Why Do Recipes Call for Unsalted Butter?

Does it really make a difference if a recipe calls for unsalted butter? What if I only have salted butter? Can I use that instead? These are all excellent questions. The short answer is yes, it makes a difference, and yes, you can use salted butter instead. But if you use salted butter, there are things you will have to keep in mind.

What is the Difference Between Unsalted and Salted Butter?

The simple answer is: one is salted; the other isn’t. While that is true, there is more to it. No one knows how much salt is actually in the stick of butter you have. The amount of salt is going to vary from one brand to the next. Unsalted butter, on the other hand, is 100% cream. Using unsalted butter makes a difference in baking.

Why You Want Unsalted Butter in Baking

If you use salted butter and use a different brand each time, you may find the flavor of your baked goods is different. When you use unsalted butter, you are in charge of how much salt there is in your recipe. Plus, you want that rich butter flavor, not the flavor of too much salt. Even if your recipe doesn’t specifically call for unsalted butter, and it includes a certain amount of salt, you could end up with too much salt in the final dish. By using unsalted butter, you can add the amount of salt that you want to your dish.

If you choose to have unsalted butter for baking but don’t use it that often, it can be stored in the freezer. Just remember to take it out before you need it.

When You Can Use Salted Butter

Salted butter can be used for bread or any recipe where you don’t need to worry about how much salt is in your brand of butter. You could also use it on top of your vegetables or potatoes and just don’t salt them as much as you would if you were using unsalted butter. If all you have at home is salted butter and you don’t want to run to the store to buy unsalted, simply reduce the amount of salt in your recipe by half. This should keep you from having a dish that is too salty. Or, if you are able to taste what you are making before it is baked, you can adjust the salt if necessary.

Which Butter Should I Use if the Recipe Doesn’t Specify?

Not all recipe authors will tell you if they used salted or unsalted butter. As a rule of thumb, if the recipe calls for about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt and one stick (1/2 cup) of butter, then most likely they used unsalted butter. If the ratio is higher than this, you should use unsalted butter. If there is less than that, you can use salted butter. But, as mentioned earlier, if you only have salted butter and you think the recipe author probably used unsalted, just use less salt than the recipe calls for.