American fascination with Irish butter may only have been spurred a few decades ago, but love for the Emerald Isle's deep, velvety butter is nothing new.

Is Land O Lakes a healthy butter? ›

70% less saturated fat than butter, Land O Lakes® Fresh Buttery Taste® Spread lives up to its name. It's the classic, rich taste of butter, with no cholesterol. And it's an excellent source of Omega 3 ALA to boot!

What butter is best for heart health? ›

Light butter has half the calories, saturated fat and cholesterol of butter. This blend of light butter and oil has heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (MUFAs and PUFAs).

Does butter have a shelf life? ›

"This is mitigated by refrigerating butter and making sure it is well wrapped." In general, butter kept in the fridge will last one to three months, while butter stored in the freezer will last up to a year.

What kind of butter is best for high cholesterol? ›

You can help reduce your risk of high cholesterol by substituting foods for regular butter that are lower in saturated fat or have been shown to have less impact on heart disease risk, such as: grass-fed butter. Earth Balance spread, a vegan, soy-free, non-hydrogenated option. avocados.

What butter is best for toast? ›

Salted butter is great for spreading on breads, pastries and even vegetables. Gordon recommends taking a little salted butter (or making your own with unsalted butter topped with sea salt crystals) and spreading it on radishes in the spring.

What is the most popular butter in France? ›

Leading brands of 'Butter/ Light Butter' in France based on the number of consumers are 'Président Beurre tendre' with 6,986,000 consumers, followed by 'Elle & Vire Beurre Tendre' with 6,294,000 consumers and 'Leclerc' with 4,956,000 consumers in 2021.

What type of butter do pastry chefs use? ›

Usually unsalted is best for baking, especially in breads to control the salt content. It's an American Style Butter, containing around 80% fat and uses pasteurized milk. It does not contain sugar, though it is called sweet. What it means is it has zero sour notes to it.

What is considered high quality butter? ›

That'd be Land O Lakes. This iconic butter brand is the one you'll find stocked in our Test Kitchen's refrigerators, and this blind test only confirmed its place on our shopping list. Sticks of this butter look creamy and pale—lighter in color than most brands but absolutely creamy with just a whisper of salt.

What type of butter does Paula Deen use? ›

The Sweet Citrus Zest butter, for example, is the "perfect butter to have in the morning," according to Deen's website, while she refers to the European Style Butter as "Bread's Best Friend."

What is America's favorite butter? ›

By far the most popular butter brand in America, you'd be hard-pressed not to find Land O'Lakes at your local grocery store. This brand was founded 100 years ago in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The name of the brand actually comes from the fact that Minnesota is known for its many lakes.

What is the famous butter in Italy? ›

Antica Cremeria Butter is manufactured with very special selected Italian cream treated with particular process, which provide it creamy texture and intense aroma. It is the most perfumed butter in the range and it tastes like just drawn milk. This butter is particularly suitable for breakfast, simply raw on bread.

What is the number one selling butter? ›

Land Lakes

What is chef butter? ›

The butter is essentially a compound mixture — softened butter mixed with savory or sweet ingredients. The recipe yields enough for four steaks but I halved the ingredients since I was cooking for two. Drummond said it's crucial to make this butter in advance, so I prepared it three hours before dinner.

What is the best butter for French baking? ›

PDO Charente-Poitou Butter is the best-known. Its fine yet elastic texture and full melt-in-your mouth flavor make it a favorite among pastry chefs. This butter comes exclusively from dairies in Aquitaine, in the center/west of France – departments of Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux Sèvres, Vendée and Vienne.

What grade is Costco butter? ›

Grade AA. Produced Without Artificial Growth Hormones. Made in the USA.

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