The Great Butter Debate: Unsalted vs. Salted

## The Case for Unsalted Butter When it comes to cooking and baking, precision is key. Unsalted butter gives you complete control over seasoning in recipes, especially in baking, where salt levels need to be exact for balanced flavor. This is why our team of experts recommends using unsalted butter in baking and cooking. ## The Case for Salted Butter However, salted butter has its own advantages. It's a ready-to-use option for spreading or topping, and its variable salt content can add a unique flavor to dishes. Some of our team members prefer salted butter for spreading on toast or using as a topping for mashed potatoes. ## The Key Differences The main difference between unsalted and salted butter is, of course, salt. Unsalted butter is made with just heavy cream, while salted butter includes salt. However, the amount of salt in salted butter varies across brands and can even vary from batch to batch within the same brand. Additionally, salted butter tends to last longer than unsalted butter, with a shelf life of about five months compared to three months for unsalted butter. ## Does it Matter When You Use Salted vs. Unsalted Butter? When it comes to using salted vs. unsalted butter, it ultimately depends on the recipe and your personal preference. However, our team recommends using unsalted butter for baking and cooking to ensure precise control over seasoning. If you do choose to use salted butter, be mindful of any other salt called for in the recipe and consider dialing back there. ## The Takeaway In the end, whether you choose to use unsalted or salted butter is up to you. However, our team recommends saving salted butter for slathering and using unsalted for baking and cooking. By opting for unsalted butter, you can ensure that your dishes have the perfect balance of flavor. As for our team, we personally like to keep both salted and unsalted butter on hand, as both have their own unique advantages.